The Greek Boss's Demand

Not as hard as you are to forget. The thought sprang from nowhere, and as much as Alex hated the truth of it, it was undeniable.

He hadn't forgotten, either. But the way he looked at her now told her he was remembering different things—like the way she'd turned her back on him. The way she'd left him cold.

He was a different person from that boy she'd met so long ago. Well, she'd changed, too. She was older, wiser, a mother. The mother of his son!

 

Trish Morey is a hot new Australian author! Harlequin Presents
^®
is proud to present Trish's passionate and provocative debut novel THE GREEK BOSS'S DEMAND

Harlequin Presents
^®

They're the men who have everything—except brides…

Wealth, power, charm—what else could a handsome tycoon need? In THE GREEK TYCOONS miniseries, you have already met some gorgeous Greek multimillionaires who are in need of wives.

Now meet tall, dark and handsome Nick Santos in Trish Morey's
The Greek Boss's Demand

This tycoon thought he was rekindling a romance but discovers there's more at stake than just his passion!

Coming in March:
The Greek's Seven-Day Seduction
by Susan Stephens
#2455

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

EPILOGUE

A
PROPERTY
company!

What was Nick Santos supposed to do with a half-share in a property company all the way over here in Australia? Especially one that by rights should have gone in its entirety to his cousin Sofia.

Taking note of the flashing light over his head, Nick duly fastened his seat belt for the descent into Sydney.

He'd never thought of his uncle Aristos as having a sense of humour, but he had to have been joking to come up with this scheme.

Half the company on condition that he stay and head up the business for six months, teaching Sofia whatever she needed to know to run the business herself.

It was crystal-clear what his late uncle had intended by his strange bequest. Nick was no stranger to the practice of arranged marriages, and he wasn't about to have one foisted on him.

As soon as he'd paid his respects to Sofia he'd gift her the balance of the company by leaving Australia and forfeiting his share of the inheritance. He didn't need the hassle when there were more important issues to consider at home—even if he had left the
business in the safe hands of Dimitri, his second in charge.

He settled back into his seat, taking in the view as the plane came in for landing.

So this was Sydney. He caught a glimpse of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with the Opera House nestled alongside—architectural icons of the busy harbour—before city buildings swallowed up the view and he had to content himself with watching the endless procession of red roofs and blue backyard pools skating under the plane as it descended steadily towards the airport.

In spite of the disruption to his schedules he could almost thank Aristos for finally getting him here. He'd grown up hearing tales of fortunes to be made in the new world. His mother's brother had made a success of it, that much was sure.

And he'd met a few Australians in his time. One in particular stuck in his mind—a girl he'd met on the island of Crete. Years ago now.

She'd been all pale skin and freckles, with long blonde hair and smiling blue eyes that infected you with laughter. Together they'd explored the crumbling ruins that dotted the island, and her fascination and boundless enthusiasm over the remnants of a civilisation so ancient had been contagious. She'd made him feel guilty that even as a student of archaeology he tended to take his country's rich history for granted. Yet at the same time she'd also made him
feel proud to be Greek. She had been beautiful, vibrant and spirited—and, as it turned out, fickle.

He exhaled a long breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding and stretched back travel-weary shoulders into the wide first-class seat.

The plane touched down and taxied to the terminal, finally pulling to a halt. Everyone around him was stirring, impatient from the long flight and eager to clear Customs in the least amount of time. A smiling flight attendant appeared at his arm with his jacket.

He nodded his thanks and forced his mind back to the present.

That spring was a long time ago, and right now he had more pressing problems to think about. His place was not here. He belonged back in Greece. And as soon as he had sorted out this unusual bequest that was exactly where he was headed.

A
LEX
opened the office door and slammed into her past.

Nick Santos!

She had to be dreaming. Nick was back home in Athens, running the family engineering empire. He had no business here in Sydney, standing in the foyer of the Xenophon Property Group.

Especially not today, with the office reopening after Aristos's heart attack and funeral, when she was already days behind in getting out the monthly rental invoices, and with the new boss—some far-flung relative—expected at any time.

Not today? Who was she kidding? Not ever.

But it couldn't be Nick.

She blinked, but when she opened her eyes he was still there.

And it was still Nick.

Strange how there was no way she could mistake him—how she could be so absolutely positive, even after all this time. Even though he was standing there with his back to her, talking to Sofia, still she knew it was him—sensed it was him—with just a glimpse of profile and the wave of thick, dark hair licking at the collar of his oh-so-white shirt. Knew it from his
stance, manly and confident. Knew it in the message her heart was suddenly beating.

Adrenalin danced with her pulse, readying her for fight or flight.
No contest.
There was no way her feet would move forward. Not even the welcoming scent of the coffee machine's fresh brew could beckon her inside. She would back out right now, quickly, and he would never see her. Maybe by the time she came back he'd be gone, back out of her life, back into her past where he belonged.

She let her arm go slack on the door, letting it fall back towards her. Maybe, if she was quiet…

‘There you are,' Sofia called, stepping out from behind his shoulder, looking every part the grieving daughter in her black silk skirt suit, her dark hair tied back into a sleek, high ponytail. And before she'd had a chance to respond he'd spun around, arresting her retreat with the sheer impact of his features so that the only movement she was capable of was the involuntary quiver that descended her spine. His dark eyes narrowed, his gaze sweeping her from top to toe before settling on her face. Then his nostrils flared as his lips curved ever so slightly.

‘So it is you,' he stated, his chin kicking up a notch.

She swallowed hard. In the eight-plus years since she'd seen Nick she'd often imagined what their first words would be and how he would say them if ever they met again. Not once had she imagined Nick would coldly and dispassionately come out with something like,
‘So it is you.'

‘Who were you expecting?' she said, finally convincing her muscles there was no way out of it but to push open the door and enter the lobby. ‘Kylie Minogue?'

She winced inwardly at the harshness of her words.
Damn, but how were you supposed to think in situations like this?

‘Alex?' Sofia turned from one to the other, confusion apparent on her face. ‘I want to introduce you to my cousin, Nick Santos, who arrived yesterday. But…am I missing something here?'

She couldn't talk. Her throat too tight, her mouth ashen. And all the while Nick just kept on watching her intently, until she felt pinned down in the accusing gaze of his bottomless dark eyes. He had a score to settle with her; that much his hard-edged glare made clear. Aside from that, he was obviously as unimpressed at seeing her as she was stunned at seeing him.

It was Nick who finally broke the impasse.

‘Alexandra and I have met before. Haven't we?'

Under his continuing scrutiny the laptop in her hand suddenly felt unbearably heavy, threatening to slip from her damp palm. She screwed her fingers tighter around the handle till her fingernails dug painfully but reassuringly into her skin. That was her laptop taken care of. Now she just had to focus on making sure her knees held up.

‘I guess so,' she managed at last. ‘At least I'm pretty sure we have. It was such a long time ago.'

A muscle twitched in Nick's cheek.

‘Am I so hard to remember?'

Not as hard as you are to forget.
The thought sprang from nowhere and, as much as Alex hated the truth of it, it was undeniable. Long nights alone, remembering their shared time back on Crete and wishing things could have turned out differently, were testament to that.

He hadn't forgotten either. But the way he looked at her now told her he was remembering different things—like the way she'd turned her back on him. The way she'd left him cold.

She took a deep breath, but Sofia was too impatient to wait for her response in a conversation that was obviously far too personal for her liking.

‘Spill the beans, you two. So how do you know each other?'

Nick's eyes bored into Alex. The cold heat of them was like a kick in the gut.

‘How about it? Or are you having trouble remembering that too?'

She raised her chin a fraction and shifted her gaze to Sofia. Her brain was still in shock at seeing Nick after all this time, and it was much easier trying to think while she wasn't looking directly at him. Where the damning questions in his eyes couldn't reach her.

And she had to think. Had to calm down. Sofia was still raw from the shocking death of her father. Even under the mask of her professionally applied makeup the shadows and puffiness around her eyes were
all too evident. Sofia certainly didn't need Alex's baggage on top of her own.

‘Crete. About—' She stopped and licked her lips.
No need to be too specific.
‘Some years ago. I was on holiday with my family. Nick was working in his university break on an archaeological dig. We met at the palace of Minos.'

‘Cool,' said Sofia, although Alex noted the word she'd used mirrored her tone. Sofia was obviously less than impressed. ‘So, did you know he was related to Aristos?'

‘No, I had no ide—'

A cold ooze of dread rolled over her.
God, no!
Not
that
relative of Aristos? Not the one who was taking over the company?

‘Way cool! Then I hardly have to introduce you to each other. That's going to make it easier, with you guys working together.'

Alex couldn't think of anything less cool as her world tilted and spun. When the direct line in her office rang, it was all she could do not to run and answer it.

‘Excuse me,' she said instead, adding, ‘I'm expecting this call. We'll have to catch up later.' Then she moved as quickly as she could while desperately trying to keep her balance on a planet that was shifting further off axis with every step.

She shut the door, plonked her laptop on the desk
and somehow dealt with the phone call while all the time her brain was registering only two words. Nick—
here
!

 

One hour later, Alex was still staring at the walls, the screensaver on her laptop the only sign of life in the room. How long she could stay secreted away in her office, she didn't know—but she'd do whatever it took to have as little to do with Nick Santos as possible, and until she had some sort of plan she didn't want to go anywhere near him.

It was weird, seeing him after so many years. Strange how they'd both thought themselves so grown up back then. He had seemed so strong and so much a man. At twenty-one he'd been more worldly and experienced than her. Yet now she could see how young they'd been. For it was obvious that the boy had become a man.

He looked every part the professional businessman. Gone was the long fringe that he'd used to flick out of his eyes with the toss of his head, replaced by a short, slick style. His dark features, even back then resonant with hidden depths, now seemed to sit more comfortably in a more mature face. Even his shoulders seemed broader.

He was a different person, clearly, from that boy she'd met so long ago.

Well, she'd changed too.

She was older, wiser, a mother.

The mother of his son!

Something like a garbled cry escaped from her lips.

Jason!

How in heaven's name was she going to prevent him from finding out about Jason?