The Billionaire's Runaway Bride (7 page)

That night the two had sat looking so afraid while so excited at the same time.

“I can’t believe we did it” she had whispered to him as he had given her a small groan.

“Now comes the hard part” the two of them pulling out their phones as they had moved into different rooms to make the phone calls that they knew would be devastating to those left back home.

Her father had been furious. Screaming at her in Italian and demanding that the marriage be annulled immediately. For the first time in her life she had held her ground informing him that it was too late for that having to hear as her mother had cried hysterically in the background as her father had screamed such insulting words at her. Hanging up she had sat stock still, shock filling every part of her before she had began to shake uncontrollably.

Savaging her lip she had stared at the phone once more lifting the device as she had called the one other person who needed to know.

“This is a surprise Grace Leotta” his voice full of laughter as she had felt her stomach flip, not sure why this seemed so much harder.

Clearing her throat she had felt her voice come out so weak.

“Alexos…there is something that I need to tell you…and I wanted you to hear it from me rather than…” her voice faltering. She could sense the change in him as his voice had become so concerned.

“What ….are you OK Cara?” Grace once more feeling her whole body start to shake “I…I’m fine…but I can’t marry you”

His tone had become harder as he had bitten out “Why?”

Grace sitting as her legs had felt suddenly so weak “I eloped with the man I love…with Daryle. We married this morning”

The heavy silence that followed had stretched her nerves to breaking point before he had finally spoken

“You will understand if I don’t wish you the best Miss Leotta… and I also hope you will understand that I find your behaviour inexcusable”

With that he had hung up Grace feeling the tears running down her face, not sure why those few words had stung her more than all the insults and hysterics of her parents.

With a small knock Daryle had come into the room, taking her into his arms as he had made soothing noises against her head.

“We knew it was going to be bad…and it is not going to get any easier in the short term…but it will eventually Grace…I promise”

Sniffling miserably she had nodded her head against him, feeling as he had pushed a tissue into her hand as giving a small laugh she had pushed away the tears, smiling up at her friend.

Daryle had not been wrong. For the next week she had received lawyers’ letters and calls from her mother and father all threatening and bullying, her mother in floods of tears each time they would talk. However, as it had become apparent that the marriage was in fact legal, the calls had stopped.

The final communication she had received had been from her father’s lawyer in which she was informed that she had been legally disowned with all that entailed. While the knowledge had torn at her deep within, part of her had sighed with relief. No longer was she of any value to her father, an asset to be bartered to improve his business.

Daryle had shone in his new position, quickly rising to be partner having agreed to take the position as a fellow to start. This had been a relief as now Grace was penniless and he had born both the cost of housing them and also for her university fees. Grace had painstakingly logged every expense determined in the future to repay every penny, Daryle shaking his head at her insistence.

“Grace you gave up a lot to get where you are and I would never be in this job if it were not for you”

However, pride had made her determined to one day repay him. She had enrolled in one of the local universities which offered a world-renowned marine biology course, quickly excelling in her field with her passion and aptitude for the subject.

Over the next six years she had achieved her qualifications, finally leaving with a doctorate in her chosen career having enjoyed summers as a research assistant on numerous and challenging projects which had given her the opportunity to explore much of the world’s top sights. While she had been offered a teaching role at the university, she had chosen instead to join an organisation specialising in the protection of endangered marine life, the subject of her doctoral thesis.

Daryle had by this time left his company to start his own business, a success from the moment his doors had opened. He had also at the same time two years previously met Conner, the two becoming inseparable, Conner while initially confused by the arrangement coming to be a great friend of Grace’s. Soon he had moved into their large apartment, the three living together happily, with Grace often being away.

When after a year together, the two had come to her both so nervous she had instantly known the problem smiling gently at them.

“You want a divorce don’t you Daryle?” he looking so uncomfortable as he had spluttered that he still loved her, but it was time that he and Conner made more of a commitment to each other, as with a smile she had thrown her arms around them both.

“Of course I will divorce you” her happy smile making them all start to cry as she had wished them happiness. The divorce itself had been a mere formality, Grace refusing to take anything from the marriage even though Daryle had wanted to buy her a flat. Hugging him she had repeated that she owed him more than she could ever repay, and that she would not be staying in one place long enough.

After a year of being out of her family home, her mother had reached out, Grace so happy to hear from the one parent she missed. For the next five years the two had contacted each other secretly, Grace’s mother knowing how furious her father would be if he found out. She had been delighted to find how her daughter had excelled in her chosen path, but saddened when hearing of the divorce. Grace had spared her the details, not wanting her to know what a sham the marriage that had torn their family apart had been.

Often over the years she had followed the meteoric career of the man who would have been her husband, most of which was gleaned from the gossip and social columns. Over the years he had grown even more handsome, Grace giving a half-smile not having realised that it was possible, the memory of the night they had so nearly made love haunting her still.

While many had tried to turn her head, having a wedding ring had been the ultimate deterrent for most and the perfect excuse for the rest. She had kept her divorce quiet, still wearing her gold band and keeping Daryle’s name. With a small content smile she had known that all in all at 25 years old she was content.

Her first solo project had been unexpected and shocking to Grace, her eyes reading the document with horror. Looking warily at her manager she had cleared her throat nervously.

“Damian…is there possibly another project that I could be involved with?”

The man across from her had frowned in surprise

“Sorry Grace…no…I thought that you would be over the moon” as his voice had become more wary and concerned

“This project had funding already…and to be honest it was based on your being the lead given your background and specialty”

Feeling the unease deep within her stomach her eyebrows had been drawn together in concentration.

“I … I see” Grace knowing how vital research money was for the continued work they did.

“Is there a problem?” the kindly man had asked gently, Grace giving him a small smile which had not reached her eyes, shaking her head softly.

“No…no it’s fine” before she had risen and left the room.

With only four hundred breeding pairs of monk seals in existence the sizable grant had been to find out what environmental factors made for a more secure habitat for the endangered species. Grace had known that she and her team would be required to visit all the known spots, her heart sinking with the knowledge of exactly where one of those areas was, her mind once more returning to a cliff-side and the feel of strong arms holding her. Muttering softly under her breath she had wondered why once more these thoughts seemed to be coming to her more often these days.

Over the next couple of months she had spent a considerable time gaining approval for the research team’s visit. Thankful that the areas involved were mostly stable, the only exception being Libya where with some real negotiations she had finally been able to obtain permission to visit the breeding ground. The only privately owned island with the animals had been that of Alexos Manetas and she had sent him a letter requesting permission, signing it Dr G Dionis. When a letter of acceptance welcoming the team had been received she had been filled with both relief and anxiety, not sure if he had realised who she was.

So it was eight months after her initial contact with Alexos, she had once more found herself on the island she had so briefly visited so many years ago. The team of four had rented a boat to live on, the two women and men having to share the basic two bedrooms, all used to ‘roughing it’ as part of the job. The boat also doubled as a base for dives, Grace happy not to have to be on the actual island itself for too long.

The team had already completed all but one area of the project, that being Libya after communications and negotiations had once more broken down, Grace still working on re-establishing the agreement she had been given at the start. The decision had been taken that the team would have a month’s holiday after finishing on the island, Grace relieved to find with a few simple Google searches that the owner of the island was not in residence. For over a week they had taken measurements and tagged the animals, Grace never tiring of the water or the bulky creatures which would become so graceful in the water.

After one such dive she had pulled off her fins, moving back up the beach, surprised to see Carol, her research assistant talking to a tall man. With the sun behind him Grace had been unable to make out the figure as slowly she had moved towards the pair. Pulling her face mask and snorkel from herself she had smiled welcomingly as she had heard Carol’s voice.

“Oh Mr Manetas…here comes Dr Dionis now”, Grace coming to an abrupt stop as realisation had hit her as to who exactly the man was, panic and fear thudding through every part of her as the smile had dropped from her lips. She had heard the expletive from him as he too had turned and come face to face with the woman who had so callously and publically abandoned him so many years ago.

“Grace!” her name bitten out with contempt and anger. Groaning softly she had watched as with his stance becoming rigid, he had turned and began to walk quickly away from the beach. Dropping her snorkelling equipment she had thrown Carol a panicked look before running after him leaving the bemused woman wondering what had just happened.

Reaching him, she had tentatively grabbed his arm, Alexos coming to an immediate halt as he had spun around his face black with barely contained rage.

“You have one hell of a cheek Grace”

She had looked up helplessly at the man she had once been expected to marry, her fingers pulling nervously at each other.

“I know this might be a shock” she had stuttered softly seeing as his eyes had narrowed dangerously.

“A shock? No…the shock was receiving a phone call six years ago from the lying bitch that had used me to get one past her family”

She had flinched at this her eyes dropping from his with shame “I had no choice Alexos…please”

Gritting his teeth he had glared down at her, a small sneer on his voice. “We all have choices Grace”

Before looking over at the rest of the group who were all now gathering to watch the scene unfold before them

“I came here to invite your team to dinner…right now I am trying hard not to throw the whole damn lot of you off my island”

With eyes suddenly so full of fear she had once more grabbed his arm, his cold black eyes drilling into hers as he had snarled for her not to touch him, Grace stepping back instantly, her eyes pleading.

“Please Alexos…this is a vital project. I swear that we will only be here till the end of the week. My team have done you no wrong nor have these animals” She had watched the indecision in him before he had given a quick nod.

“Fine. The end of the week and then you are out of here” His eyes once more scathing as they had racked over her before he had turned on his heels moving back to the small road on which his car was parked.

Turning herself Grace had felt her whole body shaking, the queasy nausea in the pit of her stomach making her suddenly so pale as the others had moved forward, real concern written all over their faces.

“You know each other?” Carol had asked in surprise her eyes wide “He is gorgeous” the others glaring back at her inappropriate comment as she had clamped her mouth closed. Moving towards the computer she had held her lips tightly shut, starting to enter data, the others looking at each other, silent signals passing between them as they also had returned to the jobs they were doing.

Grace had tried to concentrate on the screen before her, the words swimming as tears had welled up in her eyes. He had every right to be mad at her, every right in the world, yet his contempt had stung more than she would have ever thought possible.

It also did not help that he had over the past six years matured into a stunning man, his look more sure than it had been six years previous. Where there had been fun on his features, now his look was cold and sombre he now carried himself with the air of someone used to being very much in control, Grace aware of the many stories of his ruthless business dealings.

Realising that she was no longer typing she had stamped her foot holding back the desire to scream that had filled her. She was so tired of feeling guilty. She was doing work that was valuable, work that would benefit an entire species. So what if she had not become yet another convenient wife producing heirs for their rich husbands, it was not as if he could not have found another woman to fill that role. Stopping with her internal angry tirade she had gasped. He never had. This simple truth stilled her instantly. He had never gotten married. Groaning with the realisation that what she had done must have soured him on marriage forever. No wonder he hated her, and he did hate her, the venom in both his words and eyes proving that.