Page 18

Christos

Seven Months Later

NEW YORK

“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Yuri, my assistant for nearly a decade, asks from behind my chair at my office headquarters.

I’m not a man who usually gives away what he thinks, but I’m so overwhelmed by the sight of her that I can’t fake it. Yuri must see from the look on my face that I can’t ignore the perfection in female form in the portfolio photos in front of me.

“Very,” I say as if I don’t know her, as if the woman hasn’t been tattooed on every cell of my body for nearly two years, as if I haven’t fought the desire for her with military discipline.

I followed her career and, of course, her rise. From the first time I saw her, I had no doubt that Zoe Turner would be perfect for catwalks and cameras.

Several times, I’ve been tempted to force a date so I could look into her eyes and understand what the hell went wrong that night, but I’ve never humbled myself for anyone, and I don’t intend to now. So instead, I stayed backstage, watching her from afar, wanting her in silence .

I’ve spent a long time deciding what to do because I was sure neither of us would get any closure. I planned the logical path: lock her into a contract with one of my brands and keep her close until my obsession wears off.

I had already made the offer when she got married about six months ago, surprising the whole world.

I was a covert stalker but attentive enough to be sure she wasn’t even dating, so when I saw on the news that it was an all-of-a-sudden secret notary marriage, I was shocked.

I feel as if I have a ball of iron lodged in my stomach when I remember that she’s now committed to another man, because one word has been hammering nonstop in my brain since that night in Barcelona.

Mine.

Mike Howard, that’s the asshole’s name. A teacher twenty years older than her.

“I can’t believe we finally managed to sign her. Zoe Turner has been hunted by several brands, and getting her to be exclusive to our group will take us even higher. It’s an excellent deal for both parties.”

I know what he’s talking about. Yuri has as much knowledge about the fashion world as I do. In a short time, Zoe became a phenomenon. Now, she is one of the best-paid models in the world because she’s signed a million-dollar contract with me.

No, she has no idea that my companies are behind it because I made one of my smallest brands, which most people are not aware belongs to me, appear as the contracting party. I’ve saved the surprise—and the shock, I’d say—of seeing her again for now that she’s already signed.

There is even a meeting scheduled in a few days.

“And you know what’s more incredible?” Yuri asks, having no idea where my thoughts are headed. “Despite her success, she’s as sweet as a pot of honey. Kind, polite, shy. Incredibly, she hasn’t been tainted by the arrogance that people with her type of beauty usually have.”

I think about what he’s saying, and I can’t disagree. Despite the way she left me without an eye-to-eye conversation, Zoe has traits that made her admired in the fashion world: she doesn’t have fits of stardom, and according to what is being said, she’s very easy to work with .

The only thing no one suspects is that there is a block of ice where her heart is supposed to be.

“Can I ask you something?” says Yuri.

“No, but I know you will anyway.”

“Why did you offer her so much? I mean, I’m not saying she doesn’t deserve it, but . . .”

“I wanted her. I never bet to lose.” I know I’m not being rational; I let myself be completely carried away by desire—whether for her or for revenge—but the fact is that I want her within reach.

He is silent, and reluctantly, I look away from the photographs to face him.

I’m not the most patient man in the world.

“Huh . . . I don’t know how to say what I’m thinking without being obtrusive.”

“You were never known for being discreet to begin with.”

“When you said you want her . . . is that figuratively, like as her employer, or literally ?”

“As an employer,” I say quickly, giving him no further space for questioning, but then I fuck it up as the words escape my mouth. “What matters is that from now on, she is mine.”

“Yours,” he echoes but doesn’t elaborate, although I suppose he understands what I didn’t say.

It’s the result of years of working together, I think. He knows me well. I never interfere when hiring a model, but with Zoe, I followed the process step-by-step, even offering more when her agent asked and agreeing to the no-nudity clause—which I would have left out anyway.

The truth is, as much as I tried to fight it, I knew my story with Zoe was just waiting to happen. What happened in Spain was an appetizer. We didn’t have closure, and I don’t leave any loose ends in my life. But from the moment I found out she was married, I changed my plans.

I don’t go after another man’s wife, so I kept watching her, and I have to confess that it gives me a petty satisfaction to see that Zoe isn’t happy.

The goddess hardly ever smiles, which makes it pretty clear she is not living her fairy tale .

We almost met at events twice, but I avoided her. I didn’t know if I could control my desire.

I also looked up the husband and didn’t like what I found. He is a boastful, conceited little man who considers himself the quintessence of wisdom. I met many professors like him when I studied at the same university where he works as an assistant professor, individuals who need to diminish young people to feel better.

In addition, there are rumors of his involvement with students—current and former—including after they got married.

What kind of motherfucker would cheat on his wife just a few months after getting married?

That’s none of your business, my mind warns, but that never applies to her.

“From your interest in her, I assume you’ll be attending the meeting next week?”

“Yes. Why?”

“No big deal, I was just thinking about some rumors I heard.”

“I don’t like gossip.”

“It’s not gossip, but maybe it’s something that piques your interest.”

“Speak, Yuri.”

“There’s a story going around that her marriage has ended.”

“What?”

“Yes, it seems that just six months after getting married, the dream is over. Soon, Zoe Turner will be single.”

After dumping that on me, he leaves.

I get up and go to the window, trying to pretend the information is irrelevant to me.

But the only conclusion to which I come is that since Zoe Turner came into my life, I’ve become an expert at lying to myself.