asked still fixated on her face.
“I’m new to Savannah,” she started. “I just got a …”
She felt a gentle kick to her left foot from Shelley who also nodded her head in a manner as not to say anything, then quickly joined the conversation. “She got a great first impression of our city,” she said, finishing Reese’s sentence. “Oh, I’m sorry, Reese this is Mr. Nikolaus Drakos. His father owns a shipping company based right here in Savannah. One of the largest in the United States.”
Reese now understood the reason for Shelley’s kick and body language. “Nice to meet you Mr. Drakos. Lovely city you have here.” She extended her hand.
Nikolaus was quick to receive it. The pleasure is all mine, Miss Summers. May I say how lovely you are yourself? Are your eyes always the color of the Caribbean?”
“Never heard it put like that before, but yes, they’re green.” She started to flush a little from his continued fascination with her facial features.
“Forgive me for staring, I just find you so captivating.”
Gino arrived back to the table with the ladies’ drinks.
Shelley gave Nikolaus a not so subtle hint to leave. “Thank you for the drinks, maybe we can return the favor sometime.” Then, turning to Gino, “I’m ready to order and I think I’ll take a chance and order for my friend as well.”
Nikolaus received Shelley’s message loud and clear. As he scooted from the booth, he turned toward her saying, “Please tell Mr. Williams our family sends our regards. And Miss Summers,” he said, turning back to look at her, “it was a pleasure to meet you and I hope we see each other again.”
He gave a slight bow toward her and went back to his own table.
“Whew, that was close,” said Shelley. “He’ll find out soon enough who you are, but no sense tipping him off on your first meeting.”
“He seemed nice,” Reese said, stealing a glance across the room.
“The book is still out on him,” Shelley quipped. “He doesn’t seem to follow his father’s way of thinking, but there’s something about him that make my hairs stand up. Better be careful around him.”
CHAPTER 9
Two days later…
“You summoned me?” questioned a slender dark-haired man.
“I don’t like you’re attitude Nikolaus,” replied an older, slightly shorter figure who was standing in a doorway. “And I don’t like to be kept waiting either. Get in here and take a seat.”
The younger man moved past his would-be host entering a room that showed opulence in every corner. He went over to an ornate, glass-covered bar, grabbed a glass and filled it with ice. Looking over his choices, he picked up a bottle of Dalmore 62 Single Highland Malt Scotch and filled his glass. He immediately drained its contents while looking up at a large Degas painting hanging on the wall above his head. Turning toward the old man who had taken up residence on one of two facing gold velou r sofas he spoke. “Alright father , why am I here?”
“Well you’re not here to drink $60,000 a bottle booze. Take a seat,” he ordered pointing to the opposite sofa.
Nikolaus put down his empty glass and did as he was commanded. Sitting down, he crossed his legs and folded his hands into his lap. The only thing that was between the men was a long, gold-trimmed, glass coffee table supporting a rare Barbedienne bronze and bisque French centerpiece bowl .
“I have a proposition for you,” said his father. “You’ve been wanting to take a greater role in the company, so I’ve decided to make you head of our longshore operations.”
“And what do I have to do in return?” he asked knowing there was a ‘but’ in his father’s voice.
“You have to quit acting like a spoiled brat and stop being reckless. You wrecked your BMW outside a night club last week, no doubt drunk as hell. That’s got to stop! I don’t like seeing your exploits all over the newspaper. It reflects badly on the company.”
“You mean your empire,
“I’m new to Savannah,” she started. “I just got a …”
She felt a gentle kick to her left foot from Shelley who also nodded her head in a manner as not to say anything, then quickly joined the conversation. “She got a great first impression of our city,” she said, finishing Reese’s sentence. “Oh, I’m sorry, Reese this is Mr. Nikolaus Drakos. His father owns a shipping company based right here in Savannah. One of the largest in the United States.”
Reese now understood the reason for Shelley’s kick and body language. “Nice to meet you Mr. Drakos. Lovely city you have here.” She extended her hand.
Nikolaus was quick to receive it. The pleasure is all mine, Miss Summers. May I say how lovely you are yourself? Are your eyes always the color of the Caribbean?”
“Never heard it put like that before, but yes, they’re green.” She started to flush a little from his continued fascination with her facial features.
“Forgive me for staring, I just find you so captivating.”
Gino arrived back to the table with the ladies’ drinks.
Shelley gave Nikolaus a not so subtle hint to leave. “Thank you for the drinks, maybe we can return the favor sometime.” Then, turning to Gino, “I’m ready to order and I think I’ll take a chance and order for my friend as well.”
Nikolaus received Shelley’s message loud and clear. As he scooted from the booth, he turned toward her saying, “Please tell Mr. Williams our family sends our regards. And Miss Summers,” he said, turning back to look at her, “it was a pleasure to meet you and I hope we see each other again.”
He gave a slight bow toward her and went back to his own table.
“Whew, that was close,” said Shelley. “He’ll find out soon enough who you are, but no sense tipping him off on your first meeting.”
“He seemed nice,” Reese said, stealing a glance across the room.
“The book is still out on him,” Shelley quipped. “He doesn’t seem to follow his father’s way of thinking, but there’s something about him that make my hairs stand up. Better be careful around him.”
CHAPTER 9
Two days later…
“You summoned me?” questioned a slender dark-haired man.
“I don’t like you’re attitude Nikolaus,” replied an older, slightly shorter figure who was standing in a doorway. “And I don’t like to be kept waiting either. Get in here and take a seat.”
The younger man moved past his would-be host entering a room that showed opulence in every corner. He went over to an ornate, glass-covered bar, grabbed a glass and filled it with ice. Looking over his choices, he picked up a bottle of Dalmore 62 Single Highland Malt Scotch and filled his glass. He immediately drained its contents while looking up at a large Degas painting hanging on the wall above his head. Turning toward the old man who had taken up residence on one of two facing gold velou r sofas he spoke. “Alright father , why am I here?”
“Well you’re not here to drink $60,000 a bottle booze. Take a seat,” he ordered pointing to the opposite sofa.
Nikolaus put down his empty glass and did as he was commanded. Sitting down, he crossed his legs and folded his hands into his lap. The only thing that was between the men was a long, gold-trimmed, glass coffee table supporting a rare Barbedienne bronze and bisque French centerpiece bowl .
“I have a proposition for you,” said his father. “You’ve been wanting to take a greater role in the company, so I’ve decided to make you head of our longshore operations.”
“And what do I have to do in return?” he asked knowing there was a ‘but’ in his father’s voice.
“You have to quit acting like a spoiled brat and stop being reckless. You wrecked your BMW outside a night club last week, no doubt drunk as hell. That’s got to stop! I don’t like seeing your exploits all over the newspaper. It reflects badly on the company.”
“You mean your empire,
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