Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
And so against his better judgment, he had forced himself to tolerate their presence.
But right now, he wasn’t sure at all it had been the right thing to do.
If she had been jittery yesterday, she was worse off now, and Kyr was sure it had to do with all the negative things being said about her on social media. Some of his ex-lovers had spoken of less than flattering comments about her, and all of it had been happily gobbled up by the masses. There had even been a poll about whether their marriage would end with a happy-ever-after or a divorce, and an overwhelming majority had voted for the latter.
She had to have known all that and yet she had never uttered a single complaint, never voiced any doubts or accusations about how much her life had changed in the blink of an eye.
And all because he was too selfish to let her go.
Watching her slowly come to him, all his reservations melted away, leaving behind a grim resolve.
I will take care of you, psaraki.
I have sworn to make you the happiest girl in the world, and I will not break my word on our wedding day.
And so Kyr turned his back, gestured to his head of security and gave him quick instructions.
Curious at the sudden flurry of activity, Stavros couldn’t help raising a brow when he saw the item being handed to his friend. What the hell was he doing with that? But there was no time to ask because the bride had reached the end of the aisle, and after tearful embraces and kisses, the older Grahams were finally handing their daughter to the groom-to-be.
Kyr faced Pollyanna slowly.
And through the wisp of her veil, he saw her eyes widen, her lips parting and closing several times.
His favorite blowfish look, he thought. That was a good omen. And when a tiny, choking laugh escaped her, he was absolutely certain he had made the right decision.
As Kyr took her hand and drew her close, Pollyanna asked him faintly, “Why in the world do you have my bag with you?”
The smile he gave her was dazzling, but it was his next words that made her knees go weak.
“Because from now on,” he told her solemnly, “it’s my job to look after you.”
Her eyes blurred. “Oh, Kyr.”
His smile turned into a smirk. “Is that your way of saying you’re deliriously happy that I’m going to be yours?”
It had become their private joke of sorts since she had accepted his proposal, Kyr warning her that if she backed out on their wedding, he would never be hers.
And let me tell you, I’m a pretty hot commodity, the Greek billionaire had the gall to tell her.
The memory made her lips curve, but it also made her want to cry. When she raised her eyes to look at him, Kyr sucked his breath.
“Why are you crying?”
“Because I’m so happy,” she whispered with a tremulous smile. “Scared to death of doing something that will become a GIF, but more than that, I’m just so happy.” Before she was even finished speaking, Kyr was already rummaging through her big, old, tattered bag, and then he was taking out a pack of tissues.
She laughed even as she tried to sniff back her tears, unable to imagine what the world would think of the way the normally aloof billionaire was now wiping the tears from her eyes under her veil like a veteran P.A.
I love you, she thought, and her heart sang. She closed her eyes, and all she could see was Kyr, and it felt right that it was so. Whatever happened, she knew this was what she was meant to do.
THE PRESS HAD A FIELD day, taking photos of the sophisticated billionaire Kyrillos Gazis carrying an oversized and overused bag with him throughout the wedding and reception. It didn’t help his image at all that the reporters also took countless shots of him actually using the bag, too, supplying his bride with makeup to do touch-up, a comb to take care of loose strands, and her old iPhone when she had asked him shyly if they could take a selfie.
For the reception, two sets of tables were placed on the stage, one for the newlyweds and another for her parents as well as Kyr’s closest friends, Stavros Manolis and Damen Leventis.
A splendid twelve-course meal had been prepared for the guests, and at the end of it, the crowd – made raucous by the endless flow of champagne – cheered wildly when the newlyweds suddenly ducked under the table. Everyone thought the billionaire groom was giving his shy bride a kiss, but the truth was a lot less romantic.
Minutes ago, Polly had covered her mouth and whispered to him in panic, I think I have something in my teeth.