a warm smile for the old man.
“It is because of my arrival that I have arranged this.” Takis produced a hotel key card and brandished it with the air of a man conjuring the golden rings that had disappeared from the stage.
“You will not stay in a hotel. You will stay here, with family,” Ariston proclaimed, no give in his tone or his stance.
“But naturally. The hotel room is for you and your lovely wife. Newlyweds should not spend their first night of marriage under the same roof as their grandfather.”
“I thought you did not recognize our divorce,” Chloe teased, strangely disconcerted about using that key card. “We can hardly be newlyweds, then.”
It added a romantic tone to the day that she’d been trying very hard to acknowledge as unnecessary under the circumstances.
“Ohi, no more do I, but I am not so set in my ways, I do not recognize a recommitment when I witness one.”
Chloe almost laughed at the old man’s absolute intransigence on the subject.
Ariston showed no hesitancy however as he accepted the gift with a bussing on both his grandfather’s cheeks and warm thanks. “Where are we going, then?”
“Only the best hotel in the city. I would accept nothing less for my grandson and his bride,” Takis promised.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHLOE discovered how very right Takis was as they were shown into one of the hotel’s premier suites.
Not only was it richly appointed and impeccably decorated, but it was bigger than her apartment back in Oregon. The dining table had seating for six and the living area could have hosted a small party easily.
She let out a low whistle of appreciation. “Your grandfather certainly knows how to live in luxury, doesn’t he?”
“He worked hard to be where he is and his father before him. Should he book us into a motel?”
“I’m surprised you even know that there are motels in the city.” She wouldn’t have five years ago, when they’d first met and she’d known nothing of life beyond the pampered if lonely existence of her childhood.
“When I researched the hospitality industry before venturing into it, I made sure I looked at every type of accommodation available to suit every strata of society.”
“You’ve diversified into the hospitality industry?”
“I’d begun the move soon after our marriage. SSE now owns and operates a line of exclusive cruise ships.”
“You never told me about it.” Not that he’d made it a habit to discuss business with her, but he’d been far more free with information about SSE than her father had ever been about Dioletis Industries at home.
“I meant to name the ships after our children.”
“But we didn’t have any.”
“No.” He shrugged, the casual movement belying the regret in his eyes. “It was a grandiose idea considering the fact we had not even conceived a child yet when I commissioned the first two ships for building.”
“How many are in your fleet now?” she asked, unable to help the awe she felt at such a huge venture.
Cruise ships were like small cities. Building one would be a big enough endeavor—to have started his fleet with two had shown how committed he’d been to the enterprise.
“Ten. We have three different routes in the Mediterranean, all of which sail out of or land in Piraeus.”
“I’m not surprised. Greece is home, no matter what your passport says.”
He shook his head. “It was a solid business move.”
“Oh, yes?” she asked in a teasing tone, not really believing it.
“Very much so. Did you know that Greece took in more tourist dollars than any country in the EU last year?”
“No.” And she wouldn’t have expected it either.
“Where there is a will and a modicum of intelligence, there is always a way to make money.”
“Don’t tell my father that.”
“He knows my feelings on the subject. I told him investing in bonds and banks was foolish five years ago, but he did not listen to me.”
“So, what did you name the ships?” she asked, not really wanting to discuss her father’s business failings.
“They are named for the Greek gods of mythology.”
She smirked. “Not exactly original.”
“No, but popular with the guests.”
“Where do the rest of your fleet sail?”
“Two out of Amsterdam, one to Alaska, one to Hawaii, two in the Caribbean and one to Mexico out of L.A. We hope to commission three more ships next year.”
“What does your grandfather think of them?”
“He says they aren’t as pretty as our cargo ships, but they’ll do.”
She laughed, the sound so genuine, it startled her. “That sounds like him.”
This was what she and Ariston were