The Innocent Behind The Scandal - Abby Green Page 0,56

carefully. He said, ‘I’m just saying that there is no limit to what we can achieve now we’re united.’

At that moment Nikos’s phone buzzed. It was on the table, and Maks saw an image of Maggie’s smiling face and their son Daniel’s, close to hers. Daniel was grinning cherubically, with the dark hair and eyes of his father.

Nikos picked up the phone, looking at his brothers. ‘Are we done here, or do you want to sit and braid each other’s hair some more?’

Sharif rolled his eyes, but his mouth twitched. ‘No, go—play happy families. Enjoy it while it lasts.’

Nikos was already up, answering his phone with a sexy growl. ‘Moro mou, you were meant to call me an hour ago...’

Maks knew Maggie well enough by now to know that she’d probably be rolling her eyes at her husband, and a curious little ache formed in his chest at the thought of Nikos and his growing family unit. At his very obvious adoration for his wife. It was such an alien thing to witness.

All of sudden Maks realised that in spite of everything he didn’t share Sharif’s cynicism. He had a sense that whatever Nikos and Maggie had, it was very real.

Sharif’s phone rang. He answered it and went still. Then he said, ‘I’m making the most of a set of circumstances set down many years ago. It’ll be in all of our interests to take advantage of this opportunity. Let them know I’ll expect things to happen within the next couple of months.’

Maks looked at Sharif when he had terminated his call. ‘That was cryptic. Anything you want to share?’

Sharif fixed his dark gaze on Maks. For a moment Maks had the impression that Sharif wanted to share something but all he did say was, ‘It’s nothing that concerns you. Stay in touch, brother. And forewarn me next time you decide to pose naked for the papers. It was rather more of my little brother than I cared to see over my breakfast.’

Sharif got up to leave and Maks rose too, gritting his jaw again. ‘I didn’t pose.’

But Sharif was already striding out of the bar, with a couple of assistants who’d been hiding in a corner chasing after him.

Feeling irrationally irritable and irritated, Maks moved to a stool at the bar, ordering a drink. He noticed a few women on their own. One met his eyes. She was beautiful. Willowy, blonde. Confident. Exactly the kind of woman whose clear invitation he would have accepted before. Except he felt nothing. No stirring of interest. Nada. Zilch.

He turned to his drink. His libido only seemed to come to life at night now. When he woke sweaty and aching all over after explicitly sexual dreams featuring a treacherous liar and a thief—

‘Maks, you dark horse! Are congratulations in order?’

Maks looked up and to his side, to see the smirking face of photographer Pierre Gardin. Another reminder of Zoe that he didn’t need. ‘What are you talking about, Pierre?’

‘Your girlfriend was working with me this week, and the rumour on set was that she’s pregnant. She kept disappearing to the bathroom, but she’s still the best assistant I’ve had in a long time. I hate to admit it, but I think she’s got real potential to—’

Maks swivelled around on his stool. He could see Pierre’s mouth moving but the sound was muffled. He wanted to shake the man.

He cut through whatever he was saying now. ‘What did you say?’

Pierre stopped talking and cocked his head, eyes narrowing on Maks. ‘Actually, Zoe never mentioned you. Maybe you’re not together any more? Maybe the baby isn’t yours? I can’t keep up with these young people and their love affairs...’

Baby. Pregnant.

Maks was having a hard time getting his brain to absorb those words. It was so nonsensical.

And then Maks had a mental image of Zoe in bed with another man and his brain went white-hot.

‘Where is she?’

Pierre frowned. ‘I have no idea. She went home—back to London, presumably.’

Maks’s brain was melting.

Pregnant.

Yet she hadn’t called him.

Do you blame her? asked a caustic voice. The words he’d last thrown at her reverberated in his head: Get out. I never want to see you again.

Was he even the father?

‘Maks, are you okay?’

No. He wasn’t. For weeks now he’d been avoiding thinking about Zoe’s stricken face when she’d come to his townhouse that night, and her entreaty, ‘You know I’d never do something like this.’ Avoiding the niggling question as to why she would have come to his house if