Page 179 of Love Among the Ruins
“Is that what you think?”
He couldn’t answer her.
“What is so important you had to come looking for me?”
He had to tell her. She needed to know.
But he needed to make sure. If he was going to do the right thing he had to be certain, because a hair slide by itself was no guarantee of the fact.
“Hector Galatis came into my office that day, before you did.”
“Miranda warned me that you were in a grumpy mood.”
“Hector turning up made it worse.”
“You didn’t get the deal?”
“I'm closer to it. He seems interested, give or take a few minor points but we might potentially have a deal.”
“You did it! You got what you wanted.”
“Did I?”
“Yes! You just said you did. You’ve come so far. Galatis sounds like he’s giving you what you want.”
“I don’t know.”
“What don’t you know?” She squinted. “Why weren’t you happy, when he came to see you that day?”
“Because he didn’t talk much about the deal. He talked about you.”
“Me?” Her eyes turned huge. “Did he figure out that I work for you?” She placed a hand against the wall.
Dominic waved her remark away. It didn’t matter. “He was most intrigued about your hair accessory.”
“My hair slide?”
He nodded. “He said it was a custom piece, one of a kind, that he’d given to someone once.”
The color drained from her face, she leaned against the wall as if she needed something to steady her, then, slowly, she slid down it until she was on the floor.
“Maybe ... maybe he ... maybe there were other pieces made ... and this wasn’t...” Her voice was a whisper. He could see the cogs of her brain whirring, could see the shock splintering through her.
She put a hand to her neck. He rushed to her side and crouched on the floor, taking her hand in his. Waiting for her ... A gut-wrenching shock like this took time to sink in and digest.
“You think Hector Galatis is my father?” she whispered.
“I don’t know for sure … but he could be …”
Her head rolled back and she stared up at the ceiling. “He told my mother to get rid of me. He didn’t want me.”
“I’ve never really liked the man, and now I hate him more than ever.” He slid her fallen dress strap back into place but couldn’t move his hand away. Didn’t want to. His fingers closed around her bare arm gently.
“He discarded my mother when she was pregnant. What kind of a man does that? My mother said he had a wife and…” Eleni clapped a hand to her mouth. “I met his wife,” she whispered, looking distraught. “She was … nice.”
“We have to be sure, Eleni.” He stroked her cheek, unable to help himself.
“You think Hector Galatis could be my father, potentially?” Her voice turned faint. “I think I’m going to be sick.” She bent her knees, then hunched over, her face in her hands. He rushed to fetch the wastepaper bin.
