«What news from London? How is our boy?» Manos was cheerful as ever. Marianna could tell by his voice that he was smiling broadly.
«Do you have any idea what time it is here?» Marianna opened her eyes with great difficulty and needed some time to realize where she was. The only thing she managed to do last night was to slip into her pyjamas and literally collapse on the bed.
«Oh, sorry. I forgot! Did you see him? Have you talked. What is his house like?»
«We didn‘t say anything. He isn’t here, he will come tomorrow. And believe me, this isn’t exactly an average house.» she answered while she let her eyes drift across the room.
«What is it then?» Manos was laughing.
«A vulgar display of wealth», she said, feeling herself again.
«With an English garden and staff?»
«For God‘s sake, yes with a garden, I guess.»
«So, get up, get dressed and explore! Call me, if there are any knews. And yes, everything is in order here!» He knew that her next question would be about the hotel.
She hung up and left her warm bed. After a while she had showered in a magnificent Victorian style bathroom, got dressed and went down the stairs, searching for the kitchen.
«Good morning, I was about to bring you breakfast in bed, you had just to ring for me!» Kathrin looked at her apologetically and lifted at once the tea tray.
«Kathrin, please, I will eat in the kitchen like a normal person.» Marianna smiled at her and went to the coffee machine, took a cup and filled it with the hot beverage, determined to do everything by herself.
«And there, finally, the famous miss Stamou.»
Marianna turned towards the deep voice that came from the kitchen door. The tall dark-haired man looked at her with obvious curiosity. Although his looks were almost the exact opposite of Alexander’s, he counted as an equally impressive specimen of male beauty. His features could pass as Mediterranean and Marianna instantly wondered about his descendants.
«Let me introduce myself. My name is Matthew Munro, Scotsman, business partner and hopefully Alexander’s best friend.» He met her halfway with a broad smile on his face and his hand ready to take hers in a firm shake.
«Marianna Stamou. Greek, insignificant associate and wanna be painter.»
Matthew laughed out loud, revealing his impeccable teeth, right from a toothpaste advertisement.
«Right… Now things seem more clear to me...» Marianna had the impression that his words had a dabble meaning and she honestly didn’t like it.
«Kathrin, could you bring me a coffee in the living room, please.» Expecting Marianna to follow him, he was already out of the kitchen.
It was actually the first time since last night, when she was to tired to notice anything, that she could have a good look at the hallway. And it was impossible not to admire the grandeur of the building, its marble floor and the magnificent paintings of the 18th and 19th century. Her eyes fell on them immediately, recognizing works of Hogarth and Wilson. Could it be? Impossible!
When she realized that these paintings were the originals, she felt her knees getting weak. Their value… they were priceless! And she could admire them, hanging on a wall in some private house!
She stood in front of each one of them for a second, completely forgetting about Matthew's presence.
«If you’re interested, I have something much more impressive for you, since you are Greek.» Matthew opened the living room doors and invited her to follow him.
YOU ARE READING
Storm at heart
RomanceHer task should have been easy. How diffucult would it be to walk into the office of Alexander Stone, convince the Hotel-Tycoon that her small "rooms to let" business in Greece was isignificant to him and to give him - by the way- a mysterious lette...
