An Unexpected Proposal

Chapter 5

"I'm sorry to throw you in right at the deep end, Abigail," came the deep voice from the other end of the phone, and as always Abi's body thrummed with a sexual awareness that she couldn't control.

"I'll be ready," she said, hoping she sounded confident because she was feeling anything but confident after the message came through from the charity.

"My secretary has just made me aware of what's happening. I know the board has decided the charity gala will be held in Greece and have also brought the date forward."

Abigail nodded then said, "Yes, that's right."

"Listen," Andreas said, "I'll be leaving for my London office tomorrow. Let me clear as much of my schedule as I can and I'll join the board in Greece to oversee the arrangements."

Abigail exhaled in relief without even realising she was holding her breath. It would be great if Andreas would come too but at the same time, she didn't want him thinking she and the others couldn't handle things without him. "You're a very busy man, Andreas," she said. "There are many people who have been so helpful, and I'm not the only one working on this remember?"

"Be that as it may," he said, "I know this is an important event for our European chapter and I will be there."

"That would be good," Abigail replied. "But you needn't worry about me. I'm settling in to my new role very well."

She heard a slight chuckle on the other end of the phone, that deep rumbling reverberating through her. "I'm not worried about you, Abigail," he said seriously. "I already know how well you've settled in," he said.

Well, of course he did. He probably knew everything that happened within his organisation.

"I have full confidence in you. However, as you know, this charity is as close to my heart as it is to yours."

"Of course, Andreas," she said, the sense of speaking with a kindred spirit again moving through her. And that was the most disconcerting; this sense of connection she had felt growing between them right from the very start.

"I'll see you in a couple of days in Athens," he said.

"See you then." Abigail hung up the phone and leaned her head back against the wall. She knew this feeling, this sense of wanting. And she hated it. Her emotions were beginning to roil around inside her and she couldn't let that happen.

***

Greece was an amazing place, she remembered it from one of her shoots some years ago. The ancient and the modern existing side by side, the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, science and physics, not to mention the backbone of Western civilisation. She had done a lot of reading about Greece, both ancient and modern, from years back. It was one of those places that, once visited, would always remain in one's soul. That was the heritage Andreas carried within him.

Abigail breathed in as she stood on the balcony of her Athenean hotel room, the ancient Parthenon well within view, the skies blue, the sights and sounds of Athens below her. She smiled. It was great being back here. But there was no time now for sightseeing or anything else. She had to get to the meeting and begin organising with the others.

A few hours later, ideas being thrown around, agendas being put together and everyone delegated their own responsibilities, Abigail felt tired but exhilarated. The other staff were going to dinner in one of the restaurants within the hotel. Abi decided she wanted to walk through Athens, it still being only 7:00pm. She remembered the last time she was here that since this was a city that was open all day and all night, like New York, the average time for Athenians to have dinner was around 10:00pm.