Page 16 of Love Among the Ruins
Eleni surveyed the business card he’d left behind, but Stefanos snatched it out of her hand. “He offered me a job.” One she didn’t want, or had any interest in. “He said he felt bad about what happened last night.” She wasn’t sure why. She didn’t need the rich man’s pity or his concern.
“These men.” Stefanos examined the business card. “They fall for your exotic Greek beauty. Dominic Steele. The Steele Corporation.”
“It’s not going to be a hotel or catering company. That’s all I know.” She put her handbag away and put on her apron.
Stefanos grinned. “After your roundhouse kick last night, I think it’s best that you lay off any customer facing jobs.”
“It was not a roundhouse kick.”
“The man was still holding his balls when I walked past with the crab appetizers.” Stefanos held the business card in front of her. “You should consider this.” And when she folded her arms refusing to take it, he slipped it into the pocket of her apron. “Of course, he might be hitting on you. It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“He’s not hitting on me.” She didn’t get those vibes from this man.
“Not that it would be a bad thing.”
“Stop it.”
“Jonas wouldn’t want you to become a nun for the rest of your life. He’d want you to live your life, Leni.”
“I will, once I’ve climbed the mountain.” Though she had no interest in meeting anyone.
“At least consider it. This man is offering you a job and he’s been good enough to come and see you this morning.”
“I’m not working for him.”
“Because he’s rich, or because you have better options?”
Because she had never worked in an office before. She had done menial jobs all her life—like cleaning and waitressing—which were in high demand for the seasonal nature of the island. Jobs she was comfortable with. But there was another issue which made her uneasy. She had never yet met a man with money who also had a heart.
“Think it over, Leni. It could be a good opportunity.”
“You’re only saying that because you want me to work for him so that you can see him again.”
Stefanos placed his index finger across his chin, contemplating. “He’s as straight as a ruler. This could be fated. It’s your birthday, a billionaire offers you a job …”
She groaned. She was turning twenty-one next week and she wasn’t remotely excited about it. “My mother says that age ruined her life.”
Stefanos face turned apologetic. “Your mother says a lot of things.”
Her mom. Eleni had crept home again last night after two hours of sitting by the sea. It was safe in Spetses, and she could do that, and it was quiet when she’d returned. She hadn’t seen her mother this morning when she’d left for work either, or the new boyfriend. Her mother’s love life was rocky, like one of the soap operas she liked to watch so much.
Eleni was tempted to go to Athens, to take this man up on his offer, but she needed time to think about it some more. She didn’t feel comfortable turning up at the office of a man she barely knew because of an offer he’d hastily given her.
Why would he do that? People weren’t that nice. They didn’t do nice things for no reason.
Not unless they wanted something.
The rest of her day passed relatively quietly, and she returned home in the evening, none the wiser about her decision. Her mother was painting her toes and watching one of her favorite soap operas when Eleni walked in.
“I spoke to Cassia.” Her mother announced as she dropped the bombshell.
She knew.
Eleni tried for deflection. “I came back early last night. I heard you and ...”
Her mother’s eyes grew large. “You heard?”
“Can you try to keep the noise down?”
