The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Part 2

Chapter Two.

For a week she had had to endure the disapproving looks of her father as he had heard of the weekend.

"The man took you away for the morning and you were not able to hold his attention?"

His contempt had stung as Grace had been so unsure of what she was supposed to have done. Her mother had tried to appease him, but his dislike of his daughter had ensured that he saw only the worst in her.

After several days, as things had once more settled down she had again sought him out, nervously standing beside his desk as she had waited for him to look up from his paperwork. With a scowl he had regarded her.

"What is it Grace?"

She licked her lips before once more asking him about attending University, her stomach dropping into her toes as he had fixed her with an icy look.

"I thought I had made myself very clear. You will marry and ensure that your marriage is one that is advantageous to the business"

Wringing her hands in both panic and fear she had moved closer "But papa...Alexos Manetas was not interested...I tried...so surely"

Bringing his brows tight together in a severe growl he had pinned his daughter to the spot with his shrivelling glare "Alexos Manetas was a long shot for you...but there are others. Many others" an unpleasant edge coming to his voice "This time next year you will be married and out of this house"

Grace had felt sick to her very stomach. As she had left she had sworn to behave so badly that none of her father's options would be interested in her.

It did not take long for the introductions to begin, the rest of that week seeing a parade of eligible men invited to their home for dinner parties, Grace growing more and more alarmed with the choice of suitable husband material, feeling dirty at the open way she was being displayed for the men to admire. Many had been at least twenty years her senior with previous relationships which had not been successful. She had found them all watching her with l.u.s.tful eyes, her plan to seem so unsuitable not working as she had hoped, with the realisation that they only saw her as a body in their beds.

When the next week she had been called to her father's study she had been full of trepidation, knowing that there was only one reason that he would willingly have called her to see him.

He had sat with three letters before him, a satisfied smile on his cruel lips as he had instructed her to sit.

"You have three offers Grace" a pleased look on his face. As he had read out the names her heart had sank seeing the men in her mind, wanting to throw herself across the desk and beg him to refuse all, a shudder running through her "I...I would rather not" she had began as his hand had slammed down loudly onto the wood.

"You will choose one Grace" the tears which had sprung to her eyes had no effect on him other than to cause him to sneer at her vulnerability.

"Tomorrow. Tomorrow you will give me your answer" with that he had thrown the letters at her "To help you choose"

Clutching the letters in her hand she had fled to her room, curling up on the bed as the tears had flooded down her face sobs racking her small frame. As her mother had moved into the room she had rushed over to her daughter pulling her into her arms "Don't cry Grace...please don't cry"

Grace looked at her mother miserably. "Why does he hate me?" her voice trembling with the extreme misery filling her. The question had seemed to throw her mother who had looked away, discomfort written all over her face, before she had pulled herself together.

"He doesn't hate you. He only wants the best for you"

Pushing out the letters Grace had shaken her head "This is the best for me!?" a sob once more racking her small body. "These men are brutal" a shudder running through her. Moving to the window her mother had seemed shaken, her arms hugging herself as she had looked out sightlessly.

"Your father wants only the best for you Grace. A good marriage will give you the stability that you need. I promise"

Shaking her head she had whispered softly. "I have my dreams...why can't I live my life...why?"

The other woman stiffening as she had moved over to the door "It will be for the best" her voice unnaturally bright as she had left her alone to her misery.

The next day pale, tired and dejected she had appeared at her father's office as ordered. Moving inside he had looked at her, a strange glint in his eyes, and a small smile on his mouth. Swallowing hard she had gripped the letters nervously.

"Father...I can't marry any of these men" her statement the bravest thing she had ever done, terror in her lovely eyes. Flinching as he had moved forward in his chair she had waited for the storm, determination not to bow down to his bullying in every rigid part of her body. His laugh had been unexpected, Grace frowning in confusion.

"Of course you can't. They are gone".

Giving a look of disgust he had plucked the sheets from her stiff fingers and thrown them to the side.

"No...you have another suitor. One that I had no idea you would ever win" his expression almost admiring as he had held out another sheet, Grace taking it with complete surprise. Reading the small note her eyes had grown wider with disbelief.

"This is from Alexos Manetas"her voice full of shock as her father had nodded.

"The man wishes to woo you in expectation of marriage" his eyes flashing brightly "You will of course accept his offer" his eyes holding hers as he had pointed to the other letters discarded on the floor "Or is there one there you would prefer?"

"No!" she had cried out in horror before dropping her eyes to the well-worded letter in which Alexos had sought her father's permission to call on her. The tone of his note was respectful and correct, so different from the others which had talked of her net worth to them.

"I...I mean Mr Manetas ...I would very much enjoy his call"

With a big smile breaking out onto his cruel face her father had nodded approvingly.

"Then I will contact him on your behalf, although it is expected that you would add in a small note yourself...you will provide me with something by the end of the day"

Backing out of the room she had felt the surge of relief fill her and bubble up into a smile, not sure why this option was so much better than the others. Her mind once more going to the way he had kissed her, his gentleness more she knew than she could ever expect from the other men. Rushing back to her room she had pulled out pen and paper frowning in concentration as she had penned a reply to him.

Dear Alexos I look forward to seeing you once more. It would give me great pleasure to show you the breathtaking scenery that we enjoy in Italy, although it may not offer more than that of your island and the wildlife you were so kind as to show me.

I truly look forward to our next meeting Regards Grace Racing back down, her father had raised an eyebrow in surprise at how quickly she had responded, his eyes scanning the sheet with a sigh.

"Hardly romantic...but I suppose..." his attention once more returning to his work an indication that she was no longer welcome.

That afternoon she had sat in the small cafe, her friend Daryle listening attentively to her words.

"He can't make you marry Grace" his voice soft and comforting as she had looked at him with disbelief.

"You have met my father?" she had said in an unnaturally high voice, pa.s.sing her hand nervously over her brow groaning softly.

"I had to agree to Alexos because the others were so........" she had not finished shuddering instead.

He had given her a small wicked grin.

"Oh I've seen pictures of Alexos Manetas ...if you don't want him...I will take him. Is he really that gorgeous?" Grace giving him a nod as she had laughed.

"You are such a s.l.u.t Daryle" he laughing back. She had been the only other person that he had confided in that he was gay, not prepared to admit this to his family, staunchly traditional in their outlook.

"They can't force you to go through with this Grace...just say no...or leave. You could just leave home and do what YOU want to do"

She had given him another pained look.

"If I do that he will find me and force me back" Sighing wearily she had reminded him of the club that had allowed her to join without his consent, her father forcing them out of the facilities they needed to run.

"While I am of any use to him at all...he will find me and force me back...and with Alexos Manetas he thinks that he has struck pay-dirt. One sniff of dissent and I will not be allowed to leave the house until the wedding"

Daryle had given her a small snort before pausing, his voice becoming slower and thoughtful.

"Do you remember the job in the UK that I told you about?"

She had nodded her voice becoming soothing "Yeah...the one for a married partner...your dream job?"

Nodding he had looked at her, a smile coming to his lips "Seems that you and I have a similar problem. I need a wife" giving a small laugh "and we both know that isn't going to happen...and you need some way to be of no value to your father"

Looking at him with a questioning frown on her face he had smiled "What if you married me? If we eloped, got married and moved to the UK?"

Grace had given him a playful smack. "Idiot" she had laughed, rising with a sigh, Daryle looking embarra.s.sed as he had nodded back. "Yeah .... I guess" as he too had rose to give her a small peck on the cheek.

"OK...I will catch you tomorrow"

However, the following day she had not made her usual visit to the shelter, surprised instead with an unexpected phone call from Alexos. His sensual voice had once more sent tremors through her, tremors she did not understand.

"I was delighted to get your letter" Grace surprised at how quickly he had received it "I particularly liked the part you offered to show me around Italy".

She gave a small nervous laugh "Well it only seems fair as you were so kind as to show me around your underwater paradise"

His throaty chuckle had made her smile, strange warmth filling her.

"Well as it happens I have a week free, and was wondering if I could take you up on your offer. Your father has offered to let me stay at your home, but I prefer to stay in a hotel...I like my own s.p.a.ce, but wanted to spend some more time with you...give us a chance to get to know each other"

Grace had felt the lump in her throat, her voice suddenly so weak "I...it sounds great...I would really enjoy that"

"Your father and mother have given permission for you to join me on the coast in a couple of days also because there are several parties that I am expected to attend...it seems the ideal opportunity for us to be seen together"

She had gripped the phone in both shock and surprise. Her father was allowing her to go away for a few days unaccompanied, Grace finding herself speechless.

His concerned voice had rallied her as she had made some small comment of how good that would be, her mind in turmoil. She had never spent time away with anybody, let alone a man, and not just any man the playboy billionaire Alexos Manetas, the memory of his kiss once more sending electric jolts of awareness through her.

As she had replaced the phone, her father had returned to the room, having left to allow the two to talk, she looking at him with wide eyes. "You said it was OK for me to go away for a few days?"

Her father nodding "On my own!"

His lips had curled contemptuously as he had nodded "We don't want you losing him because he thinks that you are too young...time for you to grow up Grace. You will do whatever is expected of you to keep him interested...do I make myself clear?"

Grace had felt the colour leave her cheeks as she had stared disbelievingly at her father. Was he really ordering her to sleep with the man? As he had turned to leave the room she had felt sick to her very stomach, pushing down the tears that filled her eyes.

With Alexos due in two days time, her father's household had become a hive of activity as the gardens had been manicured and all the rooms cleaned. She had been taken shopping, her father's secretary once more helping her to purchase more suitable clothing, Grace embarra.s.sed to see the lingerie the woman had insisted that she purchase. She had been upset when her mother had not been the one to accompany her, her father looking at the older woman with disdain, his cutting remarks not caring that she had heard "Eloise is young and s.e.xy. You will learn a lot from her"

Grace had always disliked the woman only a few years older than herself, sure that her father's relationship with her was more than was being admitted to, once more wondering why her mother would put up with being treated that way. Her mother was still beautiful, only 20 years older than she with looks that were cla.s.sically perfect, her pet.i.t frame inherited by Grace, anger filling her at her father's put down, he cruel and overweight.

Finally the day had arrived, and exactly to the hour he had specified Alexos had arrived at the Leotta estate. Her father had fawned over the young handsome man, offering him anything that he wanted, Alexos smiling as his eyes had fallen onto Grace. With extreme charm he had shaken the older man's hand and lifted her mother's hand bestowing a small kiss on it.

"It is a pleasure to see you once more Mrs Leotta" his silky voice full of real warmth, as her mother had given a return smile. Finally he had turned to Grace, taking her hand too, his mouth resting longer than was necessary on her soft skin.

"Grace. So perfectly named" his small murmur, eyes that had danced with fun, she shyly smiling back.

"I...it is wonderful to see you again Alexos" she had offered softly as his dark eyes had once more held her own hazel ones, such sensations pa.s.sing between the two before he had pulled back, Grace noticing that he had seemed almost as affected as she was.

Her father had led the group onto the large terrace as Alexos had admired their home much to the pleasure of her father whose chest had swollen up with pride. Neither Grace nor her mother had commented on how his home was so much more impressive, Grace watching how easily he seemed to manage her father. After they had enjoyed homemade lemonade, her father offered their guest something stronger as he had shaken his head smiling over at Grace "Thank you Sir, but my driving is bad enough as I am sure your daughter can confirm"

Grace's lips had twitched gently as she had shaken her head "You are a wonderful driver" as he smiled warmly back at her.

After their drink Alexos had risen, the plan for that night being that he and Grace go on their first official date, he taking her out for dinner. Once in the car he had seemed to relax, she once more finding herself with the man who had taken her diving.

"I wanted to impress you, so thought I could take you for a meal and dancing" Grace smiling shyly at him.

"Sounds wonderful" sitting back as he had once more guided the car so easily through the Italian countryside and into the city. Pulling up at 'The Paladia' she had gasped, her large eyes alive with wonder.

"Oh my G.o.d, I have heard so much about this place" looking at him with a chuckle "but my father never let me come".

Smiling he had inclined his head "Well I take that as a good sign that your father trusts me with his most precious possession".

The look that had crossed her eyes as he had joked with her had confused him, his words making her look almost mournful, a nervous half smile crossing her lovely lips.

"Yes...sure"

Stepping from the car, he had moved quickly around to open her door, throwing the car keys to the valet as he had held out his hand for her, Grace shyly taking it as he had grinned back. As the two had moved into the club, the manager himself had rushed forward to meet the couple introducing himself to Alexos, who had shaken hands with the man complimenting his club much to the manager's delight. Leading the pair to a booth close to the dance floor he had insisted on sending them a bottle of champagne, Grace looking at him with wide eyes not used to drinking, knowing that he was driving. Leaning forward he had chuckled "You don't have to drink it all" Grace nodding, her look taking in the opulence of the club the music muted as the dinner service had proceeded. She like he had ordered the steak, Alexos pouring her a gla.s.s of the bubbly wine as he had taken water.

Grace had been nervous that she would have nothing to say to the Greek who was to be her husband, but he had chatted easily, she soon finding herself relaxing in his company. As the meal had arrived she had felt hungry enjoying the meal as he had smiled warmly at her.

"It is so nice to meet a woman whose idea of a meal is not a lettuce leaf" Grace chuckling "I guess I'm lucky, I seem to be able to eat what I like" scrunching up her nose playfully "I'm sure I will pay for it in later years"

He had allowed his eyes to slide over her pet.i.t figure, a small sensual smile lighting his eyes "There are ways of ensuring that that doesn't happen"

Grace dropping her eyes as she had flushed at his obvious reference to the pleasures of s.e.x, Alexos chuckling softly "Again I embarra.s.s you Cara"

She looking at him her father's words in her ears "time to grow up" smiling more seductively back "I am sure that I will adjust" his laugh making her smile in return.

As the meal had ended the music had began, and she had found herself taken to the dance floor, so aware of the way most of the women would cast their eyes over the Adonis that was Alexos, Grace not understanding the small p.r.i.c.kle of pride at being the one he had chosen to hold, to pull into his arms and dance with all night.

Returning home she had grimaced seeing how late in the evening it was, her smile full of fun as she had chuckled "I have never had to sneak back into the house before" Alexos flicking a small return smile at her "It is only midnight...early yet" she shaking her head with a smile.

"Not for me" he once more realising how sheltered a life she had led.

Parking he had again opened her car door, taking her hand in his as they had walked to the door, Alexos lifting her hands to gently kiss them.

"I have to work tomorrow, so I will not be able to see you...however I will pick you up early on Wednesday...and we can head on down to the coast"

While her father had implied that she should sleep with Alexos, Grace had been so nervous, her eyes showing her discomfort as he had hooked her chin with his hand looking questioningly into her lovely face.

"What is wrong Grace? Please tell me"