heaven, why did her life seem filled with fraught situations?
Her first instinct was to escape. Except that would play right into Enrique’s hands, and she was darned if she’d give him the satisfaction.
Had Nicos sighted Georgia? Somehow she doubted it. He was deep in conversation with a colleague and, unless she was mistaken, Georgia and Enrique were beyond his peripheral vision.
Katrina sensed the moment Nicos saw her stepbrother and recognised his companion. He didn’t appear to move, but she was willing to swear most of his body muscles reassembled from relaxed mode to full alert beneath the fine tailoring of his evening suit.
Almost on cue, Georgia turned slightly and, with a smile and a word to Enrique, she excused herself and began threading her way towards them.
‘Now, this will be interesting,’ Katrina declared, sotto voce.
‘Behave,’ Nicos warned, and she threw him a stunning smile.
‘Why, Nicos,’ she chastised sweetly, ‘I intend to be politeness itself.’
There would be avid eyes watching every move, every nuance in her expressive features, she perceived.
The separation of Katrina and Nicos Kasoulis had garnered press at the time. Just as their reconciliation was gaining undue attention now.
The appearance of Nicos Kasoulis’s former mistress provided a reason for titillating gossip, and it didn’t take much imagination to realise the phone lines would be running hot with conjecture over Georgia Burton’s arrival in town.
‘Nicos.’ The name emerged from Georgia’s lips as a sultry purr, while at the same time her eyes devoured him. ‘I was hoping to see you here tonight.’
Sure. I just bet you planned it right down to the finest detail, Katrina thought silently as she inclined her head in acknowledgement. ‘Georgia.’
Georgia’s practised pout held just the right degree of regret. ‘You haven’t returned my calls.’
‘I had no reason to,’ Nicos informed her with an iciness that sent shivers down Katrina’s spine.
‘Not even for old times’ sake? We go back a long way.’
‘It’s over. It has been for some time.’
Her expression was mildly calculating. ‘How can you say that when we have a child together?’
‘You have a child,’ Nicos conceded, ‘whom we both know is not mine.’
‘Still in denial, Nicos?’
‘Perjury is a punishable offence.’
‘So is refusing to take responsibility for one’s child,’ Georgia retaliated.
‘Your bravado veers towards the incredible,’ Nicos stated grimly.
‘Incredible aptly describes your sexual skills.’ Georgia shifted her gaze to Katrina. ‘Surely you agree?’
‘I’m not into ego-stroking,’ Katrina proffered with pseudo sweetness.
‘And you think I am?’
Katrina didn’t bother to answer, and watched as Georgia offered a practised smile, then turned and melted into the milling guests.
‘That went down well.’
Nicos spared her a dark glance. ‘She’s courting trouble.’
‘And you won’t stand for it?’ Katrina queried, feeling the anger stir beneath a veneer of social politeness.
‘No.’
‘I think I need to go visit the powder room.’
‘Effecting a temporary escape?’
‘Right first time.’
She’d learned from an early age to pin a smile on her face and hold her head high… Years of practice meant ease in acquiring a social façade. It was a game, a pretense, and she did it well.
It helped her greet a few acquaintances as she threaded her way through the fellow guests, to pause and converse briefly with a one or two.
The powder room was relatively empty, and Katrina smoothed a hand over her hair, took time to freshen her lipstick, and was about to retreat when the inner door swung open and Georgia entered the room.
Coincidence? Unlikely. This was a deliberate move on the model’s part to initiate a one-on-one confrontation.
She could escape, but why, when Georgia was determined to have her say?
‘I imagine there’s a purpose to you following me here?’
‘Of course.’
‘So why don’t you get it over with?’
‘The terms of your late father’s will must be a terrible trial to you.’ Georgia inclined with practised languidness.
The game was about to commence. It took two to play, and she was determined not to lose. ‘In what way?’
‘Why…sharing the same house with Nicos, of course.’
Attack was better than defence. ‘After he betrayed me?’
‘Difficult, darling. Surely?’
‘We agreed to compromise,’ Katrina said steadily.
‘Oh?’
‘And enjoy the fringe benefits.’
‘Such as?’
‘Sex.’ She even managed to effect a secretive smile. ‘Nicos does the sex thing superbly well.’
Georgia’s eyes narrowed. One to Katrina. But how long before the model evened the score?
‘Agreed, darling. But can you be sure it’s you he’s thinking of at that…ah…’ she paused for effect ‘…intense moment,’ she concluded with delicate emphasis.
Too soon, Katrina acknowledged.
‘How can you compete,’ Georgia continued archly, pitilessly, ‘when I have his son?’
‘Has that been proven conclusively?’
‘Why else would our individual lawyers be in the throes of hammering out a settlement and child support?’
Not so good, she conceded, aware just how the odds were stacked against her. ‘And where is your son, Georgia? Isn’t he a little young to leave with a sitter?’
‘My mother flew in from Brisbane with me. Naturally I have a nanny.’
Naturally. Whatever
