Page 56 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

Axel frowned. ‘Delivery?’

Michalis’s mobile phone started ringing and he backed away from the desk. ‘Check your email.’

Axel opened his laptop and saw the new message. It was from Candice.

Dear Mr Drakos, I wanted to let you know we’ve taken delivery of a large package for you, it came with a note in an envelope, please let me know if you want me to open it.

Candice.

Suddenly more alert, Axel asked his secretary to place a call to Candice. Within a couple of minutes he was connected. He asked her to open the package.

He heard the sound of paper ripping on the other end and had to curb an urge to ask her to hurry, not even sure why he felt impatient. Then she said, ‘Oh, Lord, it’s that big canvas by Oliver Pierre, a local artist. It’s been in the window of the gallery for weeks.’

The painting that had caught Axel’s eye. And he hadn’t wanted to think about why, because he knew. Because those bright, vivid, abstract colours represented something deep inside him that he could never unleash because it terrified him. And so he’d carefully curated a bland world around him, telling himself that it was more appropriate.

But now that canvas was in the villa and he thought of Hope saying she’d paint it all white and add splashes of colour.

A little hoarsely he asked, ‘Can you take a photo of the note and send it to my mobile?’

A couple of seconds later his phone pinged and Axel opened up the message. A photo appeared. Typed writing on a small card.

Dear Axel, I bought this for you because I saw you looking at it. I think it’s you, even though you don’t seem to like much colour around. Maybe you can add some more? Thank you for taking me on an adventure, I truly wish you well, Axel, love, Hope.

‘Axel?’

He looked up. Michalis, with a folder in his hand. He put the folder down and opened it. Axel looked at the photo of a woman. Brown hair. Classically beautiful.

Michalis was saying, ‘Demetria Carras, twenty-eight. She’s a barrister and comes from the Carras family—you’re actually distantly related. She’s single and has made it clear she’d be open to a meeting.’

Axel looked at his friend. ‘Find her for me, and let me know where she is.’

Michalis knew who he was referring to and it wasn’t the very suitable woman in the file.

‘Axel, are you sure? Is she really…?’

‘Do not finish that sentence, unless you want to lose your job. Find her. Now.’

* * *

‘You know, it’s always been a fantasy of mine to work the private jets and meet some rich guy, but you actually did it, and now you’re back here.’

Hope forced a tight smile and hoped her colleague would stop talking and crowing over Hope’s fall from grace. Of course, everyone had seen her pictures with Axel online and couldn’t get enough of it. She was the hot topic of gossip.

She’d got a text from George: Really, Hope? While I was having a migraine?!

They were buckled into their seats at the back of the budget plane, a full flight to Dublin from London. Mercifully short at least. The last flight of the day. The steward at the front announced, ‘Last passenger boarded, doors checked and closed, ready for take-off.’

Hope tuned out the catty comments and tried not to think about the big aching void inside her. Where she felt she’d never be warm again. She missed Axel so much. And she hated him so much. But she really loved him so much.

Soon they were cruising and the seat-belt signs went off. They busied themselves preparing the meals and snacks that passengers had ordered ahead of time, getting the trolley ready.

Hope was vaguely aware of some sounds and then her colleague’s voice saying, ‘Hope, I think someone is looking for you?’

She straightened up and looked around and promptly dropped the sandwich she’d been holding.

‘Axel…what are you doing here?’ He literally didn’t fit on the plane. Too tall and broad and…Axel.

He looked slightly deranged. He was wearing a suit but not a three-piece suit. No tie, button open. It was creased. He had a beard. Or what was becoming a beard, hugging his jaw. It only made him look more masculine. And his hair was unruly. Eyes wild.