The Tycoon's Marriage Exchange (3 page)

Or was he the kind of man who thought of marriage as a forever kind of contract? 
He was reputed in the business world to be brutal, but also respected and honorable.  One didn’t gain that reputation without a great deal of experience behind it.

No way, she thought.  Although she didn’t know much about the man, she knew that he regularly escorted fabulously glamorous women to functions all over the world.  He’d reputedly had an affair with one of the biggest
Hollywood
actresses
, and several models, even a ballerina.  She doubted he was the kind of man who would want
`
to be stuck with one female for the rest of his life.
  Especially a female like herself who had no glamour, no fabulous career and minimal connections that could assist him in his business dealings. 

“So when were you planning
to have
the wedding?
  Any ideas on what time of the year?  Perhaps a spring or fall wedding?
” Aella was asking
, looking to Kallista hopefully
.

“Soon,” Hector announced before
Kallista
could
reply
.  Which was probably a good thing because she might have said something like “A year or so,” instead of the ambiguous “Soon”. 

Her mother beamed and sat up a bit straighter in her chair.  “I’ll have to organize an engagement party. 
Between the two of us, w
e can get that done in the next month or so, can’t we
Kallista
?”

“We’ll be married in two weeks,” Hector announced
with his deep, strong voice
, surprising the whole group.  “And
Kallista
has asked if we can have the engagement party at my house because she likes my backyard so much.  I know that’s an imposition to ask
, but I hope
that’s okay.”

Aella was startled at first, but
Kallista
again saw that flash of relief
in her mother’s eyes
and her heart sank
even lower
, both at how oblivious she had become to her parents’ troubles as well as the trap that that was slowly closing around her future. 

“O
h
, goodness, how could I mind?  Your backyard is exceptionally beautiful
with all of that magnificent landscaping and stunning views of both the city and the sea
.”  She turned to
Kallista
and smiled, “It was very nice of you to think of something like that. 
It s
hows that you have a
good
eye for entertaining which will be important for your new role as Hector’s wife.”

And that was something
Kallista
hadn’t realized would be on her plate of responsibilities.  A new
issue to worry about, she thought as her mother started listing all the things they would have to arrange for an engagement party. 

Her mother was eager, excited and deliriously happy while her father simply looked on with pride and acceptance for whatever his wife decreed. 

Hector saw where things were going and stepped in to circumvent any delays. 
“We’ll have the engagement party next week, and the wedding the following week.  I know that’s not very conventional, but we’ll just have to insult some people’s sense of protocol since I want the wedding to take place sooner rather than later.”

Aella’s hand quickly went to her throat.  “Is there a reason the wedding needs to happen so soon?” she asked, looking
worriedly
from
Kallista
to Hector. 

Kallista
was quick to understand her meaning
and pretended like her face wasn’t flaming with color. 
“Of course not!” she replied emphatically.  She was blushing painfully and couldn’t look across the table, not wanting to see the derision on Hector’s features.  “Goodness, I would tell you if that were the case.”

“So what’s the rush?”

“I have business in New York and London in the next few weeks so I wanted to announce the engagement officially as soon as possible so
Kallista
can accompany me.  I wouldn’t want her reputation to be hurt by attending these functions without my ring on her finger.
  And I wanted to give you time to make the announcement instead of the press seeing us together and making suppositions on their own.
”  He was speaking to her parents, but
Kallista
knew t
hat the words were soothing to her parents as well, and would allow them to save face with their friends and neighbors.  And when she didn’t show up pregnant so soon after the wedding, their suspicions would be dismissed. 

The relief and acceptance on her mother’s face was instant and Kallista relaxed.  At least until her next words. 
“Goodness!  If we have a party to organize in a week,
Kallista
, you and I have a lot we need to get done.  No more running around with all your friends for a while, eh?”

Her mother and father knew she worked, even to the point of accepting her choice of professions, but they thought she only did entertainment pieces or reported on social issues. 
“I suppose you’re right,” she said, looking at her water glass, her heart sinking as she tried to figure out how she was going to investigate her story when she had to help her mother plan what was probably going to be a huge bash.  Something her parents couldn’t afford. 

Hector immediately stepped in, once again to the rescue. 
“I have a caterer I use for business functions that is able to get food ready quickly.  They do an excellent job too.  I’ll have my secretary send over the name and contact information.”

Kallista
suddenly realized what he was doing.  By having the party in his backyard, and using his caterer, he was arranging it so that he paid for most of the party.  With gratitude, she looked across at him, smiling her thanks.  He nodded slightly, acknowledging her thanks without letting her parents see their silent interchange. 

After dinner, Hector apologized and said he had some business calls to make.  “Would you walk me out?” he asked, turning to
Kallista
.

She stood up immediately and ignored her parents knowing smile.  Walking Hector to the door was a very odd sensation.  He was so tall that her head barely topped his shoulder even in her heels.  And he seemed larger, broader for some reason tonight. 

Maybe she was just tired but she wanted
the evening
to be over
so she could collapse and let her mind sift through the events of the day, try to make sense of everything
. 

“You did well tonight,” he said and looked down at her in the dim light of the foyer. 
He slid his hands into the pockets of his slacks so he wouldn’t touch her, wouldn’t be tempted to find out what the skin on her cheeks felt like or test the softness of her silky brown tresses. 
“You’re parents are happy and relieved.”

Kallista forced a smile on her face and hid her hands behind her back.  She wished she could get over this silly feeling she had every time he was close but her knees were wobbly and her mouth felt dry, her hands were shaky and she had the embarrassing suspicion that he knew she wanted to touch him, to find out what was underneath that immaculate suit he wore. 
“Yes.  Thank you for coming to the rescue.  I had no idea that things were as bad as they were, even with all those numbers you were discussing with me earlier today.”

“Numbers you completely ignore
d,” he said with a half smile as he looked down at the top of her head. 

She laughed and
glanced up at him, her blue eyes dancing with acceptance that she’d been caught
. “Was it that obvious?”

He chuckled and shifted slightly. 
“A little.”

She grimaced and stole another peek at his dark features. 
“I never claimed to be a numbers person.  I always hated math.”

“Don’t worry,” he said and bowed slightly in a formal, almost old fashioned
way.  “I can now start the ball
rolling to resolve this issue although I doubt your father will allow me to do much until after the wedding.  Which is one of the reasons why we need to be married so soon. 
I’ll need to move quickly to reinforce your father’s company.”

Gone was the fleeting tenderness she thought she saw, and back was the tough, unrelenting businessman. 
“I understand.  I’ll do what I can to help.”

“
Y
ou’re already doing it,” he said and opened the door, nodding to her slightly before he left. 

Kallista
walked up the stairs to her old room, glad that she still had some clothes here since she didn’t have an easy way to get back to her place.  She smiled slightly as she wondered if Hector thought it was better for her to be with her parents than at her own place, or if he’d just forgotten that she didn’t live here any longer.  Good grief, she was twenty-four years old, of course she wouldn’t be living with her parents. 

She wondered about the odd expression she’d seen on his face when she’d asked about living with his parents.  Had she seen a flash of pain?  Or was that just male dominance?  Or perhaps he thought there was a difference between men and women.  Maybe he thought that women should either live with their parents or their husbands, never alone or without male supervision because they were inferior, stupid, and needed male guidance. 

She didn’t think that was the case.  He didn’t strike her as misogynistic.  Arrogant, opinionated, exceptionally intelligent and perhaps more than a bit domineering.  Not a woman hater, though. 

As she got ready for bed that night, she smiled at how
thoughtful
it was that Hector ha
d realized her parents wouldn’t
be able to pay for
an
engagement party
, much less the lavish one they’d like to give for their only child
.  He really was a nice man, she thought. 

If only she could understand him! 

Chapter
3

Seven days later,
Kallista
walked into Hector’s house and was stunned by both the size and the beauty of the edifice.  It was definitely in the
Greek
style with the columns and the marble, making the areas feel
cool and taking advantage of any
breezes coming off the sea
.  B
ut it was so large, she actually got lost trying to find her way back to the living room
from the suite Hector had showed her to in order to get ready for the party
.  A servant had
given her directions
, but there were so many twists and turns trying to come back that she had no idea whether to turn right or left. 

Turning right took her to the kitchen which meant she was close, but by that time, she was so confused she couldn’t figure out how to get back and had to ask one of the kitchen staff where to go. 
She felt guilty disturbing the workers as they were all bustling about, trying to finalize the immense platters filled with delicious smelling appetizers, but there was no other way to find
the correct room
.

Hector had sent over a credit card to her parents
’
house and she wanted to return it to him before the party.  And she had to admit that there was a small part of her that wanted him to see her in her new dress.  She’d selected it with him in mind, hoping he might like it.  The silver lace bodice
deliciously
hugged her figure from her neck to her waist, then flared out to end about midway down her thighs.  She loved her legs and worked hard to stay in shape
by running at least five miles a day, pushing herself up hill
s
and loving the challenge of beating her previous run time
. 
The hem of the dress ended with enough expanse of leg to show off her muscles, making all the pain of those hills worthwhile. 

The shining dress with her silver shoes made her feel pretty and sexy
and she really wanted to impress Hector since he was doing so many nice things for her parents.  She also wanted to show him that she wouldn’t embarrass him as his wife, if it came to that. 

When she finally reached the living room where bartenders were setting up at opposite ends of the room, the man she was looking for was nowhere to be seen. 
A servant mentioned that he was still in his office working and
Kallista
frowned
, wondering if this party was a burden to his schedule
. 

Everyone was rushing about, trying to get things prepared for the party.  The caterer was cooking frantically, flowers adorned just about every flat surface and there were valets, cleaners, someone to handle coats and so many men around that looked like security but surely that was unnecessary, wasn’t it?  It  was just a party and the number of security personnel seemed a bit out of control.