Page 54 of Billion-Dollar Baby Shock

It was also painful knowing that she’d be so close to her son, but so far.Kept at a remove.

Not to mention his father,pointed out a little voice.

She would have to look into her legal rights as his biological mother, maybe even demand joint custody—

‘Okay?’

Tara’s thoughts scattered instantly.She carefully composed her expression before turning to him.He handed her a glass of champagne.She took it.‘Efharisto.’

Dion raised a brow.‘Learning Greek?’

Tara nodded.‘I am, actually.I signed up for classes today, at a language school in the city.I start next Monday.’

‘I could have arranged a tutor for you.’

Tara shook her head.‘No, this is going to be my home.I need to make friends and meet people.Not to mention start looking for work.’

Dion was silent for a long moment and when Tara glanced at him he was looking at her with a slightly taken-aback expression.

‘What is it?’

He shook his head.‘Nothing.I can arrange for you to interview with the team working on the eco resort on Nisos.They’re working on other projects there too.’

‘I’d appreciate that, as long as they don’t feel like they have to hire me because I’m…’ She faltered, because what was she?

‘They won’t, don’t worry.It’ll be purely merit based.’

‘That’s good.’

The sun was almost disappearing behind the Acropolis and Dion said, ‘Ready to go?’

Tara looked around.The crowd had thinned out.She nodded and tried not to feel dispirited at the thought of going back to her palatial but very empty apartment.

In the car on the way back to the apartment Tara said, ‘Interior decorators are coming tomorrow to start work on turning the guest bedroom into a nursery for Niko.’

Dion seemed tense.‘That sounds good.’

Something occurred to Tara and she said, ‘Imagine when he’s a lanky teenager and he’s going to have all his friends around watching movies or playing computer games.’She nudged Dion.‘Maybe my apartment will be thefun placeto hang out.’

Dion looked at her as if she’d just spoken a foreign language.

‘They do grow up, you know,’ Tara pointed out gently.‘But luckily I have a vast amount of experience in dealing with moody teenagers.’

She could swear he went pale in the dim light of the back of the car.Concerned, she asked, ‘What is it?What did I say?’

* * *

‘Nothing…nothing.’Dion got out, sounding a little strangled.But she’d just said everything.She’d given Dion a glimpse into the future—his son growing up, becoming a young man.Having the kind of normal life that Dion had never experienced.Which was exactly what Dion had wanted for his son.But somehow he’d never factored Tara into this picture and he could see her now, in another fifteen years, even more beautiful.Vibrant.Sexy.Rounded.Mature.

He’d never factored her in because he’d been fully sure she would be gone.And yet she was starting Greek lessons.Looking for a job.Getting on with her life.Without him.

Which was exactly what he wanted.So why did he feel as if a massive weight were pressing on his chest?At the thought of their son floating between the villa and the apartment.Spending time with his mother.Who could well be in another relationship by then.Perhaps not livingin the apartment any more but another place.With more children.

Dion nearly stopped breathing.His mind blanked into a red haze.His car pulled up outside the apartment block now and Tara put a hand on his arm, saying lightly, ‘You don’t need to come up.I’m fine.I’m quite tired this evening.’

Dion was frozen into a kind of paralysis, watching as his driver jumped out to help Tara out of the car.Something he should be doing but couldn’t.He watched her go in, greeting the concierge, who smiled back.

She disappeared into the elevator, the doors closed.The driver got back in and Dion was suddenly moving, out of the car, and through the doors.Only for the fact that the concierge knew who he was, he didn’t stop him.