Page 187 of Love Among the Ruins
CHAPTERFIFTY
DOMINIC
He dreaded the knock on the door, of Eleni coming in and handing in her resignation.
He’d been waiting for it, his heart jolting each time someone knocked or came into his office.
He’d stayed out of her way. She’d stayed out of his. He’d told Miranda he wanted no interruptions, unless it was Eleni, and he’d stayed in his office working hard on the new deal he was formulating.
Whatever Eleni decided, he would respect her decision. Her contract was up next month, but it could be extended if that’s what she wanted. He had a proposal for her in case she was interested.
Just as he’d known, he’d had to hear it all from his father, how disappointed he was. Dominic hadn’t fully disclosed the real reasons for not wanting to do business with Galatis. He wasn’t sure he’d convinced his father of the dangers of relying on one egotistical man, that he hadn’t liked the way Galatis had messed him around, that maybe creating a consortium of a few smaller but likeminded companies might be the better way to go.
His father had listened, and that had been a good sign. “Make it happen,” his father had ordered. “And don’t come home until it’s done.”
Dominic worked hard at putting the new deal together and braced himself for the networking and negotiating it would entail. At least it served as a good distraction from the problems in his personal life.
He’d been looking forward to discussing work matters with Nikolaos when the man finally returned to work next month, but that plan had altered too, catching him off guard completely.
When the knock on the door came, he stared at it, immobile, not daring to breathe, dreading Eleni coming in and telling him the bad news.
Last thing on a Friday afternoon would be the perfect time to tell him she was leaving.
But he heard voices, and none of them belonged to Eleni.
Miranda shouted. “Mr. Galatis, Dominic expressly insisted he didn’t want—”
“I demand to see that man!” It was a roar.
Galatis.
Oh. Fuck. Now he wished he hadn’t sent a confirmation that he was withdrawing his offer to work with the man. He should have waited until Monday.
Dominic marched to the door, frustration battling with rage and unleashing an ugly fury.
Miranda’s flushed face greeted him. She was trying, unsuccessfully, to wedge herself between the door and Galatis.
Dominic hated that the man had put her in such an awful position. “It’s okay, Miranda. Thank you. I’ll deal with this.” His eyes fixed on Galatis. “Hector.” He opened the door wider, letting the man in.
“You are not happy?” the old man bellowed, settling himself into the chair with remarkable speed. “You haven’t changed the seating. This is most uncomfort—”
“There’s no need for me to change the seating, Hector. We won’t be doing business together.”
“You are making a mistake, Dominic. I agreed to all your terms. I gave you what you wanted.”
“I can’t do a deal with the devil.”
The old man glared at him, before he started coughing, and it soon turned into a fit.
Dominic hoped he wouldn’t keel over and die. He already had enough shit to deal with.
It took a long, painful minute for the coughing to subside. Dominic poured the old man a glass of water and handed it to him.
“Your brother has been calling me.” Hector took a few sips and returned the glass.
“Alexander can be so predictable.” Dominic had expected this. Nice to know his assumptions had been proven right.
“But I refused to take his calls.”
