A Perfect Love: International Billionaires VI: The Greeks (24 page)

“I paid him off.”

Her eyes shot open and she gaped at him. “You paid him off?”

“I paid him the exact amount he gave you.” Rafe’s eyes gleamed. Shone with a light she hadn’t seen in ten long years. The light she’d written about in her teenage journal. The light she’d thought lost forever.

Her mind went blank. “Gave me?”

“Ten years ago.”

The rush of the wind outside filled the silence with a hushed roar. She couldn’t understand any of this; it was all too much to take in. And more than anything else, what she saw in his eyes was too much. She wouldn’t let herself dream anymore. Not about this man. “You need to leave.”

“I’m not done.” He shuffled his feet before planting them in a solid stance. The posture told her she’d have to physically throw him out. That wasn’t an option, though. She didn’t want to get near him and do something stupid.

“You promised to leave after five minutes.” She wanted to strangle him for what he’d done and what he was doing now to her poor, broken heart. Instead, she grabbed her tea cup.

“You promised to love me forever.” His gaze bore into hers. “We’ve both broken promises.”

“I had a good reason.” She hung on to her anger, deciding to place the cup on the table rather than throwing it at him like she wanted. “But it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“It matters a great deal.” His gaze didn’t drop, his feet didn’t shuffle. “Haimon told me why, Tammy. Why you broke it off with me years ago.”

Stunned surprise slid through her. “No, he didn’t. He wouldn’t have.”

Rafe stuck out two fingers, rubbing them together in the international sign of money. “He told me quite a few things.”

“He told you, huh?” The old anguish, the anguish which had woven through most of her life, causing her endless despair, rose in a howl. “Did he tell you I had to make a choice between you and my brothers? Did he tell you he banned me from contacting you? Did he tell you the only way I could guarantee you had a future was by saying I didn’t love you to your face?”

Her shrieked questions filled the room with her emotions. The drum of the rain on the roof served as a pounding refrain to the pain-filled words. Something hard and cold, like a knife’s blade, tore her inside.

“Not all of it.” Rafe’s eyes blurred with tears. “However, you just told me the rest.”

Tam wrapped her shaking arms around her, wanting to take the knife inside and stick it in his heart and then use it to cut the last threads of this horrible connection between them. This connection that had cost them both too much, hurt both of them too long. “Then you know there’s no need to give me your company. I did what I thought was best years ago.”

“You also did what you thought was best a month ago.” Closing his eyes, he leaned his head back, despair written all over his face.

She stared at him, surprised at the understanding running through his voice. Misery swelled inside. Maybe she should have told him, believed in him, yet she hadn’t. Now it was too late. “I wanted to tell you Haimon was lurking around, begging for money, but…but…”

“You thought I wouldn’t believe you.” His head shot up, his eyes shot open and the ink black swirled with pain. “You would have been right.”

Misery slinked away, replaced by the familiar fury sapping her soul. “You didn’t trust me, I could tell.”

“Tammy—”

“You still don’t trust me.”

“Really?” Bending down, he swiped the papers from the coffee table. “I trust you enough to give my company to you.”

“I don’t want it.” What she wanted to do was slip into her bed, pull the covers over her head, and never come back out. Closing her eyes against him, she leaned her head back, hoping he’d get the message this conversation was done; they were done.

Her withdrawal filled the room with a stilted silence.

“I have something else to give you,” he finally said.

God help her. His gifts were like poison. Vicious, soul-destroying poison dripping into her resolve and contaminating her future. She kept her eyes closed. “I don’t want anything more from you. Other than I want you to go away.”

“Look,” he demanded.

The command should have shot steel down her spine. All she felt instead was weariness. She opened her eyes, ready inspect this last gift and then he’d go. He had to go.

He slid another envelope onto the coffee table. “Open it.”

She stared at it with dull horror.

“Please, Tammy.”

The plea again. And exactly as before, it jolted her into doing what he wanted.

This letter, an acceptance letter, was simple to understand and impossible to believe.

“You’re going to medical school?” She would have winced at her shrill cry, but she was too astounded to care.

“
Nai
.” He stared at her, his gaze resolute. “So you see, I need someone to run the company. You.”

The thought of her, Tamsin Drakos, taking over a multi-billion dollar company… “You’re being absurd.”

“Am I?” A crooked smile twisted his mouth. “Then, let’s be absurd together.”

Together. She stared at him in shock.

“I’m sorry.” His words were simple, yet what shone from his black eyes wasn’t. It was profound. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you when we met again.”

Sudden tears blinded her for a moment, the sweet words so surprising in their simplicity they caught her breath from her lungs.

“I’m sorry I didn’t realize you were a virgin when we made love the first time.” He caressed the word
love
, stretched the vowel and highlighted the meaning so clearly, she couldn’t ignore his intent.

She wouldn’t believe. She couldn’t believe. There wasn’t anything left in her to dream a dream about him.

A stricken look crossed his face at her continued silence, but then he stiffened, his mouth tightening. “Can you say I’m sorry too?”

“What?” She blinked, the tears clearing from her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Can you say, I’m sorry that ten years ago I didn’t trust you with the truth, Rafe?”

A gurgle of regret choked her throat. Because he was right. If she’d told him, they’d have found a way. She would have still gone to London with the boys. She would have left a man behind who loved her, though, and would have waited for her. She shouldn’t have taken Haimon’s deal. Rafe and his family would have been strong enough to overcome on their own.

He kept his gaze on her, a dogged look in his eyes. “Because I think if you can say that, then we can do anything, Tammy. Anything together.”

No words came. The pain and memories and love were too full inside her.

Rafe sighed and his shoulders slumped. Tam wanted to speak, she wanted to because she could see the defeat crossing his face. But she couldn’t force any words out; there was too much inside.

“Okay, you won’t say you’re sorry, too.” He gazed at her, his face grave. “I’m still going to give you this last gift.”

“Why did you build our house?” She still didn’t have all the pieces to believe. She still didn’t have all the courage to leap into his arms. She yearned to, yet she still bled inside.

Shock filled his expression. “You must know.”

“I don’t know anything.” The truth cut her. She loved him, yet she didn’t understand him.

“Tammy.” His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. “I built the house because I thought it was the only thing I’d ever have of you.”

His confession wrenched the hard, cold knife to a stop inside her. The stark tone in his voice told her he was telling her the truth. She took it in, the words, the look in his eyes, the way he stood in front of her, completely open for the first time in ten years.

“I built the house on the frantic hope that someday you’d walk back in my life.”

“You hated me.” She pushed the accusation out.

“I hated you because after you left, nothing was ever right.” He brushed his long fingers over his mouth, as if he were surprised at his words. “All my work, all my days, everything was merely a ghost of what my life should have been.”

“Can still be,” she whispered. His dreams had died as surely as hers had. She saw the pain she felt in his gaze, heard the anguish in his voice that she held in hers. The knife slid out of her heart, disappearing in the mist of the past.

His head jerked up and his expression turned intense. Whatever he saw on her face and in her eyes appeared to give him courage. “I don’t hate you, Tammy.”

She held her breath.

“I love you.” He kneeled in front of the futon. “I always have. I always will.”

“I know.” The anger and fear and rage she’d felt for years, dropped away, leaving her feeling fresh and young and alive. Layers of grief slid from her heart and washed out of her life forever. “I know.”

“If you know.” He gulped and reached into his pocket. A small, white satin jewelry box landed on the coffee table. “Will you marry me, Tamsin?”

The crack at the end of his voice, the uncertainty in his gaze, made her heart sing. This arrogant, demanding man was willing to risk his pride to win her hand, even if apparently, he wasn’t sure of her heart. “Rafe.”

“Accept me, Tam.” His gaze never wavered. “I’m not perfect, and I have a lot to make up for, but if you give me a chance, I’ll make you happy. I promise.”

“You promise, huh?” She gifted him with a soft smile.

Hope sprung onto his face. “A promise I’ll keep.”

She stared at him, knowing he would. Believing, finally believing in her dreams again. “Rafe—”

“I know you might need to think about this.” He grabbed the satin box and jerked it open, uncovering a dazzling, pear-shaped rose diamond. “But you can keep this with you until you decide.”

“I’m not perfect either.”

Her confession stopped his hands. His long fingers tightened on the box as he turned his head to look at her. What he saw made his eyes light. Light with the love she’d needed for years. “Tammy?”

“I’m sorry, Rafe.” The words came now, flowing across her tongue like a long-released dam. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you with the truth years ago.”

With a choked laugh, he grabbed her, yanking her to the floor with him. “Say it, Tam. Please say it.”

“I love you.” She beamed at him, free of the past.

His hands tightening on her arms, he kissed her. The taste of him, rich and warm and sweet, made her whole.

He leaned back to stare at her. “Will you marry me, Tammy?”

“Yes.” She smiled through her happy tears. “I will.”

“
Eláte
.” His fingers plucked the ring from the satin box. “Give me your hand.”

She slipped her hand into his one more time. And this time it was forever.

“
T
amsin Cleary Vounó
.”

The announcer’s voice reverberated above the clapping crowd, filling the giant hall with his deep voice.

Tam clutched the edge of her black gown as she crossed the stage. The Dean of Economics and Business smiled at her, his shaggy white hair bouncing as he nodded encouragement. Did she appear like she needed it? Was he worried she’d trip carrying her extra weight? Or perhaps her excitement appeared to be nerves.

She wasn’t nervous.

She was proud.

Proud of what she’d achieved and proud of her extra weight.

As the scroll proclaiming her degree slipped into her hands, she barely managed to stuff down the shriek of happiness. It had taken her eight long years to get to this point. Yet it had all been worth it.

She had an MBA degree.

Smiling one more time at the dean, she strutted off the stage. The feeling of accomplishment swirled inside her along with a heavy dose of relief. Finally, she’d be able to take over the rest of Rafe’s work so he could do what he was meant to do full-time.

Finding her seat among the throng of fellow graduates, she turned her head, scanning the audience behind her.

She couldn’t spot any of them. She knew they were there, though. Ready to celebrate her success.

After seemingly endless minutes, the last of the graduates had their scrolls and Tam joined in the loud yell as all the students jumped and hugged and laughed. She’d made many friends during these past months, even if most of the students were younger than her by a dozen years. She’d miss many of them, but there were a chosen few she planned on adding to her team at the company. Her friends would now become her colleagues.

Excitement bubbled inside her.

Breaking away from the continued celebration, she edged around the crowd and scanned the audience once more. Most of the mothers and fathers had left their seats and were winding their way to their loved one.

Where were they?

“Tam.” A deep, loud voice had her turning to look in the opposite direction.

There. There they were. Aarōn laughed and waved as he walked toward her. His voice was soon joined by an equally deep one.

“You did it!” Isaák beamed his usual broad smile as he pushed his way through the last of the crowd separating them. His big shoulders crowded out the rest of her vision as he pulled her into a hug.

His twin ambled over. “My turn, idiot.”

Another powerful hug enveloped her. Tam smiled, all at once wistful. She still found herself amazed sometimes that her boys were now fully grown men. They both towered above her and teased her about the fact every time she saw them. Which wasn’t often. At twenty-one, they had far better things to do than hang out with a sister. Like getting their own degrees and chasing girls in their spare time.

Today, however, was different.

Today was her day.

“Where are the rest?” she asked.

“Somewhere back there.” Aarōn waved a negligent hand behind him.

“They’ll get here eventually.” Isaák smiled at her. “But we wanted to get here first.”

“To be the first to congratulate you.”

Her boys. Launched into the world and a testament to the love she’d given them. If only Haimon had loved them as she had, maybe he wouldn’t have disappeared from their lives forever. Instead, maybe, somehow she could have given him a slice of the twins’ lives. But Rafe had confessed he’d told Haimon to leave and never come back, and for once the old man had kept his promise. In all these years, she’d never heard a word. Perhaps it was for the best.

“Rafe’s going to be angry,” Aarōn sniggered.

Isaák’s eyes twinkled as he glanced at his brother. “Yeah, he sure is.”

“Why?” She frowned, her happy emotions cut short. This was her day. She didn’t want anyone being anything except happy.

“He warned us.” By the expression on Aarōn’s face, he didn’t seem to be too worried.

“He wanted to be the first to hug you,” his twin chimed in. “You should have seen the look on his face when we took off to find you.”

Tam’s frown disappeared. “Oh, you both are teasing—”

“No, both of us aren’t,” Isaák said. “He’s going to be mad.”

“The poor guy’s saddled with so much extra baggage, though, it’s impossible for him to be faster than us.” Aarōn’s grin was as wide as his brother’s.

She knew these threats and dire predictions were merely a sham. This was only the usual between the twins and her husband. The boys loved to rib their uncle and he loved to rib them right back. Rafe might cuff both of the boys when he got here, but it would be with affection.

“Tamsin.” Rhachel’s shriek made the three of them turn their heads. Her sister-in-law bounded toward them, a big smile on her face. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” She smiled as she received another warm hug. “It feels great to get this done.”

“You have every right to feel super great,” Rhachel said. “It’s a huge accomplishment.”

“It did take her eight long years.” Isaák’s eyes lit with teasing. “That’s a long time.”

“Well, she did have some other things going on.” His aunt stepped toward him and gave his shoulder a shove. “Like taking care of you and your brother.”

“And assorted others,” Aarōn said wryly.

“Tamsin.” Nephele’s smile was wide and bright as she walked up to the group. A line of laughing, giggling grandchildren trailed behind her.

With one swoop, she found herself in the familiar arms of someone who’d become beyond dear to her. The woman’s signature scent of lilacs swirled in her nose and Tam’s eyes welled with grateful tears. Nephele had given her something she’d never had.

“
Mamá
,” she whispered in the older woman’s ear.

“Congratulations.” Her mother-in-law eased out of the embrace to gaze into Tam’s eyes. “You worked so hard for this, for so long. I’m proud of you.”

For a moment, she thought of Skylla, so broken and damaged she’d never once given her daughter anything but negative. Yet Tam had long ago forgiven her and now was not the time to dredge up old hurts.

Now was the time to be supremely happy.

“Tamsin.” Rhouth broke through the throng of gathering relatives, her amber eyes warm, her face filled with an affectionate greeting. “You did it, girlfriend.”

“I did, didn’t I?” She threw her arms around the woman, laughing with delight. Rhouth had just given birth three days ago and Tam hadn’t been sure she should be here. Still, her best friend had been adamant. This was Tamsin’s special day and nothing would cause her to miss it.

“I’m so glad you’re done.” Her best friend eased back from the hug they shared.

“I am too. Now, Rafe can practice medicine full time.”

“He’ll finally do what he was meant to do all along.”

“Yes.” A wash of tears filled Tam’s eyes. “He’s been so patient.”

“Of course he has.” Rhouth’s mouth curved into a knowing smile. “He’d do anything for you. Plus the distractions have been as much his fault as yours.”

She laughed. “True.”

“And the company had to keep operating.”

Her company. Viper Enterprises might still have the guiding hand of its founder holding the reins of power, but during the last two years, she had steadily taken on more and more of the daily decisions. This MBA degree would only solidify a respect she’d been developing among the staff. She loved the business, much more than her husband. Now she’d have a chance to take full control of it, freeing Rafe to go full-time in the fledgling pediatric practice he’d started four years ago when he’d graduated from medical school.

“Just think. Rafe will be doing what he promised his father he’d do.” A deep stab of satisfaction and joy ran through her. “What he should have been doing all his life.”

Rhouth looked her straight in the eye, a grave smile on her face. “Because of you. If you hadn’t walked back into his life and forced him to see what was in front of him, my brother would have been too stubborn to do it on his own.”

“Well—”

“Thank you.” Her best friend hugged her again with a fierce grip. “Thank you for giving us back our Raphael.”

“Don’t make me cry.” She smiled through her tears.

“Okay, okay. I’ll leave it that I couldn’t be happier you’ll be doing what you do best, and my brother will be doing what he does best.”

“Exactly.” Giving Rhouth another smile, she turned around to stare into the sea of people. “Speaking of which—where is he?”

“I’m right here.”

Tam jerked around and finally spotted her husband. He strode over to the crowd of Vounós, a grin on his face for them all, but his black gaze centered on her.

“Took you awhile,” Aarōn crowed.

She glanced down at the obvious reason for the delay. The child stroller Rafe pushed was filled with three of the most important people in her life. One of them was sobbing as if her life were ending.

“I’m afraid Téleia isn’t the center of attention.” Rafe’s mouth quirked. “So she’s mad.”

“Té.” Bending down, she plucked her five-year-old daughter out of the stroller. “Shush, now.
Mamá
’s here.”

Aarōn knelt in front of the other two children in the stroller. “No temper tantrums from my two guys, huh?”

“Of course not.” Isaák tugged one of the babies out of his straps and lifted him high above him. “Ben and Loukas are too cool to cry.”

The one-year-old twins cried all the time. Yet today they appeared to be on their best behavior, thank goodness.

“
Mamá
.” Téleia brushed her fingers across her cheeks, the glitter of the silver and pearl bracelet that was her prized possession sparkling in the light. Her green eyes glittered with stray tears. “Let’s go home.”

Home, Tam knew, meant Sparti where Titus awaited to charm his favorite human being. From the moment the dog had spotted Té’s dark curls bouncing in her father’s grasp, he’d been a devoted slave. “Soon, Té.” She kissed the wet cheeks. “Soon.”

“Guess who got to hug Tam first, Rafe?” Isaák grinned as he snuggled Loukas into his big arms. The baby gurgled, the blond fluff of his head waving like a white cloud around his head, contentment filling his face as he lay in the grasp of someone who loved him unconditionally.

“It’s not the first that matters, but the last.” A warm hand slipped across her stomach. “How’s our baby?”

“She’s fine.” Another child on the way in two short months. Sometimes Tam wondered whether she and Rafe would be able to handle the children, the work, the schooling, but then her strong, loving husband would take her in his arms and cuddle her fears away. And somehow, with the help of the family, the nanny they’d hired, and the loyal staff at Viper Enterprises everything important always got done.

“
Kardiá
mou
.” A long-fingered hand nudged Tam’s chin and her gaze met his intense one. “You did it.”

“Yes. I did.” Her smile felt as wide as the Aegean sea. “Aren’t you proud?”

“
Nai
, very proud.” Rafe’s eyes held the familiar darkness mixed with the light of love. “Proud to be your husband.”

“Oh, Raphael.” She leaned into his hand, his palm cupping her face. “Everything’s going to be perfect now.”

“Now, Tammy?” A dark brow arched and a smile edged his mouth. “It already is.”