Page 21 of Love Among the Ruins
“A shipping company,” repeated Eleni, wondering what sort of work she would do here.
“But his family has a lot of businesses all over the world. Didn’t you check any of this before you left?”
“No.” No, she hadn’t. Her nerves had been so fried creeping back home at three in the morning, then tossing and turning, that she hadn’t had time to do anything but wake up and come here.
“Have you seen him yet?”
Stefanos and his million questions. “Not yet. I have to go. I’ll call you later.”
Doubts had started to seep in. She knew nothing about shipping. She didn’t have any qualifications. She’d show herself up and look like a fool. She could not do this.
She got up, smoothed a hand over her shirt and skirt, then collected her dignity as well as her jacket and handbag. Determined to not look at the receptionist, or the security guard, she marched towards the exit. She walked through the main doors and immediately inhaled a gulp of fresh air.
It hadn’t felt right.
Thisdid.
Leaving here did.
Just at that moment the heel of her shoe impaled itself into a crack in the pavement. She couldn’t move.
It was at that very moment that she saw him.
It was the aviators she noticed first. They were perfect for that angular face of his, that sharp jaw, bones chiseled in a way that could make people stop and stare and wonder what lay behind those shades. He looked so cool, so sexy, so full of confidence as he came towards her. Her breath caught and held like a fist in her throat, and when her gaze trailed down the rest of him, she had to suck in a breath.
Had he always been so strikingly handsome? Had she forgotten? Or had she been in denial about it? He seemed so muchmorenow. Time slowed down as he strode towards her in a midnight blue suit. Wide shoulders, slim hips. His watch glinting. She squinted in the scorching summer sun. He was so hot, her eyes were burning.
“Eleni?” He lifted his hand to remove his shades. She didn’t know where to lay her gaze first; to his bicep that strained his jacket sleeve, or his eyes, now that they were revealed. His gaze raked down her length and back up again to her face. “What are you—”
She tried to take a step forward, hoping valiantly to pull her stiletto heel out, but she couldn’t.
Not one to advertise her faux pas, she stood still and smiled at him. He moved towards her, and someone tall and scary looking, stood a few inches behind him, like a shadow.
“You asked me to come.” Her smile held, but it felt unfamiliar, wrong. Not like her to smile at someone likehim,or for so long.
“I said for you to call me, and we could have an interview over the phone.”
He had?She wished the crack in the pavement could swallow her whole.
“You’re here now. We can do it face to face.”
“That would be good.” She tried to be discreet as she wriggled her shoe in vain.
“When did you get here?” he asked.
“About an hour ago.”
“An hour ago? You’ve been waiting that long?”
“I called you,” she said, ignoring the wave of his arm as he motioned for her to turn and lead the way back into his office.
He stared at her when she didn’t move, a line forming on his brow when she didn’t immediately do as he asked.
Because she couldn’t.
“I’ve been in meetings all morning. I had my phone on silent. Shall we?” He beckoned again for her to go in.
She couldn’t, so she did the next best thing. She gazed at the sea in the distance up ahead of her.
