Authors: Marie Kelly
“I’m glad you reconsidered John, I made you a very good offer, and……..”
However, he had silencing her with a wave of his hand.
“First let me make it clear Tessa that I am not going to give you the million now for your inheritance”
Anger had flared instantly within Tessa, as she had leapt to her feet, hands balled held tight to her side.
“Why…why on Earth would you not and why would you bring me all the way down here if you weren’t?”
She had cried her voice high.
“I told you I would sign ANYTHING you wanted…you never wanted me to have my mother’s money anyway”
Her grandfather, John Jones had only stared back at her his expression determined as she had cried out, calmly waiting for her to be silent.
“I really don’t care about your paltry little inheritance Tessa”
He stated flatly, as he watched his granddaughter, seeing the look of frustration and fear on her face
“Then why?” she cried in confusion.
“Do you really think I bought your little story of needing the money to help your failing business?”
He had said.
“Your business isn’t failing; in fact you are doing quite well from what I hear”
Tessa had fallen silent, her eyes watching her grandfather warily.
“So I did a little digging, and guess what I found……..your little friend Andrew has a visit from the auditors set for next week”
Tessa had closed her eyes groaning softly with pain.
“You bastard” she had whispered softly seeing the look of triumph on his face.
“What does it matter to you John what the reason is…just give me the money and I will give up all rights to my mother’s money”
“I don’t think so Tessa”
He had said a smile sitting on his lips, as she banged her fist on the desk.
“Why, for god’s sake why?”
She had cried in frustration, seeing the smile widen but not reaching his eyes which had flashed angrily.
“Because of that family” he had answered, understanding coming on Tessa.
“Oh my God, this is because of Andrew’s mother”
Her voice aghast seeing the small smile on his lips, a cruel sneer.
“I told her that I would have the last laugh, and that son of hers is a fool”
He replied, an evil glint lighting his small eyes. Silent for a few seconds Tessa had pulled herself together, hating the man before her.
“I will get a lawyer and have the money released myself”
She had finally declared softly the anger in her voice just barely contained. The sound of her grandfather’s laugh had made her grit her teeth as she glared down on him.
“According to MY lawyer, we could drag this out in the courts for at least six months – and I believe that the audit is next week.”
Tessa had reeled back in shock, the realisation that she would not be able to make good her promise to Andrew hitting her. The memory of his suicide letter had filled her mind, along with the gut thumping fear of what he would do when he found out.
There was no point arguing with her grandfather, many had tried and all had failed. John Jones had no kindness or charitable side to him, and trying to hold in the tears that she felt rushing to her eyes she had turned and started walking to the door.
“I do however have an offer for you, which if you agree to it will see your friend get his money tomorrow and leave your inheritance untouched, and if you don’t will see me making a phone call and having the auditor out tomorrow instead”
Tessa had stopped in mid stride, before turning and moving back to her grandfather her face a mixture of surprise and apprehension.
“Sit down Tessa”
He continued seeing how she had hovered indecisively beside him. Tessa speechlessly had done as she was told, her eyes watching the man before her.
“Alexis Demitri, he and I have been discussing a deal for quite some time, but he has proven…difficult”
He said his mouth tightening.
“Smart man”
Tessa had added, unable to hold back the comment, knowing how ruthless her grandfather was in business deals, knowing the underhand techniques he had used to in some cases to destroy other businesses and knowing that he was not bluffing about Andrew. She had seen the angry glint in his eye as he had continued.
“I need certain mineral rights that only he can give me access to, but let’s just say that he is smarter than most”
She could hear in his voice an almost reluctant respect for the man.
“As fascinating as this is, what has any of this to do with me?”
She had asked, a small feeling of dread, after her previous night’s conversation with Alexis filling her.
“Well Tessa, it seems that Alexis took quite a shine to you”
His eyes glowing brightly.
“He liked you very much”
“If you are taking to pimping out your family for the greater good of your business empire John, I suggest you stick with Marcie”
She bit out at him, her tone low and dangerous, making him laugh loudly.
“Well while I am sure it would be much easier with Marcie……..it seems his tastes do not seem to run that way” he had said just as contemptuously.
“He seems to like the more trashy type…I guess like mother, like daughter”
His eyes had flicked over her with disdain. Tessa had once more felt the pang of pain stabbing at her from his words, remembering her mother. So beautiful and vivacious in life, she had lived that life to excess with too many men, too much drink and too many drugs. She had been a weak woman beaten down by the man before her, her mother‘s lifestyle causing many scandals. When she had died from a drug overdose when Tessa was only ten she had never forgiven or forgotten his only comment to her.
“Good riddance to bad rubbish”
With real hatred in her voice she had said softly her eyes flashing with warning.
“Don’t EVER talk about my mother like that again”
Making a small snorting noise that showed his feelings towards how little he cared about her mother he had continued.
“Anyway, as much as I would not mind ‘pimping’ you out, Alexis has other requirements”
Tessa had remained silent as he waited for some comment from her, shrugging when none had been forthcoming.
“He wants a wife Tessa”
She had frowned with annoyance, remembering the previous evening’s conversation.
“He doesn’t even know me”
She had mouthed.
“Well maybe that is for the best”
Her grandfather had added cruelly.
“Alexis is a man who enjoys the finer things in life, including women. However, he has I suppose reached that age that he wants an heir to his fortune – and believe me Tessa he has a massive fortune to protect”
“So why not marry one of the many willing little gold diggers out there”
Tessa had thrown back.
“Well the problem with gold diggers is that they tend to get lawyered up and greedy when wronged”
His contempt for women so clear in the way he spat out the sentence.
“No, he proposes a business deal. I will get my mineral rights and you will be his dutiful wife, producing for him children, while turning a blind eye to his…….. lifestyle”
Tessa had felt sick.
“An arranged marriage John? In this day and age – why me?”
John Jones had smiled.
“Well he wants to ensure he marries the right woman, and being my granddaughter gives you that credibility, along with your suitability as a mother apparently”
For a few seconds there was silence as Tessa had let it all sink in, feeling trapped.
“What if it doesn’t work out?” she asked gently.
“Then you walk away with nothing – you give up rights to any children and have no right to any money of his”
Looking at him with disbelief she had groaned.
“How could I walk away from my own children – I could never do that”
Leaning forward her grandfather had simply said.
“Then don’t leave him”
Tessa had sat back her eyes staring unseen at her hands. In her mind a plan had began to form. Once her grandfather had given Andrew the money, there was nothing that he could do to make her go through with the marriage. He would no doubt make her pay it back, but she like he could delay things in court for months, and would repay the money when her inheritance came through.
“OK, she said softly, I’ll marry him, but Andrew gets his money tomorrow”
Looking up quickly she had frowned as her grandfather had chuckled.
“Ah Tessa, you are so like me sometimes”
He had said a note of respect almost touching his voice.
“You do however need to work on your poker face. Let’s be very clear. I only get my rights to the minerals for as long as you are married to him, or in the event that there are offspring. Therefore, I will be protecting my investment through your little friend Andrew”
Gasping Tessa had looked back.
“What does that mean?”
“It means my dear “he spat out the words.
“That I will be loaning the money to Andrew, and my accountants will go in and gather evidence of the fraud………..and if you don’t go through with this marriage or leave him before there are children then I will make sure that your little friend rots in jail forever”
Tessa had slammed her hands on the table, moving to her feet, a small angry squeal leaving her.
“Damn you John, damn you to hell”
His laugh had only angered her more at the realisation she had once more been out-manoeuvred, before his voice had become serious.
“Be under no illusion Tessa, I want this deal, and I will protect it at all costs……..those minerals mean much more to me than you do, believe me”
Closing her eyes in defeat she had nodded slowly.
“Fine…I don’t seem to have much of a choice do I?”
She could feel the satisfaction exuding from the man before her.
“Good. I will have my lawyer meet with you tomorrow afternoon after you meet with Alexis”
He said in a business-like tone.
“He wishes to see you for breakfast at the following restaurant at the following time”
As he had said this he had slid a piece of paper towards her, seeing how she had lifted it, reading the instructions. The handwriting was not known to her, and she assumed it must therefore belong to Alexis Demitri.
“He is under the assumption that you are doing this for money, and is offering you a very generous allowance while you are married. He will not know anything about our deal………better that way I think”
Tessa could only nod her distaste at her grandfather so obvious on her face.
As she had turned to leave he had stopped her once more.
“One more thing, I will have ten thousand transferred into your account…….we can’t have you looking like some kind of hobo”
His eyes had looked her up and down with no attempt to disguise his contempt.
“You will make sure that you get the right kind of clothing for your new role, both in and out of the bedroom Tessa, and to make sure you do I am sending Marcie’s designer over to you in a couple of days”
Tessa had gritted her teeth, the mention of her cousin Marcie Jones, making her hackles rise. Only a few years older than her, Marcie was as cold and ruthless as her grandfather, her simpering and pouting annoying Tessa.
“Well that might not be such a good idea John” she had bit back.
“After all he didn’t seem impressed with the way she looked at your party”
With no more words Tessa had left the library. Moving out to enter her beat up old car, the shock of what had just happened still filling her. She had been wrong about Alexis Demitri; he was no different than her grandfather. When he had not got what he wanted, he had made a despicable deal with a despicable man.
As she had finally gotten home to her small apartment, Tessa had rushed to the phone, relieved to hear Andrew’s voice as he picked up the phone. As she had told him that she had managed to secure the money, he had sounded so relieved and thankful at the same time and she could hear how he was holding back the tears, as he thanked her over and over again, promising to return every penny.
Tessa had put down the phone, her heart filling with warmth that she had managed to help Andrew, despite knowing what a price she was to being made to pay. Fishing out the paper given to her by her grandfather, Tessa had frowned softly. So he was expecting her to be at his beck and call, why not she had thought, he had effectively bought and paid for her. However, Tessa was not about to change her life for him, and picking up the phone once more she had dialled the number on the note hearing as it had rang before being quickly answered.
“Alexis Demitri” she had heard, that wonderful voice of his inexplicably sending a small pulse of electricity through her, and with anger at herself she had gripped the phone harder.
“Hello Alexis” she had managed, as she had heard his voice grow softer.
“Tessa, it is good to hear from you….very good”
Pausing for a second, she had put on as business tone a voice as she could.
“I was just phoning about tomorrow morning……I’m afraid I won’t be able to make breakfast” she had managed, hearing a small edge come to his voice.
“Oh…….and why is that may I ask?”
Clearing her throat, suddenly feeling like a small child she had answered.
“I have practice all day tomorrow…….the show is only two days away”
Hearing as he had laughed softly.
“Of course it is………I am sorry, I should have realised…….Well that is settled then……you will come to my house after practice and I will make sure that you are fed”
“No….no honestly, I would really rather just go home, I probably won’t finish till 9 “
She had stammered, once more hearing how he had chuckled.
“Tessa, we have a lot to talk about…………so either you come to my house………..or I will come to yours”
He had laughed again hearing her angry sigh.
“Fine……..what is the address?” she had asked, not even hiding her annoyance, as he had given her the details.
“I will see you about eight” he had finished, ending the call before she could complain.
The following evening Tessa had found herself driving up to one of the largest driveways she had ever seen. She had felt a little intimidated, having to be buzzed into the estate through the large imposing gates. Giving a small smile, she had thought that he seemed even more ostentatious than her grandfather, finding herself more and more comparing the Greek to the hateful man she had spent her early childhood with.