Page 9 of Modern Romance Collection March 2025 (1-4)

For everything.

CHAPTER FOUR

Lynnaawokeinthe prettily appointed room, gritty eyed andexhausted. She had slept for maybe an hour. Most of her night had been spent making lists, thinking through every scenario she had the imagination to come up with.

No matter how she’d tried to sway the outcome, the answer remained the same.

If she took this deal, her brother and mother would have everything they desired. And all she had to do was marry a demon for two years.

No. He expected a counteroffer, and she’d give him one. One year. Six months. A day. More stipulations. She would make sure the deal outrageously favored her and her family so that Athan wouldnevergo for it.

And if he agrees?

She blew out a breath. She would not go to the lion’s den unsure. She had to be certain that this was something she was really going to agree to if she got everything she wanted.Andcertain of her sticking points. What she would not compromise on, even if it meant walking away from all that money and opportunity for Rhys.

She was in the position of power. If she went into that room with that kind of confidence, knowing what she wouldn’t compromise on, this would all be fine.

Shewas in charge.

She got ready for the day, dressing as she would for any personal chef job. She assumed when he said breakfast that she would be in charge of making it, and perhaps she’d even counted on that as something to steady her before she faced Athan down.

But when she arrived in the kitchen, his staff had clearly already taken care of everything. There were platters of food being carried out of the kitchen.

“Mr. Akakios is waiting for you on the terrace, Ms. Carew.”

Lynna didn’t scowl. It wasn’t the fault of anyone in this kitchen that she’d been ousted from the one thing she’dwantedto do this morning.

Besides, there was no way Athan would go for her counteroffer and then she could be on her way home. She could plan out her next job.

So, she walked through the kitchen and a hallway toward the terrace. Five years of coming here meant she knew where she was going. She’d served Athan out there on the terrace enough times.

Last time, in fact, a very scantily clad Regina Giordano had been his companion. Lynna had nothing against Regina—except her taste in men, obviously—but she could admit that seeing the perfect bronzed goddess wandering about in a very small bikini had given her some unpleasant thoughts about her own pale, soft body and reminded her why she’d never be caught dead in a bikini.

But Regina wasn’t here, and Lynna didn’t need to worry about swimwear because she’d be on her way home to rainy London by tonight.

She stepped outside onto the terrace and squinted against the bright morning sun. All that white and blue Mykonos was famous for. Her parents had been born and raised in Wales, but Lynna had been raised in the warmth and sun of Greece. She had visited Wales enough growing up, and lived in London for the past few years, to know she was glad for it.

In the midst of the terrace was a table. Athan lounged in one of the chairs, sipping coffee. His shirt wasn’t quite buttoned all the way, and she wanted to tell him he looked ridiculous, like some sleazy playboy.

But of course he only looked relaxed and gorgeous and every inch the powerful and magnetic billionaire he was.

Butshewas in charge. She lifted her chin. “I assumed I would be making breakfast for the amount you’re paying me,” she offered as she stepped out into the sun.

He stood and turned to her. “You assumed wrong.” He pulled a chair out for her. Gestured for her to take a seat.

She inhaled, quietly but deeply, trying to let the smell of the beautiful flowers mixed with sea calm her.

She knew what she wanted out of this, and if he would not give it, she did not have to take his deal. There was no reason to be nervous.

He poured her coffee. Gave it a dash of cream. She did not trust the fact he knew how she liked her coffee. No doubt it was some insidious Akakios trick.

She would fall forno tricks.

“It’s a beautiful day, is it not? Then again, it is always beautiful here. I don’t know why anyone lives anywhere else.”

“We’re not all billionaires, I suppose.”

He chuckled at that, but she hadn’t been making a joke. And she did not want to makesmall talkabout beautiful days.

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