Page 123 of Tempting the President
I miss you, kiddo. I really do.
I wish I could go back to the days when I only loved you.
Love, Your Big Sis
HELIOS ANDREADIS’ NAMEwas like a magical key in Greece. It cut through all sorts of red tape, ensured I was given VIP treatment, and most importantly of all, it granted me a chance to meet the girl Kellion loved even though in their world, I was nobody.
Jacqueline Koufos’ bedroom was elegant and luxurious, and it was so big it could fit probably five or six dorm rooms combined. As for its owner, she was even prettier than her photos on the Internet gave her credit for. And slim, so much so she made me feel hideously curvy. I knew I was being silly, knew that Kellion wasn’t the type to love someone just because of how she looked. But even though I knew all that, I could still feel myself shrinking the closer I got to the other girl.
She was seated upright on an orthopedic bed, which was inclined halfway up so she would have something to lean back on. What kind of healthy young girl would have an orthopedic bed in their own home? I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t help thinking it was a ploy to get Kellion to pity her.
“Hello,” I said.
“Hello.” Her smile seemed genuine enough, but her puzzlement was also obvious.
I stopped when I was at the foot of her bed. “T-thank you...for...seeingme.”
To her credit, she didn’t even blink at my halting speech. “It’s always my pleasure to hear from Helios.” Her voice had the same accent as Kellion, and I hated it.
“Although I have to confess...” Her smile turned wry. “I’m confused as well. I’m not sure why he had to send you all the way here when he could have just texted me—-” Her eyes widened with apprehension. “Has something happened to Kellion?”
I shook my head hastily. “No...it’s not...like that.” I inhaled deeply. “But I am...here...forhim.”
When Jacqueline’s face became expressionless at my words, I knew she had an inkling of what I was about to say.
“I loveKellion.”I met her gaze head on, even though it hurt to look into her eyes, knowing she had always had Kellion’s heart.
Finally, Jacqueline said, “I’m not sure why you’re telling me this. I have nothing to do with how you feel for him.”
My eyes bored through hers. “We both...know...youdo.”
Jacqueline flushed. “If this is all an attempt to twist my arm to make me help you nab him—-”
“I’m already...hisgirlfriend.”
Her mouth parted in surprise. “If...if you’re already his girlfriend, then why are you here?”
“You know...why.”
“I can’t force him to fall for you.”
The words were intended to hurt, and they did hurt, my heart shattering once again, pieces that only Kellion could fix but I knew were destined to remain broken. For Kellion to be happy, they had to stay broken because that was the only way I could let him go.
I whispered painfully, “I know...that...too.” Gazing at her, I was badly tempted to cry out,why? Whydid Kellion have to keep loving her? Why couldn’t it be me?
“Does Kellion know about this?” Jacqueline suddenly asked.
I shook my head. “No.” Kellion thought I was with KC and the others on a field trip, but what he didn’t know was that the moment we got to the hotel, I had slipped out and Helios’ private jet had flown me halfway across the world just so I could meet with Jacqueline in person.
Squaring my shoulders, I told myself it was time to say my piece, to do what I came here for so it could be all over. “I’m sorry...your fiancé is...acheat.”
Jacqueline whitened at the words, but she didn’t say a thing to deny it, and she earned just the tiniest bit of my grudging respect for it.
“But you have...always...known I think...that Kellion lovesyou.All these...years, you took and...took, and you like...having...him at your...beck and call. Like...now.”
“He didn’t come to see me now,” Jacqueline pointed out bitterly.
I could be just as bitter, but I didn’t want to. I told her simply, “Because...he’s guilty over...me.”
