Page 50 of Love Among the Ruins
“This isn’t a day trip for you. This is work. You need to be vigilant.”
She looked at him with loathing in her eyes.
“Keep an eye on the briefcase.”
“What’s the lock combination?”
“One, one, one, one,” he muttered, adjusting his tie and getting ready to climb out of the car.
“Not nine, nine, nine, nine?” she asked, getting out at the other side.
Up ahead he could see Galatis. Hard to miss him, with that huge belly, and the Panama hat. Beside him his bodyguard held out a large sunshade for him.
Dominic’s gut hardened at the sight as he prepared himself for a wasted hour talking about culture.
Wait, what had she just said?“Nine, nine, nine, nine?” he echoed.
“I assumed you’d go for the bigger number.”
Turning his back to her, he braced himself and headed for Galatis.
* * *
ELENI
Eleni leaned against the car, then backed off it because the metal was so hot. The heat beat down on her.
This was work?
This was so new to her. This life in the city, away from her mom, and the island, and working in an office. She pictured Stefanos rushing around the taverna and missed their lunches and the little conversations they had between serving customers.
She walked over to the driver’s side and knocked on his window. He opened the door instead.
“Aren’t you hot in there?” she asked, noting that his face was red and sweaty.
“I am used to it.”
“Why don’t you turn the air conditioning on?”
“That would be a waste.”
“It wouldn’t,” she cried. “You look so uncomfortable.” Then, “I’m Eleni.”
“I am Kostas.”
“Come and stand out here,” she suggested.
“It is as hot outside as it is in here.”
“I don’t know why you don’t put the air conditioning on. I would.”
He smiled and closed the door.
Hot and bothered, she looked at her watch to see that not even five minutes had passed. She was going to get uncomfortable standing around like this in the heat. Putting her hand to her eyes, shielding them from the sunlight, she looked up and tried to see what was going on.
From this distance she couldn’t make out much because Dominic was now further away. Both sets of bodyguards hovered behind the men, another reminder of how surreal her new life was.
To kill time she ambled around, never straying too far from the car, and always looking over at Dominic and the old man in case she was being summoned. The idea of Dominic having to be at someone’s beck and call amused her.
