Secrets Under the Sun, page 17
“Hey, Eleni, did you make any extra desserts for the grunt labor? I’m always happy to sample to make sure nothing’s poisoned.” His gaze roamed to the sideboard.
“That’s completely up to Haddie and Kat if they want to share. Um…did I see your truck at The Hideaway on my way over here?” Stupid question. Kat had just said he’d been working there.
“Yeah. Man, that’s some work being done. And fast.”
“Who bought the place?”
Ben shrugged and reached down to scratch Boomer on the neck. “I’m not sure. Some rich city guy. I’ve only dealt with his assistant. Or I suppose it could be her assistant. The lady refers to the owner as ‘my employer’ or ‘the owner’, so it’s anyone’s guess.”
Great. Big city person. Doubtful the cottage would be filled with love and family. Most likely, it would be spoiled beach bums looking for a quick hook up. Or squealing women getting drunk while lamenting their boring lives and unfaithful husbands.
“Well, looks like no expense has been spared. They’ve got locals hired to redo floors, walls, and even a new roof. I’ve been contracted to fix the porch and upstairs deck and refinish all the woodwork. That place sure does have beautiful bones.”
“I know. I’ve seen it. I’m glad they aren’t just gutting it and starting fresh. I hope they keep the charm of the old house.”
Ben nodded. “Oh, definitely old island charm. I’ve got special orders for a large bed frame, some bureaus, and a few armoires. Lots of shelving going in the main bedroom closet, too.
“So they’ll probably rent it out to large groups.”
“That’d be my guess. The dining room table they want me to make will seat eight and ten with an extension.”
“It sounds beautiful. I hope I’ll be able to see it someday.”
Ben tipped his head toward the box she’d brought. “Save me a few of those, and I’ll give you a private tour once it’s done.”
Eleni laughed, though she wished the house wasn’t going to someone else. “I’ll make you a batch just for yourself.”
Kat cleared her throat. “Which he’ll share with me, correct?”
Ben looked sheepish. “I guess.”
“Do you know when the cottage will be finished?”
“It’s a rush job. They got people pulling double and weekend shifts to get it done. I think the owner is hoping for Christmas or New Year’s.”
“Let me know when it’s done. I’d love to take you up on that offer of a tour. That house has always spoken to me.”
Kat fiddled with the register and handed Eleni an envelope. “Here’s for the wreaths and decorations. Really appreciate your making so many. Gram loves what you do and that she’s helping a family in need. The cookies are an added bonus for the workers. I hate to see Gram slaving over the stove at her age, but she’d insist on doing it, too. This way she doesn’t have to.”
Eleni said her goodbyes and went outside to round up the kids. Family in need. Yeah, that pretty much described them. Truthfully, they didn’t need for much. They had the important things in life. And now that Dean had gotten involved with them, Eleni was getting even more of her needs met.
Maybe if she didn’t assign projects this week, the kids could get to bed early tonight. That would leave her free to take a little walk back to Dean’s. He gave her everything and then some.
She didn’t need a house on the beach when she had a man who showed her what love and caring was about. Neither of them had said the words, but Eleni felt those emotions deep in her heart. She hoped Dean did, too.
Chapter Nineteen
As much as Dean loved being here on the island and spending time with Eleni and her family every night, he’d confess he wasn’t a fan of cleaning up vomit. It was still two weeks before Christmas, but already the revelers were a little too much into the Christmas spirits.
Trey had sent an e-mail to all of the intended targets with a different promo plan in each. He’d made sure to mention the information was to be kept absolutely to themselves until they finalized everything. Now, they needed to wait. Nothing had shown up yet at the competition, but it hadn’t been that long.
In the meantime, he’d snooped in some of the offices during his overnight shifts. The one Hugh still insisted giving him at least once a week.
It was almost quitting time for him, so he rinsed out the mop and bucket and rolled it down the hall to put it away. Reva clicked along behind him, then paused as he tucked his tools in the closet.
“Maintenance man, whose name I always forget?”
“Dean. It’s Dean.” He pointed to his name tag that had rested on his chest for four months.
“Right. Dean.” She waved her freshly manicured nails in the air. “So, it’s close to Christmas. I’ll bet someone like you could use a little extra cash. Am I right?”
“Did you want to hire me to do something? I work for the resort. I get paid to do anything you need me to here.” He sure as heck wasn’t going to her house to hang Christmas lights.
“Yes, I understand. I just need a little errand run.” She lifted a manilla envelope and held it out. “I need you to take this over to the bar by the marina and deliver it to a friend.”
“Why can’t you do it?”
Her head swiveled, her hair puffing out to the sides as she checked the hallway. “I have so many things to do here with all the Christmas Festival people arriving. I figured you’d have some time. Aren’t you off right about now?”
She couldn’t remember his name, but she knew what his scheduled hours were? This lady was a dingbat. Something was up with her.
“You’re going to pay me to deliver this? How much?” Let’s see what she thought his time was worth.
“I’ll give you fifty dollars if you can get there by six. My friend is a bartender at Sundown, and that’s when he gets off.”
He glanced at his watch. Five twenty-five. Not that he needed the money, but Reva was acting strange. Stranger than usual, anyway.
“Sure, I guess I can do it.”
After peeking around the hallway again, she tucked a fifty-dollar bill into the flap of the envelope and handed it to him.
“My friend’s name is Bob. Tall, dark, good looking. You can’t miss him.”
All the bartenders at that bar also wore name tags. He’d been there several times with Eleni, Marek, and Nadine.
“Okay, go, go.” She waved him away. No thank you or appreciation or anything.
Once he’d locked the storage closet, he strolled down the hall to get his coat in the staff room. He accidentally/on purpose dropped the envelope, and it popped open, the twist having broken off. Okay, he’d played with it a little on his walk here.
Dean got a glimpse of papers, and a specific drawing caught his attention. It was the fake logo they’d designed to trap their marketing thief. And she’d handed it straight to the president of the company she was betraying.
After shooting off a text to Trey about their culprit, he went in search of Reva. They could finally end this.
She stood in the doorway of the Diamond Ballroom, her smirk unmistakable. He had a feeling that would change soon enough.
Approaching her, he pulled the papers out and held them up. “I’m not sure this is something you should be sharing with anyone else.”
Her eyes narrowed and shot daggers at him. “Listen, it’s none of your business what I do. You have no idea of the inner workings of this place.”
Boy, was she wrong about that. He let her go on with her tantrum.
“Just go bring those like I asked. I paid you your money already. And don’t say anything to anyone else. It’s nobody else’s business.”
“You know, you never even said thank you.”
Her lips pursed. “I can have you fired if I want. I’m in tight with Demetrius Petrakis.”
Dean mumbled, “Not as tight as I am.” After taking a deep breath, he straightened and cleared his throat. “You know, my brother always thought highly of you. Why would you do this to him?”
Reva’s eyebrows slammed together. “Why do I care what your brother thinks?”
“That Demetrius Petrakis you just mentioned. Sound familiar?”
“What about him?”
“He’s my brother.”
Her body stiffened. “No. His brother’s name is Konstantine. I don’t know what you’re playing at.”
He tapped the name tag on his chest. “Yes, Dean is short for Konstantine.”
Her mouth fell open, and her eyes widened.
“You’re lying. You can’t be Konstantine Petrakis. He lives in New England. He’d never work as a janitor here. He’s got millions. What’s your angle? You want more money to deliver the envelope? Fine. I’ll give you another twenty, but that’s it.”
“I don’t need your money. As you just pointed out, I have millions.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and scrolled to a picture of him and his brother together. When he swiveled the screen toward Reva, her face blanched.
“What are you doing here cleaning toilets?”
“Looking for the person who’s been selling us out.”
A scowl crossed her face, and she shoved her finger at his chest. “Your brother is the one responsible for this. He deserves anything I throw at him. He thinks he can get away with what he’s done to me. Well, he can’t.”
“He gave you this job, even though you didn’t have the qualifications. Along with a very healthy salary and bonuses.” Reva’s paycheck was far higher than Eleni’s, and that woman worked her fingers to the bone with this job.
“This job!” Reva’s voice rose louder, not caring that people were watching. “I didn’t want this job. I wanted to marry him. Be the queen of his empire, not his little tramp whenever he decides to visit. He doesn’t appreciate what I could do for him, his image.”
“No, I guess he doesn’t. Just so you know, these plans are fake. We planted them around to see who the turncoat was.”
“If they’re fake, then you have nothing against me. Plus, I never actually gave them to anyone.”
“Not this time. Who’s Bob? I can go ask what his stake in this is. How much are you getting paid to deliver these to The Sands?”
Her lips pressed together, and she shook her head. “Nothing. I haven’t gotten a cent. I wanted to pay Demetrius back for the way he’s treated me. Bob is a patsy who gives the plans to someone else who works for The Sands. They don’t even know who’s providing them.”
He understood, to a degree, why she was intent on bringing them down. Trey could be a jerk at times when it came to women. Now, what to do with this woman?
“Listen, Reva. I’m sorry that my brother treated you poorly, but what you did can’t be overlooked. My suggestion is to leave the island. Don’t come back and don’t attempt anything else against Yios Corp. If you do, we’ll charge you with corporate espionage. I don’t think you’ll look good in prison stripes.”
Her shoulders fell, but her expression softened. “You’d let me just go?”
“If you stay away. No reference from here, though. You understand?”
“Yes, yes, thank you. You are far nicer than your brother. If you ever need anything…” She placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned in. Dean immediately stepped back.
“Don’t even try it. I’m not as susceptible as my brother. Just go. Now.”
Reva scurried off, heels clicking down the hallway. Luckily, most of the day staff was gone. As he turned to see the few people who’d overheard his conversation, the one person he hadn’t wanted stood right there behind him. Eleni.
Her face crumpled, emotions plain to see, then she spun and rushed down the hallway. Dean took off after her. He couldn’t let her get away without talking to her.
“Eleni. Let me explain.” He darted into the manager’s outer office. She had grabbed her bag and was stuffing her purse into it.
“Eleni, look at me.”
“I have to go home.” She pushed past him to the door.
“You don’t get off for a half hour.”
She rounded on him and scowled. “I’m sick. My kids are sick. My mother is sick. I need to go. Dock my pay if you need to.”
She got as far as the walkway near the tennis courts before he managed to get in front of her and take her arm. She tugged it away immediately.
“So this friendship between us, it was all a ruse? You needed to look like you belonged so you could catch Reva at whatever she was doing?”
“No, Leni. Our friendship was real. That was a bonus.”
“A bonus? Like sleeping with me? That’s a pretty nice bonus, but I’m not really the millionaire type. Did you enjoy slumming it?”
What was she saying? “I don’t understand. You just found out I have millions and you’re mad. Most women would be jumping for joy.” But Eleni wasn’t most women. Something he’d learned during his time here and a reason he loved her.
“You lied to me.” Her gaze bore into him like a kick to the groin.
“I told you why I was here.”
“You said to check on the resort. And that you were a friend of the family.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
He mimicked her stance. “No, you said that.” At her disbelieving glare, he continued, “I had to be here without anyone knowing, to catch the traitor who was giving our marketing plans away.”
Her eyes narrowed, then got bigger. “Did you think I was involved?”
“I had to consider everyone a suspect at first, but I soon realized there wasn’t any way you would have done it. I know how loyal you are, Leni.”
He reached out, but she took a step back. “Yet you still didn’t tell me. Didn’t trust me with your true identity. After all we’ve done. After all the times you’ve come to my house for dinner and desserts and playing basketball and going for walks. You didn’t trust me.” Her voice cracked on the last few words.
“I loved all of those times. They weren’t fake for me.”
Eleni pressed her lips together and took a step closer. “I haven’t had sex since Sean died. I let you get close and trusted you to the point we became intimate. I allowed you in my house and with my kids. They trusted you, and you lied to all of us. Konstantine. Or should I call you Mr. Petrakis now?”
“I was always myself when I was with you and your family. I was able to be simply Dean. Not the CEO of a mega corporation. I appreciated that more than you know.”
“Well, I’m glad we could entertain you while you were here undercover. But now you’ll be heading back to corporate headquarters and your elite lifestyle.”
“Eleni, I—”
“I don’t want to see you anymore, Mr. Petrakis. Have a nice trip home.” She swirled around and almost ran to her car.
Heaving a big sigh, Dean watched as she drove away. A hole the size of a crater opened up in his chest. He needed to talk to her, explain what he’d done and why. You just did, and she didn’t care. But he hadn’t told her he loved her. Would it make a difference at this point?
His phone buzzed, and he swiped it to see a text from Trey. Yeah, he needed to make sure Reva left the island and then head back to Boston for some damage control.
But first he had to go inside and talk to Aarya and Hugh and introduce himself. He’d rather ride a bike over a cliff.
Chapter Twenty
The rain coming down outside mirrored Eleni’s mood.
“Mom, is Mr. Dean coming over to watch Star Wars with us today? He said the first one is the best, but I think he meant the fourth one. They did all these movies in a really weird order.”
“No, Xander. I told you he had to go back to Boston. That’s where his job is. He was only here to help out for a little while.” Might as well give them partial truth when the man had lied to them for four months.
Thea pouted. “But he said he’d drive us around to see all the Christmas lights. He thought the ones on the lighthouse would be really cool.”
“That’s something we always do as a family. We’ll go and see them together, just not today when it’s raining. They’ll look nicer when the sky is clear.” They didn’t need an interloper horning in on their family traditions. Not that she expected him to show up. He’d left the island the day of the altercation with Reva.
“What about the boat parade, Mom?” Xander asked. “Mr. Dean was really excited about all the lights on the boats as they sailed by the marina. Do you think he forgot? Maybe we should call and remind him.”
“Mr. Dean probably has very important things to do at his job, honey. If he really wants to see the boats, I’m sure he’ll take the time, but I wouldn’t plan on it for now. They aren’t until next weekend, so we don’t need to worry about it at the moment.” Damn the man for making promises to her children and not following through. Damn the man for a lot of things. Most of all for making her fall in love with him.
Thank the good Lord she’d never told him that. Would he have laughed in her face? Or kept it to himself like all his other secrets? He was probably having a good chuckle right now with his wealthy millionaire friends at the yacht club. Man, you should have seen this cute little secretary I got busy with. At least she hoped he’d call her cute.
How ridiculous was that? Or the one where she wanted him to come back and tell her he’d fallen in love with her, even though she was a peasant. Ha. She’d been watching too many old movies. She needed to get a grip.
“Get settled in, and I’ll make popcorn for the movie.”
Thea’s eyes bugged out of her head. “Can we eat it in the living room?”
When she nodded, the twins bounced around squealing. It was rare that she let them eat in front of the TV. She didn’t have the energy to fight with them today or the heart to say no. Her heart wasn’t doing much these days. Oh, it beat its normal rhythm, but there was no leaping for joy when Dean walked by the window and definitely no melting when he held her in his arms and kissed her. It merely did the minimum job to keep her alive.
