Page 78 of Secrets, Lies and Love

“Can I go too?” Cecily looks as nervous as I feel, which only makes me even more certain that she really cares about my son. For her, Joseph is not just a way to make a living.

“Yes, sure.”

“When you go away next time, let me stay with him, Dionysus. You have my word that Joseph will be safe with me. I’m not accusing Elina of anything. What happened was an accident, but if you’re away, I’ll give him one hundred percent of my attention.”

“Okay.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. When I have to leave the country, Joseph will be in your care.”

“Because you trust me, or because of what happened between us?”

I take my eyes off the road to look at her. “If you think that taking you to bed would make me leave my son in your care, you have no idea who I am, Cecily. I will leave Joseph with you because I trust you. Furthermore, the rules about not leaving the house alone with him remain.”

“I don’t mind, as long as I can make sure he’s okay.”

She seems annoyed, and if it were anyone else, I would leave it alone, because I’m not the sensitive type or one who pays much attention to other people’s feelings, but I find myself explaining, “I’ve never allowed any of the women I knew after Sue’s death to approach him.”

“Were there that many?”

“I’m a healthy thirty-two-year-old man, Cecily. I have an active sex life.”

“I shouldn’t have asked. It’s none of my business, Mr. Kostanidis. Our agreement is already over.”

“Less than half an hour ago, I was fucking you inside my shower. I came in your mouth, and you drank and wanted more, so don’t give me that Mr. Kostanidis thing, Cecily.”

“It was you who said that I should forget about us when the agreement ended.”

“That’s before I knew what it feels like to be in your pussy. I’m not a romantic guy, but I want to see what can happen between us if we stay together.”

“It’s physical attraction. In what world do a nanny and a Greek billionaire get together? Not mine, certainly.”

“If you’re pregnant with my child, you’ll see that happen, because I’m going to put a ring on your finger so big that it can be seen from the lunar platform.”

“You don’t know me. You don’t know anything about me. How can you even consider marrying me?”

“I want to raise my child, if there is one.”

“We don’t need to get married for that to happen.”

“Why not? You love Joseph. Our sexual attraction is undeniable. It’s a good arrangement.”

I notice that she has turned in her seat to look at me. “Is that what happened between you and Sue?”

“Do you want to talk about my late wife?”

“I should answer no, but you were the one who hypothesized that I might be expecting your baby, so yes, I want to know about your relationship.”

I look ahead in silence for a few seconds. “Joseph is not my biological son.”

“I know. Elina told me. Can you tell me more about it?”

“I met his mother when she was still pregnant.”

“Where is Joseph’s father?”

“The son of a bitch is dead.”

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