Page 70 of In Love After Office Hours

“Somewhat,” Willem allowed.

The two of them headed to the piano bar in silence, both billionaires impervious to the stares they drew from all the women they walked past. When Willem visibly hesitated, Mykolas said easily, “You will not be intruding on anything, I assure you.”

After a beat, Willem nodded, saying, “In that case, it would be a pleasure to join you and Mrs. Sallis for dinner.”

A corner table had been reserved for the Greek billionaire, and with his guards and Willem’s combined creating a human wall, their privacy was instantly guaranteed while they waited for the Greek’s wife to join them.

“Congratulations, by the way,” Willem murmured as soon as the waiter finished serving them each a glass of wine. “I’ve heard from the news about your wife’s pregnancy.”

“Thank you.” The Greek’s pleasure in his wife’s condition was made evident by the brightness of his eyes. “It is a much welcomed blessing, and I find no shame in admitting that there are many nights when I still ask myself if the life I have now is real and not a dream.”

“Marriage has turned you into a romantic, apparently.” Willem’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Mykolas only shrugged. “Not marriage, my friend, but love. It is a clichéd thing to say, but it is the truth.” His tone was complacent. “You will know for yourself when you fall in love as well.”

“Of course.” Willem’s tone was polite.

Mykolas smiled. “You clearly do not believe me now, but—-” He paused, his gaze drawn towards where their security was positioned.

A second later, and Mykolas Sallis came to his feet, the expression on the Greek’s face enough to tell Willem that his wife had arrived.

Willem stood as well, politely averting his gaze as the Greek billionaire proceeded to give his wife an extremely passionate kiss. Only when he heard the two talking and walking back to the table did he face them again, and he found Velvet Sallis even lovelier than her photos on the news. The tall, curvy redhead also carried her pregnancy well, radiantly beautiful in an empire-cut cotton dress that fell all the way to her ankles.

“Velvet, my love, this is Willem de Konigh, one of the owners of Mageia.” Mykolas’ smile turned warm and possessive as he glanced at his wife. “Willem, my wife, Velvet.”

Velvet offered her hand to the Dutch billionaire with a smile. “It’s nice to meet one of the world’s most-talked about and slippery bachelors,” she said with a charming lack of tact. “You are so unbelievably hard to catch, or so the ladies in my book club tell me.”

“I see.” Willem was hard-pressed not to laugh.

Mykolas sighed. “Forgive my wife, de Konigh,” he murmured while pulling out a chair for Velvet. “She has become more, err, refreshingly candid ever since she became heavy with child.” Once Velvet was comfortably settled, he and Willem took their seats as well.

Velvet leaned forward eagerly. “Tell me, Mr. de Konigh. Is it true that you’re about to marry your on-off girlfriend Shane?”

Mykolas winced. “I already asked him this, my dear.”

Willem rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “And now I realize that you only asked because of your wife.”

“Guilty as charged. You have been our topic of late since we arrived at Teleios and she found out about the de Konighs owning Mageia.” He changed the subject from there, hoping it would dissuade his wife from asking more questions. “Speaking of Mageia, I heard your family’s considering making the company public?”

It didn’t work.

Before the Dutch billionaire could answer, Velvet had already asked another question, one even more embarrassingly direct. “Don’t you think the younger sister, the one who works for you and who’s calledWillem Jr. –don’t you think she’s a better match for you?”

Mykolas swore in his mind when he saw the Dutch billionaire’s eyes turning a frosty shade of blue. He was about to caution his wife from speaking her mind further, which not everyone would find inoffensive, but by then Willem had already answered in a clipped voice, “It is not like that between us.”

Velvet’s shoulders drooped. “I see.” Her large green eyes filled with tears.

Willem turned to the Greek billionaire incredulously. Was this for real? Was the woman actually crying over...him and – what? That he had nothing going on with Serenity?

Mykolas patently ignored the Dutch billionaire’s look, focusing instead on comforting his wife. “Ssh, sweetheart.” Uncaring of how the other patrons in the piano bar would react, he drew Velvet to his lap, and as she curled against him, he pressed a kiss on her forehead. “I told you, didn’t I?” His voice was gentle. “Not everyone can have what we have.”

“But I was really sure.” Velvet sniffed. “I really thought they made a good pair, but I guess you’re right.” She sniffed again.

“It’s not your fault he wants to marry someone like Shane Raleigh.”

“That’s true. Some men can be really blind.”

Willem said stiffly, “I can hear the two of you perfectly well, in case you have forgotten.”

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