Page 75 of Love Among the Ruins
“Dominic, this is insane…” But it didn’t matter what she said to the man, Dominic wasn’t listening to her.
She winced as she tried to slide her foot into her sandal but she couldn’t. Not only was her ankle growing bigger, the pain was getting worse. They had been driving for a while and she looked out of the window to see where they were, and nearly choked to see the sea, a sandy beach and palm trees outside.
“You live near the sea?” she blurted out, knowing the answer even as she said it. Because, where else would Dominic live? His family ruled when it came to bigger and best-isms.
“I need peace. I cannot stand busy crowded places.”
He had the money. The man could live on the moon if that option ever became available.
The car pulled up outside a large three story, white stone house. It was surrounded by what looked like a tropical garden.
“Are we here now?”
“Yes.”
“I could have been resting in my hotel room.” It had taken twenty minutes to drive here.
“You’ll be better off here.”
“Your house has three levels!”
“And you can have the ground floor to yourself.”
She tried to make sense of these words, and this new world he had thrown her into as he came around to her side of the car to help her. But his phone went off, he pulled it out looked at it. “I have to take this,” he muttered to his bodyguard. “Help her.”
“I can walk if you support me,” she said, hastily, not wanting the six-foot four-inch tank to carry her.
But he ignored her and scooped her up in the same way Dominic had, taking her past the beautifully kept lawn with its perfectly kept shrubs and flowers and into the house where he set her down on a big velvet draped couch. The gorgeous decor comprised of rich greens and wood tones with rugs in jeweled colors adorning the honey-colored floors. Glass lamps and lighting gave it a contemporary yet stylish touch. There was light everywhere. The space and light filled with beautiful high-end furniture and art pieces. Objects she was accustomed to seeing from the parties she’d waitressed at.
She expected nothing less from this man and his family. She’d only been sitting for a few moments, soaking in the interior when she heard Dominic talking to someone and then a man she’d never seen before entered the room.
DOMINIC
“Dr. Georghiou,” said Dominic, introducing the middle-aged bald man with reading glasses. “Tell him how you fell.”
That was fast. Did Dominic have a doctor on standby? She was left to explain to what had happened while Dominic moved away and started talking to someone on the phone.
The doctor examined her foot carefully. “It doesn’t look broken.” He pressed a finger lightly against her swollen ankle. “It’s a mild sprain, you’re lucky.”
“That’s mild?” Dominic returned and was standing around staring at her elevated foot, making her feel self-conscious. Thank goodness she’d had the foresight to paint her nails a few days ago when she’d been bored one evening.
“You were lucky. You could have broken or fractured it, falling down the stairs,” the doctor told her.
“Are you sure she doesn’t need an x-ray? What if it’s fractured?” asked Dominic. The crazy man should have been more concerned about Galatis than her foot. The doctor stood up. “It’s a mild sprain. Don’t put any weight on it today, elevate it, ice it and go easy on it for a few days. As the swelling goes down, short walks will be good for your recovery. No sports or running for a few weeks.”
“No running?” exclaimed Eleni. Her preparation for the expedition required a moderate level of fitness.
“As if you run,” laughed Dominic.
“I do,” she exclaimed, annoyed by his dismissiveness. “You’re not the only one who keeps fit.”
“You noticed?”
She could feel her face turning red. Doing a Miranda.
“I wish you a speedy recovery, young lady.” The doctor nodded at her before shaking hands with Dominic who thanked him.
Dominic looked down at her.
