Page 28 of Love Among the Ruins
“You must have wowed him on sight.”
“What?”
“The billionaire. I bet he hired you on the spot. I bet you looked amazing.”
“You don’t think he hired me for my brains?” This had been gnawing away at her, and she’d asked Dominic that very question, but the answer he’d given her had satisfied her. And she didn’t get those creepy vibes from him. Her built-in radar usually alerted her to such things, and Dominic wasn’t that type.
“I don’t think your brains came into it, much.”
Eleni nudged her friend in the ribs not so gently. “Don’t say that. That’s nasty.” It put the doubt back in her. While she didn’t think Dominic felt remotely interested in her, Stefanos was right. Why had he been so eager to give her a job? Maybe he was a nice guy and had a sister and hated what had happened to her?
It was too much of a stretch to believe that.
“Maybe you could ask him if he’s got a job for me?” Stefanos suggested hopefully.
“At least let me get my foot in the door first.”
“Just be careful, Leni,” Stefanos cautioned. “You’re gorgeous and you turn heads wherever you go.”
“I do not.” She laughed and shook her head.
“You do.”
She rolled her eyes at him and giggled. She didn’t pay much attention to things—until stuff happened, like the incident at the party. Most days, she functioned on a minute-by-minute basis. It was hard to shake what had happened, because memories of Jonas were all around her. Every time she looked at the sea, she remembered the good times and the bad times, and the worst of times. She hadn’t been there when the accident had happened; she’d been working, but knowing that he had died in these waters, the same stretch of water that faced her daily, meant that his accident was never out of her mind.
A silence spread between them again, and she could feel the weight of Stefanos’ unsaid words and his judgment. “You might think he offered me a job because he wants something from me, but he doesn’t. I asked him.”
A cruel snort sprang forth from Stefanos’s mouth. “He gave you a truthful answer, I’m sure.”
“Don’t be so judgy. He’s not like that. I can tell when guys are … creepy. Dominic isn’t. He’s … nice.”
“Nice? He’s filthy rich, a billionaire, and you hate people like him.”
“He’s giving me a chance.”
“Sounds to me as if he feels guilty for what happened to you.”
“Can’t you be happy for me? You’re as bad as my mother.”
“Sorry, Leni.”
“Can’t you let me have this? Can’t you let me be proud that I have a job? That I might be able to get some experience in something other than waitressing?”
He put his arm around her. “I’m proud of you, I love you, I want the best for you. But be careful, please.”
“I’m always careful, but Dominic isn’t like that.”
“You trust him, do you?”
“I’m doing this for a reason. What’s the matter with you?”
“Nothing. Sorry.” Stefanos ran his hand through his hair and picked up his cell phone. “I’m jealous and I’ll miss you.”
“You idiot.” She leaned into him as he tightened his hold around her shoulder. “Let’s celebrate my birthday in Athens. I’m sure Phoebe and Angeliki wouldn’t mind if I celebrated it there instead of here.”
“We could make a wild weekend out of it,” Stefanos suggested. “Phoebe’s desperate for a break. She’s been living in her pajamas ever since she gave birth.”
“We’ll celebrate in Athens,” she decided. “I can’t trust my mother to behave, and I’d hate for you to hear what I had to.” She told Stefanos about what had happened the other night.
