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 saw the laser glare of Elena Markos’s eyes and

had dragged himself out, turned it around and made something of himself only added to what had been a slowly growing admiration towards

they’d gone. Her understanding of the man she was

the pool, playing cards, drinking non-alcoholic cocktails. It was fun, but she wished Christian could be there to enjoy it too. He worked

when they went on their short honeymoon. She hoped

soak in the sunken bath, already looking forward to the evening meal which Christian

dress, she realised that there hadn’t been a single minute when she hadn’t thought of him. The thought was like a jolt, enough to make her hands tremble, making it hard for her to

regained her equilibrium when there was a knock

he stood, wearing the same suit she’d seen him change into that morning in his suite but with the tie removed and the

her heart pump and her pulses race. Dio, the man

going to New York,’ he said as

‘Okay. When’s that?’

for the airport

making her heart sink to her knees. ‘Are you kidding with me? You’re

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