The Greek Billionaire’s Indecent Proposal
Chapter 51

Xander’s POV

———

To say that I was shocked was an understatement, I maintained a straight face as I walked towards him. He pulled me into his arms for a hug and patted my back. “How have you been doing son?.” He smiled.

“Michail, it has been years, I’m well.” I said and looked at Hector, he shrugged his shoulders. “How have you been?”

“I was disappointed to replace out that you got married again and didn’t invite me to your wedding.” He exclaimed. “Is this the beautiful young lady?”

“We ehhm didn’t have a wedding, we just signed, yes this is my wife Soraya and her parents, Matthew and Alessandra Eaton.” I reached out for Soraya and she took my hand, my arm automatically went around her waist protectively.

I looked at Matthew and Alessandra. “This is Hera’s father, my former father in law, Michail Kastellanos.” They acknowledged each other but I could tell both sides were feeling uneasy.

“It’s not Xander’s fault that my daughter died, my own carelessness got her in harms way.” He said to Matthew who just nodded. The two men regarded each other with an expression I couldn’t quite place, they seemed to instantly dislike one another but kept their composure.

Michail turned to look at Soraya. “You remind me of her, you don’t look exactly like her per say but something about you reminds me of her.” He said.

“I have been getting quite a lot of that, it’s a pleasure to meet you Mr Kastellanos.” She held out her hand for him to shake but instead he lifted it and kissed the back of her hand while he looked at her, his lips lingering. I tried not to look irritated.

“The pleasure is all mine Dona, very exquisite, a goddess. Adamos you have chosen well.”

“You complement me like I’m a rare high end luxury object Mr Kastellanos.” Soraya smiled diplomatically. I had not expected her to say that but she gazed at him challenging his stare and he chuckled. I smiled at her boldness, if she only knew that not many people actually talked to him like that.

“A true Dona that you have here son, my apologies my dear. I don’t mean to make you sound like some rare collectible object, forgive an old man for admiring your beauty so openly like that.” He smiled. “Let me introduce you to my son, Basil Kastellanos.”

Soraya shook his hand and smiled politely “I’m afraid I’m going to have to leave you gentlemen, I still have to escort my parents.”

“Matthew I will definitely return so that we can finish our conversation, Alessandra thank you for the support today.” I walked up to her and kissed her cheek then took Soraya by her hand and gave her a k**s. Matthew nodded and led the women away.

“What the universe taketh it seems that it giveth back, not the original though. Is the new version better?” Michail smiled a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“I think you might have gotten that saying all wrong. What do you want me to say Michail? That I can still visualise Hera’s dead bloodied body as I picked her up from the floor of the consultation room?” I eyed him trying to keep my face expressionless.

“It’s okay to want something for yourself once in a while, you are only human. You went through a lot with your loss.”

Hector had been listening to our exchange patiently but I could tell he was running out of patience. “Michail is here to pay his respects to the family with the loss.” He informed me.

“Sofija was like a daughter to me, she was my daughter’s best friend. Why wouldn’t you tell me that she passed away. What happened to her?” He looked very upset.

“It’s been a hard time for the family, Gaia’s and Joud’. For their sake we wanted to keep it small.”

“Your mother looks really broken up about it, I guess I missed the young widow. I’m told he requested some time off. Anything that the family might need, I am here for you. You and I are still family you know, Hera may be gone but we still have a responsibility towards one another as a family.”

He had gone silent for years, I had thought maybe he just needed time to mourn Hera after we took out the enemy that had killed her. I had needed time too but the last time we spoke was about four years ago when Basil came to me with a business proposal that I had to turn down. Michail had called me to understand why I had refused to join their business venture.

What responsibility was he talking about? I felt very uneasy having him around Soraya, especially after the statement he had just made about the universe taking and giving. Just as I was going to respond to him, Jovan and Kai came running towards us with the nannies right on their heels.

The boys were giggling while they evaded them. If it were not for Michail’s shocked expression I would have chuckled at the cute scene.

“The universe really has blessed you son. He looks exactly like you.” His voice sounded strained. “I wonder what Hera’s son would have looked like.” His eyes tearing up.

“Daddy, daddy…” Kai ran up to me and wrapped his arms around my one leg. Jovan came and held on to Kai as they giggled.

The nannies stood a few feet away and bowed their heads in respect. Keeping their heads down as they waited for me to instruct them on what to do.

“Boys, what’s all this? Why are you running away from the nannies?” I looked down at Kai.

“We just wanted to see if daddy and uncle Hector wanted to play soccer with us but nanny Lena said you were busy.” He suddenly realised he was in the wrong and looked down at his feet. “We haven’t played in a long long time daddy.” He tried to make an excuse, he pouted his lips making me chuckle.

“I think you definitely get that from your mother, I promise we will play soccer this weekend but right now daddy has to do some work stuff.” I explained to him.

“Is it very important?” He asked.

“Not as important or as fun as soccer but it has to be done.”

“Okay, we can wait I guess. Right Jovan?” He turned and looked at his cousin.

“Uh huh, we can wait.” Jovan grinned. I smiled at them and then indicated for the nanny to take them.

“And stop running from the nannies.” I said as they walked away to which Kai nonchalantly replied “okay” making Hector chuckle.

I looked at Michail and he was looking at Kai thoughtfully then back at me. “You know what, we should celebrate your union. Tell your wife that I’d like to throw you a wedding, I will pay for any kind of wedding that she wants. You know that money is no object, it will be my present to you.” He said.

“Michail I…” I was about to decline.

“I will not take no for an answer Xander, and I would like to have you over to my house. Hera’s mother and Basil’s wife are throwing a charity luncheon. I will have them call Gaia. I am curious though, how old is he? Is Soraya his mother? How long have you been married for?” He nodded towards the direction the kids had gone.

“I met Soraya way after Hera passed. Michail with all due respect the rest is not up for discussion.”

He nodded and smiled but his manner was austere. We made small talk until he bid us farewell, we escorted them to the car and just like that they were gone.

“That had to be the most awkward encounter I have ever been in. I know he is your ex father in law but Xander…” Hector frowned.

“I know, I saw that too.” I said quietly. “This is why I need to equip her Hector, they will come from every angle.” I said to him and he suddenly understood.

———

Soraya’s POV

———

“Why does he want to throw us a wedding? I don’t want one from him. That is very weird, your dead wife’s father throwing us a wedding?.” I looked at Xander while I got ready to go to the warehouse with him.

I thought of this afternoon, meeting Michail Kastellanos. I had been shell shocked at seeing him there in person. He was a tall burly man who looked like he didn’t have an ounce of spare fat. He looked like he exuded an animal like strength that made lesser men wary before they even approached or spoke to him and his blue eyes looked cunning, you would expect him to look grandfatherly with his greying hair but something about him just made me uneasy.

“He’s not going to take no for an answer you know.” This was the first time that I saw worry in Xander’s eyes and it didn’t sit well with me.

I didn’t want to tell him what I really thought of Hera’s father because at the end of day she had been his wife, I had to respect that.

“I don’t want a wedding, I never asked for one.” I retorted. “Besides, ever heard of the saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions?”

Xander walked up to me and pulled me into his arms. “I have been to hell, it doesn’t faze me. He said and kissed my forehead. “You mean to tell me you never dreamt of having a huge white wedding with a beautiful dress in a big venue with loads of people to see you walk down the isle? From what I’m told, women obsess over these things.” He lowered his head to k**s me. “I’d give you anything that you ask for.” He smiled at me.

“I always wanted a simple wedding with just close friends and family, nothing fancy.” I sighed. “Your mother and Stacy were mortified when I told them that.”

He chuckled. “You are an Adamos and not just any Adamos wife but Xander Adamos’ wife. People want to see extravaganza.” He kept planting k****s on me and it was distracting.

“If my wedding is paid for by Michail, I will not show up to the alter Xander, I will jilt you in front of all your old money, new money friends, royal or non royal guests.” I pointed out. He threw his head back and laughed.

“I actually believe you.” He chuckled. “You would jilt me at the alter for real? How ruthlessly cruel Mrs Adamos.” He drawled.

“Well well well, I learnt from the best.” I smiled coyly and he chuckled. I tugged at his bottom l*p as he kissed me and he g*****d deeply.

“We have to go.” I said and smiled. He g*****d and opened his eyes.

“You saucy little minx.” He whispered and I giggled. He bent down to tie my military boots laces and then kissed me affectionately.

As we walked out the room my mind went back to Michail Kastellanos. He definitely wasn’t happy about Xander moving on.

———

Hector’s POV

———

Today, Soraya was going to torture the man that had drugged her. I had to see it for myself. I watched her get out of the car confidently with her hand in Xander’s.

As much as I worried about her, I had to admit that she exuded power within her, she wasn’t your typical kind of woman. At first when you met her, she looked innocent and sweet, she looked like she needed someone to constantly be protecting her but the moment you got to know her, her mannerisms said otherwise. Without even realising it she handled herself like a Dona.

She had a determined look on her face as this Nikolaj guy was brought out of his cell. Xander let Soraya choose her method of torture and without hesitation she chose the rat torture method. Xander wasn’t worried and he didn’t try and question her about it, he let her take the lead.

Xander had briefed her on questions that she needed to ask earlier on. She ordered Yannis and Leon to strap the cage with the rats on Nikolaj as he lay on a gurney. His arms and feet were bound. He kept looking at Soraya as if he could incite some sort of pity or empathy from her but she never budged.

“I never allowed myself to feel my loss when I miscarried.” She explained to him. I am glad I waited because who knew that there could be a better way to channel my anger.” She said to him with an unwavering voice. She looked like she had crossed over to a dark place, her eyes looked hauntingly beautiful but also cold.

“I didn’t know you were pregnant.” He begged. The man looked dehydrated and tired.

“Would it have stopped you?” She asked vehemently. “I don’t think it would have.”

She got out the blow torch which seemed to be her favourite tool in the warehouse and proceeded to question him. At first he remained stubborn. She lit the blow torch on the top part of the cage and after a while the rats began to squeal, Nikolaj screamed as they began to dig into his flesh trying to escape from the intense heat that the blow torch was creating.

Yannis and Leon would reposition the cage in different parts of his body and his resolve began to waver. Xander had said the aim wasn’t to kill him, just to cause him pain and extract information from him. Soraya didn’t flinch or look unsure as she proceeded. His screams didn’t deter her at all. Xander and I both looked at each other, we both had expected her to waver a bit and we were still shocked that she was going at it like she was used to torturing men.

“Remember when you killed Cassius my driver?” She leaned closer to his face. “You shot him like he was nothing! Like he was some rabid dog! Im doing this for him too! Im doing this for his brother!”

The man eventually fainted out of pain. Xander walked forward and took the blow torch from her hand and placed it on a tray then looked deeply into her eyes.

“You have to learn to leave this rage here at the warehouse. Compartmentalise your emotions. We don’t take all this home with us.” He said to her.

She closed her eyes for a few seconds and took deep breaths then the Soraya I knew was back. He signalled for Yannis and Leon to take Nikolaj back to his cell. His body was bloodied and he had burrow marks all over his abdomen.

“That was intense.” I said to her as I walked towards them.

She shrugged her shoulders and placed her hand in Xander’s who pulled her closer to him. I studied her face and that’s when I saw it, a little part of her was also shocked at her own actions, but you had to look really close to see it in her eyes.

“Ready to go back home?” He asked her and she nodded.

“I have a request though.” She said quietly.

“Tell me.” Xander cupped her face.

“I want to be there when you torture Moretti.” She said.

“No, I can’t let you watch that.” Xander shook his head.

“Why not?” She argued.

“Soraya you are not ready for that, I can’t let you watch what I plan to do to him.”

“Xander…”

“Trust me?” He said and kissed her. “You are going to go back to your weapons and combat training then after that we head to the business side of all this.” He kissed her again then led her out to the room.

I had to be honest that I was intrigued, impressed and worried all in one but most of all I was impressed by Soraya.