this new world.
For Stephan, Cassie not moving was answer enough for him.
Her gaze turned to the main door, and she stared at the man she was going to have dinner with as he stepped down the wide stairs. He wore black dress slacks and a stark white shirt. He left it untucked, giving him a casual feel, if you could call it casual. Sakis was flawless in every way in his appearance. He did not seem pleased at the moment and he spoke in Greek to Stephanous, who answered curtly back in response while he opened her door. Cassie didn’t have to be told what they were saying to understand that they were discussing her and her stupid front seat move. Taking her hand, Stephan assisted her out of the car.
“You look terrified. Relax. He won’t bite.” Stephan laughed and whispered to her, before he drove off and left her alone with Sakis.
Cassie’s nerves hit an all new high, and Sakis seemed to understand that she was frozen in place. His face softened. “Good evening. You look lovely, Cassandra.” Wrapping her hand in the crook of his arm, he led her to the door, before he released her so that she could step in ahead of him.
The foyer was magnificent. Black and white marble gleamed beneath her feet. A sweeping staircase rose up on her right, and the polished wood shone a deep luster. In the center of the grand foyer, a large round table held a crystal vase and the late afternoon sun streamed through large windows, bouncing off the cut crystal. Flowers overflowed the container and filled the air with a musky scent. Cassandra wasn’t sure where to look first, and she felt overwhelmed.
“Your home is extremely large and very beautiful, Sakis.”
He seemed pleased with her reaction.
“It is even more beautiful now, with you standing before me.” His words were spoken softly to her.
Lifting her face, she stared at him. He did not seem disingenuous. Cassie’s face heated with the compliment. Smiling, she followed as he walked to the left. Moments later, they stood in a large kitchen and the scents caused her stomach to growl loudly.
Sakis chuckled. “It seems you are as hungry as I am feeling. Come.” Ignoring the staff who were busy around them, he directed her through the kitchen to a large area on the opposite side of the room where a large L-shaped sofa sat. A TV was mounted above a large stone fireplace and several overstuffed chairs were placed to one side of the sofa. The coffee table gleamed, and a cluster of lit candles reflected in the shine of the polished wood. The drippings from the candle indicated to Cassie that they were not just placed there for her benefit, but instead were used often. Small trays of food had been placed around the centerpiece. It was the perfect spot to settle in for a long stretch. Unlike the main entrance, which, as beautiful as it was, seemed sterile, this area was lived in, used and homey. Cassie could feel herself relax immediately. Here she could sit and be herself. Cassie watched as a tall, primly dressed woman approached Sakis and spoke in Spanish. Cassie’s eyes widened when Sakis responded in Spanish, as a look of irritation crossed his face before he turned again to Cassie.
“Please, make yourself comfortable. Maria will assist you in anything that you might need. I will be back in a moment.” Standing uncomfortably at his quick exit, Cassie watched his retreating back, unsure what she should do next.
A small Spanish woman appeared out of nowhere, smiling shyly. Maria, Cassie presumed. She stared into the kind face, liking her immediately.
“Please sit, por favor.” The woman picked up one of the white square plates, placed several items on it and handed the plate over to Cassie, along with a crisp white napkin.
“Thank you.”
As she stared down at what was offered, Cassie was unsure of what she was looking at.
“Is there a problem, Cassie?” Stephanous asked from behind her.
She glanced dubiously at her plate before she looked to Stephan, who seemed to be
For Stephan, Cassie not moving was answer enough for him.
Her gaze turned to the main door, and she stared at the man she was going to have dinner with as he stepped down the wide stairs. He wore black dress slacks and a stark white shirt. He left it untucked, giving him a casual feel, if you could call it casual. Sakis was flawless in every way in his appearance. He did not seem pleased at the moment and he spoke in Greek to Stephanous, who answered curtly back in response while he opened her door. Cassie didn’t have to be told what they were saying to understand that they were discussing her and her stupid front seat move. Taking her hand, Stephan assisted her out of the car.
“You look terrified. Relax. He won’t bite.” Stephan laughed and whispered to her, before he drove off and left her alone with Sakis.
Cassie’s nerves hit an all new high, and Sakis seemed to understand that she was frozen in place. His face softened. “Good evening. You look lovely, Cassandra.” Wrapping her hand in the crook of his arm, he led her to the door, before he released her so that she could step in ahead of him.
The foyer was magnificent. Black and white marble gleamed beneath her feet. A sweeping staircase rose up on her right, and the polished wood shone a deep luster. In the center of the grand foyer, a large round table held a crystal vase and the late afternoon sun streamed through large windows, bouncing off the cut crystal. Flowers overflowed the container and filled the air with a musky scent. Cassandra wasn’t sure where to look first, and she felt overwhelmed.
“Your home is extremely large and very beautiful, Sakis.”
He seemed pleased with her reaction.
“It is even more beautiful now, with you standing before me.” His words were spoken softly to her.
Lifting her face, she stared at him. He did not seem disingenuous. Cassie’s face heated with the compliment. Smiling, she followed as he walked to the left. Moments later, they stood in a large kitchen and the scents caused her stomach to growl loudly.
Sakis chuckled. “It seems you are as hungry as I am feeling. Come.” Ignoring the staff who were busy around them, he directed her through the kitchen to a large area on the opposite side of the room where a large L-shaped sofa sat. A TV was mounted above a large stone fireplace and several overstuffed chairs were placed to one side of the sofa. The coffee table gleamed, and a cluster of lit candles reflected in the shine of the polished wood. The drippings from the candle indicated to Cassie that they were not just placed there for her benefit, but instead were used often. Small trays of food had been placed around the centerpiece. It was the perfect spot to settle in for a long stretch. Unlike the main entrance, which, as beautiful as it was, seemed sterile, this area was lived in, used and homey. Cassie could feel herself relax immediately. Here she could sit and be herself. Cassie watched as a tall, primly dressed woman approached Sakis and spoke in Spanish. Cassie’s eyes widened when Sakis responded in Spanish, as a look of irritation crossed his face before he turned again to Cassie.
“Please, make yourself comfortable. Maria will assist you in anything that you might need. I will be back in a moment.” Standing uncomfortably at his quick exit, Cassie watched his retreating back, unsure what she should do next.
A small Spanish woman appeared out of nowhere, smiling shyly. Maria, Cassie presumed. She stared into the kind face, liking her immediately.
“Please sit, por favor.” The woman picked up one of the white square plates, placed several items on it and handed the plate over to Cassie, along with a crisp white napkin.
“Thank you.”
As she stared down at what was offered, Cassie was unsure of what she was looking at.
“Is there a problem, Cassie?” Stephanous asked from behind her.
She glanced dubiously at her plate before she looked to Stephan, who seemed to be
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