‘Maybe.’ He shrugs. ‘But even with an opportunity, it takes hard work to make a success of things,’ he says, barely acknowledging his father’s input.
‘I don’t doubt that.’ I feel like adding how much more I admire people who start with nothing, but I don’t want to ruin the mood.
Christos clearly doesn’t appreciate that he has been lucky to have been given a good start in life, and I think of howmany people make a success of life when they have nothing to begin with. I had to work really hard to build a following on social media, spending hours making videos that are only now beginning to reap benefits.
My thoughts are distracted by the food when it arrives which is utterly delicious. The beef in my stifado is beautifully tender, the sauce rich and deep. A plate of warm olive bread sits beside it on a plate, along with a small mound of delicately fragranced rice.
‘This is just fantastic,’ I say to Christos as I eat my food. ‘How is yours?’
‘Amazing,’ he says as he dives into a delicious-looking veal dish served with a peppery sauce.
‘Do you come here a lot?’ I ask, noticing how the waiter shook him warmly by the hand when we arrived, and how they laughed and joked together in Greek.
‘Maybe not a lot, but regularly,’ he reveals. ‘The food and location are exceptional; I am sure you would agree?’
‘Oh, I do.’ I smile, wondering how many other women he has brought here.
Over dessert, Christos seems distracted and glances at his phone several times I notice. After he has settled the bill, he seems keen to leave.
The sky has darkened now, and the sound of the crashing waves entices me towards the beach. I wonder whether Christos would be keen to take a little walk after dinner, but instead he suggests we head back to my apartment.
‘Are you sure you wouldn’t like to have a little stroll along the beach first?’ I press. ‘Walk off some of that delicious dinner?’
‘It is a pebble beach, I am not sure I have the right footwear,’ he says, glancing down at his expensive-looking leather shoes. ‘But we can certainly come here again, if you would like that?’
‘Sure.’ I smile but feel slightly disappointed. I thought a romantic stroll beneath the stars might have finished off the evening nicely.
On the journey home, I realise he never asked me any questions about my life back home, despite me asking him about his father and the family business. And I wonder why he seemed a little preoccupied with his phone over dessert? Not to mention being in such a hurry to leave.
Despite these reservations, as I sit next to him in the car, I can feel the simmering chemistry between us, and almost wish I couldn’t. When he momentarily squeezes my hand on a quiet stretch of road, I feel the familiar desire in the pit of my stomach.
Stepping out of the car, Christos hangs back for a moment, waiting for an invite inside. As he stands close and I take in his scent, I open the door with anticipation, as he quietly follows me indoors.
‘Would you like another drink?’ I offer, about to take some wine from the fridge, when suddenly his lips are on mine, making me catch my breath.
‘Only if you want one.’ He presses his body against me and my resolve to hold back a little seems to be disappearing by the second, when all of a sudden my phone rings.
My first instinct is to ignore it, but when I see it is from Patsy, I feel compelled to answer.
‘Patsy, hi, is everything okay?’
‘Oh, Mia, I’m so sorry to call you, but it’s Irene.’ She sniffs.
‘Irene? Is she okay?’ I ask anxiously.
‘She’s having some tests. I am at the hospital with her now. She collapsed in the street, went down without warning.’ She talks quickly. ‘She’s cut her head; gosh she looks awful,’ she tells me, her voice catching.
‘Do you want me to come to the hospital?’ I offer at once.
‘Oh no, don’t ruin your evening. I’m just so worried about her, I think I just needed someone to talk to, and I didn’t want to bother Tasha on the last day of her honeymoon,’ she says.
I can tell Patsy is worried, and most definitely needs someone with her right now.
‘I’m on my way,’ I tell her, before thinking I will grab a taxi on the main street.
‘I’m so sorry.’ I tell Christos all about Irene.
‘I would take you, but I have to be somewhere very early tomorrow morning, and you may be waiting for hours,’ he tells me.
