that the Antonious had more money and power than she.
She glanced at Stergios. He sat in the chair next to her and read his tablet. He was dressed more for a funeral than a wedding in his black designer suit and black silk tie. He had been moody since they had left the house and she had done her best to ignore him.
Jodie crossed her arms and tapped the pointed toe of her black stiletto heels against the floor. “I still don’t understand why I had to arrive at the wedding with you.”
He didn’t look up from the screen. “It’s a matter of logistics.”
She made a face. “You have a thousand relatives and not one could include me in their travel plans?”
“Not one.”
“And it has nothing to do with the fact that you won’t let me out of your sight until Dimos gets married?”
He swiped his fingers against the touch screen. “That is correct, pethi mou,” he murmured distractedly.
He had been her shadow for the past few days and she had been unable to shake him off. It didn’t matter if she talked nonstop or gave him the silent treatment. He didn’t care if she wanted to have a private moment with her father or get lost in a crowded party. He had always been at her side.
Jodie pointedly looked away from him and nervously peered through the window. She didn’t like the way the dark gray clouds filled the sky or how the choppy waves crashed against each other in the Aegean Sea. She hoped they landed soon before the weather got rougher.
Just as she was going to ask how much longer the trip would last, Jodie saw the island as the helicopter pilot started his descent. Her lips parted with surprise when she saw the rolling hills covered with fat, leafy trees. After meeting Zoi and her family, she had expected one big amusement park filled with pristine beaches, golf courses and all the amenities. This looked like an uninhabited island.
As the helicopter set down on the landing pad, Jodie caught a glimpse of a house. It was white and modern with clean lines and a flat roof. It wasn’t a mansion and she assumed it wasn’t the main residence. It probably belonged to one of the islanders.
She scrambled out of the helicopter inelegantly in her form-fitting orange dress and sky-high heels but she refused Stergios’s assistance. She stood at the edge of the helipad as she watched him confer with the pilot.
“Where is your suitcase?” Jodie asked as he walked past her, effortlessly carrying her bags.
“Everything I need is here,” he said, patting his briefcase.
She didn’t doubt it. The man was outrageously sexy and didn’t have to primp or make any effort to look good. It really wasn’t fair.
Jodie followed him along the gravel path, falling behind thanks to her spindly heels. She heard the whine of the helicopter behind her as it ascended. “It’s very quiet here,” she commented as she brushed her hair away from her face.
“Not for much longer, I’m sure.”
There was no music or the sound of conversation. What kind of event was this going to be? A wedding should have a festive tone, even if it was arranged.
“The way Zoi had talked about her wedding, I thought there’d be more decorations,” she said as she tried to walk faster. “I’m not saying she’d line the helipad with flowers but I wouldn’t put it past her.”
Stergios didn’t say anything as he waited for her to catch up.
Jodie stopped next to him and placed her hands on her hips as she looked around. It was strange that no one had met them. “Where is everyone?”
His mouth settled into a harsh line. “At the Volakis Island, I assume.”
Jodie frowned with confusion. “Wait. What?” She shook her head as she tried to make sense of what he said. “Isn’t this the Volakis Island?”
“Oxi, this is my home,” he replied in a resigned tone.
She glanced around again at the white sand beach and leafy trees. The island was unspoiled and isolated. Free from any distraction. It suited Stergios.
“Why did we have to stop here?” She whirled around and watched the helicopter fade into the gray sky. “Why didn’t you ask the pilot to wait?”
“He’ll be back in three days.”
“What?” Her heel skidded against the path. She grabbed his sleeve but her hand barely wrapped around his muscular arm. “I don’t understand what is going on.”
His eyes were cold and wintry when she met his gaze. “You didn’t leave when you had a chance,” he said in a clipped tone. “You didn’t stay away from Dimos. You left me no choice.”
Her mouth parted as the shock and confusion crashed inside her. “What are you saying?”
“You’re not going to the wedding,” he announced. “You’re stuck here with me until I decide it’s safe to let you go.”
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