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Cecily

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Madison’s wedding day

Cage: I was losing hope. Does that mean I’ll have at least one dance with you today?

I grip my phone tightly, nervous as hell.

I know that by taking the initiative to send him a message, I’m offering him the possibility of something more, but I need to stop thinking about Dionysus or I’ll ruin my situation with Joseph.

After the phone call with my boss, in which he made it very clear who I am, or rather, who I am not in his life, I was determined to forget him once and for all, but that wasn’t what gave me the push I needed to get in contact with Cage. While browsing a celebrity website earlier today, I found a photo of him with a famous French actress.

Jealousy is not rational—neither is possessiveness towards him—but I felt a little crazy when I saw him with this woman and read the headline: Media executive overcomes widowhood with a friend from the past .

Like a masochist, I read the entire report.

The tycoon from the Greek banking family and also the owner of the largest TV channel in the world, Dionysus Kostanidis, made it clear that he’s left his widowhood behind by resuming his life of conquest and once again appearing accompanied in public. Until now, the billionaire has been discreet, out of respect for his wife’s death. That all changed last night, when he was seen in an intimate situation with a famous French actress. This column hopes for a fresh start for the powerful Greek but warns aspiring candidates that, if Dionysus returns to his old form, we will have many broken hearts across the planet.

It’s not my problem , I repeat to myself without ceasing.

It better be that way. I didn’t come to New York to be a toy for a billionaire.

Me: A dance? Will you settle for just one, sir?

I send the answer before I can chicken out.

I don’t know how to flirt, but the fear of meeting my boss with his dazzling aura makes my stomach turn, so I throw caution to the wind.

Maybe what I really need is to go out with someone.

Cage: I don’t want to scare you. I’ve waited a long time for your message.

Me: I’m not scared. I’m a big girl now.

I drop my phone on the bed, because even though I know I’m doing the right thing by trying to erase Dionysus from my mind once and for all, the knowledge that I’m using Cage makes me feel guilty.

“May I enter?” Elina asks seconds before opening the door.

When I see her with Joseph in her arms, the sadness that was beginning to set in disappears. “My God in heaven, you look very beautiful, my love!”

I chose a three-piece suit for him, white with a baby blue tie. He smiles when I open my arms and falls into them.

“Not ready yet?” Elina asked me to go and get ready at her house, as she hired a makeup artist and a hairdresser for the women in the family.

“The hair and makeup, yes. All that’s left is to put on the dress,” I say, pointing to the long, figure-hugging, red gown with thin straps that she and Zoe convinced me to accept as a gift.

“It’s going to be beautiful. It will be difficult for single men to look away.”

“Even my boss?” I ask, recklessly.

“Cici . . .”

“I’m joking. He’s dating a model.”

“He is?”

“I accidentally saw it on a celebrity website. Furthermore, my relationship with him is purely professional. I texted Cage.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why did you send a message to Cage? You told me you weren’t interested in him.”

“Maybe I just need to give him a chance.”

“I don’t believe that. Either a man makes your heart race, or he doesn’t. It’s that simple.”

“My heart is stupid, Elina. It raced for the wrong person. Perhaps the time has come to teach it what to do.”

I look in the mirror one last time before going downstairs. Despite what I said to Elina, it’s the prospect of meeting Dionysus again that’s making me weak in the knees, not the fact that I’m giving Cage a chance.

The thought of meeting the Kostanidis bank executive makes my heart miss a beat.

I’m feeling like a princess from a fairy tale. Even though I’m embarrassed to have accepted such an expensive gift from Zoe, I can’t deny that the clothes and sandals, as well as the makeup and hair, will help me blend in with the other guests.

About half an hour ago, Cage sent a message offering to come pick me up and I almost said no, but I’m determined to put my redneck manners aside. He is not a total stranger but a senior employee at Kostanidis Bank. He’s also shown himself to be a gentleman so far, so there’s no reason why I shouldn’t trust him.

I leave the room because he must already be arriving. Elina will go with her husband, children, and Joseph, and I’m supposed to go in the next car with Lisa. She’s the one assigned to stay with my boy today, and even though that is not what I want, I cannot go against a direct order from our boss.

Since I accepted Cage’s offer to pick me up, Lisa has already left with Anderson. I’m alone.

The house is silent because everyone is gone, so I get a shock when I reach the top of the stairs and look down to see Dionysus.

For a moment, neither of us speaks.

I try to fight the longing I feel. It doesn’t work, and it doesn’t help that he looks drop-dead gorgeous in a gray, 3-piece suit like Joseph’s.

My legs lose strength, and I have to hold on to the railing while his eyes roam all over me.

He looks at me like I’m his favorite meal and he’s hungry.

“Joseph has already gone ahead with Elina,” I say, still not having the courage to start going down the stairs.

“I know.”

“There is no one else in the house.”

He nods, making it clear he’s aware of that too, and my nervousness increases. “That color suits you. You look beautiful, Cecily.”

My heart races at the unexpected compliment, and when he reaches for me, I know I need to take action or else I’ll be lost.