Carole Mortimer - Mediterranean Seduction

‘Not about the repercussions if I am ridiculed,’ he said. ‘The world’s money markets are merciless forums. If any of the big players show the slightest weakness, the rest of the pack pounce.’

Hearing Iannis describe himself in such unemotional terms told Charlotte he was not exaggerating. ‘So?’

‘I have always taken care of the people who work for me, and nothing has changed there,’ he said. ‘We just have to wait until the markets open and then I can see what I’m dealing with.’

‘I’ve no intention of running away,’ Charlotte assured him.

‘Not this time?’ Iannis murmured.

‘We’ll see it through together,’ Charlotte informed him, stubbornly avoiding his gaze.

‘That suits me just fine.’

He actually meant it, Charlotte realised with a rush of emotion.

Before he had a chance to change the screen his mobile rang. ‘My office,’ Iannis mouthed.

Charlotte waited tensely, watching his face grow serious. Maybe it was even worse than she had imagined. What had she done? Charlotte’s imagination slipped into overdrive as she pictured a catastrophe that even Iannis would find beyond his powers to contain.

He didn’t speak right away. Looking thoughtful, he turned to put the mobile down on the table. Sensing the turmoil he must be going through, Charlotte felt lonelier than she had ever done in her life.

Without saying a word to her, Iannis settled himself down in front of his laptop and began to key in the address for the site he wanted to view. ‘Come and join me,’ he said as images began to fill the screen.

Charlotte drew a deep, steadying breath. She had promised to share this with him.

‘It seems you have touched a nerve here,’ Iannis remarked dryly.

Charlotte tensed in readiness to read the screen and discover the extent of the damage she had done.

The financial press had already picked up the story. She exhaled raggedly as her eye skimmed the columns. Iannis Kiriakos—the man who’s got it all…the man who’s got it right…balance is good for business—as proved by rocketing Kiriakos share price … Charlotte blinked in bewilderment. It was the absolute opposite to everything she had been dreading. The fact that Iannis liked to return to his roots seemed to have captured everyone’s imagination.

He rested his finger against Charlotte’s lips, as if to ensure her silence, and then she remembered he had wanted to say something to her earlier.

‘Just tell me one thing, Charlotte.’

‘Anything.’

‘Would you have stayed here on Iskos with Iannis Kiriakos the fisherman, had he asked you to do so?’

What could she say to make him believe her? Charlotte wondered. ‘I would,’ she said simply.

‘Would you have married him—had he asked you?’

‘Yes, I believe I would.’

‘So, you do love me?’ His voice was steady, and his eyes seemed to be watching her to see how far she could be pushed.

‘I adore you,’ Charlotte whispered, her eyes filling with tears of regret. But I cannot make the same mistake again .

‘That is good,’ Iannis murmured, taking hold of her hands, ‘because I have discovered that without you I am nothing. My business, my life, this island—none of it means anything to me without you by my side.’

‘What are you saying?’ The thought of spending her life as the plaything of the man she adored was almost worse than not having any time with him at all. And if he meant more than that—if he meant they should marry…Charlotte told herself not to be so foolish—not to forget she had failed as the wife of a successful man quite miserably once before.

‘I’m saying I love you,’ Iannis said bluntly. ‘Iskos was my haven, but you are my haven now, Charlotte. I am asking you to marry me,’ he said simply, ‘to be my wife—to share everything with me—’

‘Stop, Iannis,’ Charlotte cut in, pulling away from him. ‘You don’t understand. I can’t—’

‘I don’t understand?’ he said incredulously. ‘How can you accuse me of not understanding after everything we have been through this week?’

He had just asked her to marry him! Iannis Kiriakos, the man she adored…and must refuse. If Iannis the fisherman had asked her that same question Charlotte knew she would have said yes without hesitation.

‘What? What are you thinking about?’ Iannis demanded, bringing her into the circle of his arms. What was there to think about? he wondered, feeling a pang of concern, even resentment. They loved each other—although adored would have been a better way to describe how he felt about Charlotte. Why was she hesitating now?

‘I don’t belong in your world.’

Iannis tensed. She sounded so remote, so certain. ‘How can you know that?’

Remembering the way success had changed her ex-husband, remembering how it had felt to be nothing more than a trophy that was wheeled out on display once or twice a year and then forgotten, Charlotte shuddered.

‘Charlotte?’

Iannis’s voice cut through her thoughts like a blade. After all the trouble she had caused him, he deserved better than this. She had to give him a straightforward answer. ‘I’m so sorry, Iannis,’ Charlotte said softly, feeling as if her heart had just withered in her chest. ‘I can’t marry you.’

‘Can’t?’

The strident peal of his mobile phone distracted them both.

‘Not bad news?’ Charlotte said anxiously, trying to read his expression.

‘That depends if you want a fisherman for a husband or not.’ Iannis gave a wry smile and shook his head to see her smile, the hope that came into her eyes. ‘You do want to marry a fisherman, don’t you?’ he said with amusement.

‘Don’t laugh at me, Iannis. You heard what I told you,’ Charlotte said, the pain in her heart showing in her eyes as she gazed up at him. ‘Whatever has happened to your business empire, if it has all gone wrong…’ She paused as her imagination ran riot. Maybe there had been a backlash—something they hadn’t yet read. ‘If you have lost everything, and if you really still want me, you know I will always stand by you.’

‘I want you,’ Iannis confirmed steadily. ‘So, do I take it that’s a yes to my proposal?’

Reaching up to cup his face in her hands, Charlotte stared long and deep into her fisherman’s eyes. ‘Yes,’ she whispered.

‘I’m pleased to hear it,’ Iannis said with satisfaction, taking hold of her hands and kissing each finger in turn, ‘because it seems shares in the Kiriakos shipping line have reached an all-time high. No,’ he warned, when Charlotte tensed in his arms and stared into his eyes for confirmation. ‘You cannot change your mind now you know I have not lost the Kiriakos fortune. You have already given me your word.’

‘But you made me think—’

‘Let’s just call it good business practice,’ he murmured, cutting across her protest firmly. ‘And I haven’t deceived you, Charlotte, in any way. The news that I ground myself by returning to my roots has been so well received it seems I must continue to fish,’ he said wryly, ‘for the good of my business as well as my soul. So,’ he said, dropping a kiss on her mouth, ‘I’ll ask you again, just so that there can be no misunderstanding. Will you marry me, Charlotte Clare—regardless of my occupation?’

‘As long as you are always Iannis Kiriakos the fisherman of Iskos for me,’ Charlotte agreed softly, ‘I will.’

‘Is it really just six short days since we met?’ Iannis murmured, staring deep into Charlotte’s eyes.

‘Seven,’ Charlotte corrected him. ‘I saw you first on Tuesday.’

‘So long,’ Iannis teased, smiling into her eyes. ‘You saw me on Tuesday, we met on Wednesday, and now, the following Monday, you agree to marry me—would you describe yourself as a fast woman?’