Page 27 of Secrets, Lies and Love
“Elina told me,” I reply, but my attention is still on the little boy. I’m not doing anything wrong. “My name is Cici.”
“Yes, I heard. I’m Mrs. Lisa Nuttle.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She ignores the greeting, and I think she only told me her name as a formality, because then she tries to pull Joseph away from me, offering him her hand.
The boy doesn’t even look in her direction, seeming enchanted by my hair. “Shiiishiiiii.”
I smile, happy that he has memorized my name. “Yes, Cici, my handsome boy. You are so smart!”
As if he understands that I’m praising him, he smiles the biggest smile and throws himself into my lap.
I open my arms to welcome him, and when I feel his warmth and smell him, I have to try hard not to cry.
“He never talks to strangers,” the woman says.
“He must like me,” I reply, but I know I’m revealing too much by appearing so attached to the boy, so after stroking his face, I turn him towards the nanny and stand up.
When I’m standing, I see Dionysus staring at me from across the hall.
His face is serious, and I’m sure it was watching us.
Oh my God, what have I done?
Trying my best to remain calm, I say goodbye to Joseph and prepare to leave, but the little boy follows behind and clings to my leg.
I cannot move. Even though I know I’m taking risks, I won’t leave him if he wants me to stay.
“Hey, son.” I hear the Greek’s voice, and my heart accelerates. “Are you friends with Cecily?”
I look back, and even though he’s talking to Joseph, Dionysus’s eyes are on me.
“Shiiishiiiii.”
“How are you, Mr. Kostanidis?”
He doesn’t respond, and in my peripheral vision, I see the nanny walking away.
My nervousness increases.
“What were you doing near my son?” he asks in a lower tone.
“Just greeting him,” I say with a lump in my throat and eager to run away.
However, it seems that the Greek’s heir wants me close by, because he is now grabbing both my legs.
“Your father wants to be with you, my love,” I say to the boy, ignoring the arrogant man. “We’ll talk another time.”
I touch his hair and then walk away, as if I were being chased by the devil himself, which, perhaps, is true.
Dionysus
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
After Cecily runs awayfrom me, I go looking for Mrs. Nuttle so she can stay with my son because I haven’t finished talking to the girl yet.
Elina appears in front of me before I find the maid. “What’s going on?” she asks.
