The Greek's Baby Bargain (12 page)

 

His eyes darkened as he slipped his hands into his pockets. “Why is that?” he asked.

Emma shrugged and busied herself with putting on her watch. “Perhaps I didn’t think I deserved them.” She shivered at how close that statement came to her secret and quickly spoke to cover her mistake. “Are you saying that you kept all the jewelry? You haven’t sold it or given it to someone else?”

“Why would I give it to someone else?” he asked.

Emma turned away, frantically coming up with a change of subject. “I don’t know.” Sighing, she checked her watch. “Shouldn’t we head downstairs?” she suggested.

“In a moment,” he asked and walked over to the dressing table and pulled out the hidden safe. Pressing the buttons, the lock released and Emma watched in horror as he pulled out the diamond and ruby necklace he gave to her on their honeymoon. She’d worn it several times during their marriage, had even chosen dresses so she would have an excuse to wear it. She didn’t love the necklace because of its monetary value although she suspected it was worth more than most people’s houses. The value of this necklace, in Emma’s mind, was completely sentimental. Dmitri had given her this necklace the night of their wedding after the most wonderful lovemaking imaginable. Lying in bed, naked and sipping champagne, he’d pulled a flat box out from underneath the pillow. When Emma had gasped in disbelief at the amazing stones glittering from the black velvet, Dmitri had chuckled and draped it around her neck. Then proceeded to make love to her once again.

Staring at the gorgeous necklace in his large hand, she shivered as the memories flowed through her, causing her heart to ache with pain. “I can’t wear that,” she whispered, her words strangled as she struggled to speak through a throat that had suddenly closed up.

“Why not?” he asked, advancing on her, the glittering jewels dangling from his fingers like sparkling rain.

 

“It doesn’t match my dress,” she replied lamely. “Of course it does,” he countered. “Turn around,” he said, stopping in front of her and waiting for her to comply with his command.

 

Emma shook her head violently. “No. I don’t want to wear those. What about the pearl necklace? That would be fine.”

 

“Nonsense. The pearls won’t look right. Turn around,” he ordered again and waited patiently while she fought her inner struggle.

There was nothing she could do but turn since he was absolutely correct. The pearls were not the right style and would look too casual for the chiffon dress. Emma turned slowly, frantically trying to come up with another excuse or a better necklace to wear. Anything that would keep those glittering diamonds and rubies from touching her skin, loving her throat with their brilliance.

She shivered when she felt the cold stones against her neck. “Problem?” he asked from behind her.

 

“No. Everything is fine,” she said, wishing she sounded more confident.

His hands finished with the clasp then laid his hands on her shoulders, turning her around. “That looks perfect. Let’s head down,” he said and left the bedroom without a backwards glance to see if she followed him.

Emma sighed heavily and looked around at the beautiful bedroom. It was like a gilded cage, she thought. And her keeper was tormenting her with desire, with a slight touch, with a look that told her he knew exactly what she was thinking, what she wanted and she’d have to demand it before she could taste the ecstasy again. The silent battle was raging and she didn’t know if she had the strength to continue.

Did he not want her any longer? Was their one night together all he needed from her? Besides the baby, she reminded herself. But did he still want that? No mention of children had been brought up for two weeks. Surely he would start demanding she fulfill the terms of their agreement, wouldn’t he?

Emma hesitated, her fingers reverently touching the necklace. Inhaling with effort, Emma turned and followed Dmitri down the stairs, startled to find him standing at the door waiting for her. “Sorry,” she whispered and quickly walked around him.

“No problem,” he replied.

The doorbell rang when they were midway down the spiral staircase but Dharr opened the door. The two people who entered were unfamiliar to Emma but Dmitri immediately moved forward to greet them.

The man was handsome but not nearly as tall or muscular as Dmitri. Emma hung back slightly, waiting patiently for an introduction. She was not in a hurry to interrupt their conversation until the woman in the tight satin dress with more cleavage than any woman had a right to own, stepped up and looped her arm through Dmitri’s. Emma had never felt fury rise up so quickly as she did at that moment. With a red haze of fury blinding her, Emma quickly moved forward, extending her hand to introduce herself.

“Good evening. I’m Emma. Dmitri’s wife,” she said, emphasizing the last word. The woman’s beautiful face looked started at first but she disengaged her arm and took Emma’s hand.

She recouped perfectly and gave a chilling smile as she shook Emma’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Emma,” the woman said, her tone patronizing. “I’m Monica Di Santori and this is my brother, David. Please forgive my surprise, but we were under the impression that our Dmitri was separated with rumors circulating that he is well on his way to a divorce. Meeting you is a…pleasant occasion,” she said, hesitating over the “pleasant” adjective.

Emma forced a smile to her face although she suspected it was just as insincere as Monica’s. “Yes, Dmitri is full of surprises, isn’t he?” she said and looped her own arm through Dmitri’s, challenging the woman to leave her partner alone. “Shall we move off to the living room for drinks while we wait for the other guests to arrive?” Emma suggested with saccharin sweetness.

“Of course,” Monica replied, obviously sizing Emma up as they moved from the marble foyer to the living room.

She smiled politely to the servant standing behind the bar. “Jimmy, a bourbon for Mr. Christophe, please.” Turning to Monica and David, she asked, “What can I get both of you to drink?” she asked.

“I’ll have the same,” David replied affably.

 

Emma smiled back, immediately liking the older gentleman. Then turned to Monica. “And for you?”

Monica shrugged her shoulders and gave her drink order directly to Jimmy, completely ignoring Emma as the hostess. Emma ignored the insult since more guests were arriving, escorted by the butler. She moved off from the trio, more than willing to get away from the irritating woman even if she were to try and get her claws into Dimitri. Let her have him, she thought as she smiled graciously at the next couple entering the living room. Perhaps then she would be able to leave this hellish existence where she waited each night for Dimitri to come to her and make love to her. It was no longer about the baby, she knew. It was now only about her desire for the man living somewhere in this huge house and her own lonely existence.

Ten more guests in all arrived and Emma greeted each with a confidence she’d never had before. Working in a bookstore and dress shop, she had come to realize that most people weren’t as intimidating as she’d thought four years ago. She glanced once at Dmitri during the pre-dinner drinks period of the evening and smothered a smile when she caught him looking at her curiously. She was proud of the confidence she’d found and wondered how much of it had to do with the fact that Stasha wasn’t here overseeing her.

Dmitri’s mother was a wonderful person and Emma had genuinely loved the woman, grateful for everything she’d taught her about entertaining. If it hadn’t been for her, Emma would have made so many mistakes, she might have hurt Dmitri’s company. But now, having to do things on her own, she found that all of Stasha’s lessons came back to her immediately and she was able to hold conversations with each of the guests, ensure that everyone had a drink in hand and the appetizers flowed smoothly. All the while, surveying the guests to make sure that no one was standing alone, feeling awkward.

When dinner was served, Emma tried to suppress the feeling of fury she felt when Monica somehow managed to sit next to Dmitri. She was too far away to hear the conversation since so many people were discussing politics and different topics at her end of the formal dining room table, but she gritted her teeth each time the obnoxious woman touched Dmitri’s arm or leaned forward, ostensibly laughing at something he or another guest said but the woman’s cleavage was too obvious to ignore as she leaned over with her amusement.

By the time the main course was brought out, the guests were laughing and the conversational level was high so Emma knew the night was a success. But all she could see was the terrible woman making obvious passes at her husband right in front of her.

She was glad when she was able to stand, indicating that the dinner portion of the meal was over. “Shall we adjourn to the living room for coffee?” she suggested. Everyone rose along with her but her eyes were glued to the opposite end of the table when Monica put a hand on Dmitri’s arm once again, but this time to stall him in the dining room.

Emma had no choice but to lead the group into the living room, leaving Dmitri and Monica alone. But she wasn’t happy. In fact, she barely heard anything people said as they all found seats in the plush living area where the sofa curved around a now blazing fire. She feigned graciousness as she helped one of the servants pour coffee and brandy, meanwhile, keeping an eye on the doorway. She was only mildly relieved when she saw the two of them enter the room but had to turn away when Monica somehow managed to maneuver them into a relatively secluded area of the room, talking privately with him and continuing to give him a good view of her cleavage.

It was almost midnight when most of the guests left. The only people remaining were Monica and David and another couple, Jeffrey and Sonya, both of whom Emma knew from the past and had greeted her warmly. As the six of them sat around the warm fire, talking and laughing, Emma grew more and more furious. Dmitri was doing nothing to push Monica away. He wasn’t actually encouraging her, but nor was he discouraging her blatant behavior. Emma had already received several pitying looks from the other guests during the evening.

“I don’t think anything of the sort,” Monica was saying with an authoritative tone, laughing in her grating way. “I think the entire conference was well encapsulated in the report written by Larry Grant. It was just published and gave a very good accounting of the education system across Europe.” She looked around at the others, waiting for their agreement of her superior knowledge and grasp of European politics.

“I think there are other opinions that weren’t well incorporated into that report,” Dmitri said softly. “What about the book you were telling me about earlier?” he asked, trying to change the subject.

The other five guests immediately understood Dimitri’s warning tone. But Monica was oblivious. She was obviously trying to impress Dimitri with her knowledge but was unknowingly insulting the other guests. “Oh, but I disagree. Anyone with any kind of a spine would have ensured that their opinions were incorporated. So whoever didn’t get included, perhaps they shouldn’t have been on the committee to begin with.”

Emma had had enough. She watched as Sonya’s hand gently touched Jeffrey’s tense arm and was impressed when she saw him visibly relax under his wife’s gentle charm, the two of them exchanging a look. Emma knew she should keep her mouth shut. She saw that both Jeffrey and Sonya were overlooking Monica’s rude comments but Emma was not that kind and she just couldn’t sit around any longer while the irritating woman tried to steal her husband. If she’d been a little more subtle, then maybe Emma would have ignored it. But good manners and a sincere appreciation for Jeffrey’s efforts were more important now.

“I beg to differ with you, Monica,” Emma said, her voice polite but her eyes were hard as she watched the other woman tear her gaze away from Dmitri.

 

Monica laughed with a patronizing tone and said, “Of course you do, dear. That’s very nice of you.”

Emma could not take it any longer. “Personally, I thought that Mr. Grant’s text was tedious and difficult to read, containing numerous run on sentences. In fact, there’s a different book that has just recently been published which is much more articulate but has the virtue of being succinct. I thought it was very poor that Mr. Grant took three pages to say the same thing this newer, more professional version said in one paragraph.”

Monica’s smile faded slightly when Emma sounded so authoritative. But Emma wasn’t finished. “In fact, I think the only good aspect of Mr. Grant’s version of the conference and the outcome was his press agent.” Turning to Jeffrey, she smiled politely. “Jeffrey, you were on the committee yourself. Perhaps the book you just published should receive a better agent. I know a woman named Sylvia Tyler from London. She’s an old school friend of mine. I’ll give her a ring tomorrow and perhaps there’s something that can be done to improve your version of the education situation.”

Sonya had started smiling when Emma began speaking but her smile broke into a grin when Emma spoke up, defending her husband.

 

Jeffrey winked at her as he said, “I’d be forever grateful for your help, Emma.”

Emma nodded happily. “You deserve it. I didn’t agree with Mr. Grant’s pedantic, stuffy evaluation nor his use of membership on the committee for his own benefit. Your version is more comprehensive and inclusive and definitely should be heard by a wider audience.”

Monica’s face clearly showed her embarrassment at insulting what was obviously a good friend of Dmitri’s as well as being uninformed of the topic she’d been patronizing about. “Well, its good to have friends in high places, isn’t it Jeffrey?” she asked, trying desperately to recover.

David burst out laughing and stood up. “I believe I’ll drag my sister out of here on that note.” Walking over to Emma, he took her hand in his and said, “It was indeed a pleasure to meet you Emma Christophe. I hope this isn’t the last time our paths cross.” He kissed her hand gallantly, then turned to Sonya and Jeffrey. “Jeffrey, please excuse my rude sister. She meant no insult in your direction,” he excused. “I’ll make sure to pick up a version of your book tomorrow. Good luck with Emma’s press agent. I hope that works out both for you as well as for our education system.”