The empathy shining from her eyes had been too much.

He’d never introduced his mother to any of his friends or lovers before. His mother had her own special compartment in his life. He’d long ago accepted that she wouldn’t change, that no matter how he succeeded in life it would never be enough for her. Even the news of being a grandmother had failed to elicit a smile. She would never love him.

Far from repelling Alessandra, his mother’s behaviour had elicited her sympathy, her empathy: towards him.

He didn’t want her pity.

She was getting too close; he could feel it.

Any closer and she’d be able to see the gutter rat who lived in the blackness of his heart.

* * *

Christian’s driver dropped Alessandra back at the hotel before taking Christian to his offices.

A dozen more guests had arrived while they’d been at his mother’s house. It amazed her that so many super-wealthy and famous people were able to drop their commitments for what was essentially a free holiday, but surprisingly their presence worked in her favour, distracting her thoughts from their visit to Christian’s mother.

she closed her eyes she saw the laser glare of Elena Markos’s eyes and she

added to what had been a slowly growing admiration towards him. That admiration had

issue, she was glad they’d gone. Her understanding

guests, some of whom she actually knew, lazing by the pool, playing cards, drinking non-alcoholic cocktails. It was fun, but she wished Christian could be

and relax when they went on their short

afternoon and had a long soak in the sunken bath, already looking forward to the evening meal which Christian had said he’d be back

that there hadn’t been a single minute when she hadn’t thought of him. The thought was like a

her equilibrium when there was a knock

the same suit she’d seen him change into that morning in his suite but with the tie removed and the top three buttons of his shirt undone, exposing the top of his

pump and her pulses race. Dio, the man

going to New

‘Okay. When’s that?’

the airport in a few

making her heart sink to her knees. ‘Are you

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