Authors: Kelly Ilebode

THE CHAMELEON (21 page)

BOOK: THE CHAMELEON

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CHAPTER 43

(Stephanous Petros: seventeen years old) Sister Katherine could feel the tears stinging the back of her eyes as she silently willed him to look at her. For the first time in his life, he refused the direct eye contact, afraid that he would falter. There was no going back. Gripping the ticket tightly in his hand, he prayed the call to board would come soon and end this agony of having to say good-bye.

“Sister, when I become successful, I will come back and help you.”

Sister Katherine pressed her fingers to his lips and shook her head. “Don’t make promises. I will be here, whenever you are ready to come back.”

Stephan stood as the flight was finally called. Sister Katherine pulled him in close and whispered in his ear. “I will miss you, Stephanous Petros, with all of my being. Don’t let anyone change you. You are perfect just the way you are.”

Stephan allowed himself one moment to close his eyes before he pulled away.

“I can’t look back. You know that, right?” he stated, finally looking into her eyes before he walked away from her.

Nodding, she followed him with her eyes until she could no longer see him. “I know,” she whispered aloud, wiping at the tears as they coursed down her cheeks.

Staring out of the living room window at the lights in Boston Common, Stephan took a sip of his bourbon. It was good to be home and rested.

Stephan stayed at the Boulos compound for several days but Aisling insisted that she and Sophia head back to Boston once they were cleaned up. Aisling had said that Sophia would need time alone to process her near-death experience without him around and he would need one-on-one time with the Boulos. At the time, he hadn’t agreed but in hindsight he realized that once again, Aisling was right. Within twenty-four hours, Sophia had contacted him, and she sounded actually normal. Sophia was going to be an asset to the company, for sure. Sadness clutched at his chest as he thought of Alicia. The funeral arrangements were complete and they were all waiting for Sakis to return home. The authorities in Greece had finally cleared Sakis to leave the country and they were in flight. Stephan smiled to himself, sure that Sakis would need the whole ten-hour flight time to calm down Cassie. So much for the eight-week vacation.

His time at the Boulos compound had been emotional for both Nadir and Odalis. Once the shock had passed of learning that Stephanous was Nadir’s son and Odalis’s grandson, they spent the next two days getting to know one another. Stephan assured both that he had no monetary interest in the company and that his intent was just to find out who his birth parents were. It was more than obvious to Stephan that they were embarrassed with the chain of events, but as time passed, they all realized that a strong friendship was forming.

Slender arms wrapped around his waist as Aisling pressed herself against him from behind. She felt awesome from their marathon lovemaking since Stephan came back, but now, doubt settled inside her as her insecurities took over.

Turning, Stephan reached behind him, pulling her to the front as he wrapped his arms around her and laid his head on top of hers. They both stared at each other through the reflection in the glass. As he entwined his fingers in hers, she felt cold metal on her skin. Aisling stared blankly at the diamond he had slid on her finger.

“Stephan?”

Turning her, he pushed his fingers through her hair, holding her head in place.

“God, I love your hair. I hope our children have hair just like you.”

“We barely know each other,” Aisling whispered doubtfully.

“I disagree. I have known you my whole life, and have been waiting for you. You are the half of me that makes sense.”

Aisling tried to step away as she thought of her mother. “There is no fairy tale or Prince Charming, Stephan. Relationships take work. I am who I am.”

Stephan smiled. “And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“I am not quitting my job,” she statedemphatically.

“Of course not and neither am I. I am just going to ask that when we start making babies, you take time off during the pregnancy.”

Aisling faltered. “Are you sure?”

Stephan nodded. “Am I sure I love you? Yes. Am I sure that I want to spend the rest of my life fighting with you, getting to know you, loving you even more? Yes.”

Her face pressed against his chest, she exhaled and let go of everything she was led to believe. It would not be easy, she knew, but she couldn’t imagine her life without him.

Smiling, she tilted her head as she gazed up at him. “I accept, Stephanous Petros, but be careful what you wish for, because this could be a bumpy ride.”

Stephan lowered his head, grinning. “I expect nothing less from you. Bring it on, baby.”

Also by Kelly Ilebode

In Search of Grace

The Manor at Echo Lake Trilogy

Dragan’s Redemption

Aaron’s Revenge

The Legacy

Kelly and the Angel Series

The Birth of the Sparrow

The Flight of the Sparrow

The Turning Point

The Corner Booth