An Unexpected Proposal

Chapter 1

"Are you sure about this, Abi?" Shelly asked, concern in her voice evident.

"Of course, I am," Abigail responded. "This is the type of show I want to be doing from now on."

Shelly nodded but still seemed unconvinced.

"I'm tired of superficial shit. I want something deeper, something real," Abigail explained.

"Okay, babe," her friend said. "I just want to make sure you'll be alright. I know..." Shelly didn't finish her sentence.

Abigail walked over and placed her hand on Shelly's shoulder. "Thank you," she said. "But I promise I'll be more than fine. In fact, I can't wait for tomorrow," Abigail said excitedly thinking about the charity fashion show and how much money they could raise from it.

"The tickets for this gig are unbelievable," her friend Shelly said. "I mean out of this world expensive," she clarified. "I guess only the most cashed up guests will be present."

Abigail nodded thoughtfully. "That's good. We can use all the money we can get for this. So many kids with no parents and no protection..." Her heart clenched at the thought, her own memories flooding back.

Shelly's sudden shriek had Abi turning quickly, ready for some sort of action. "What the hell?" she called out.

"Andreas Karidis will be coming!" her friend said, practically drooling over the photo in the newspaper. "Oh my god, just look at this guy." She shoved the photo close to Abi's face. "Can you believe a guy like this is single?"

Abi looked at the photo. The man looking back at her indeed deserved the 'oh my god' that had come from her friend's mouth. He had dark hair, stunningly intense eyes, and muscles that could easily be seen beneath that crisp, white business shirt he was wearing. But she shook her head. "Come on, Shell. We work with handsome, buffed up men every day,' she said. "We're in the modelling business, remember?"

Shelly kept looking at the photo then began reading. "Greek shipping magnate, Andreas Karidis, will be attending the International Children's Appeal charity in person tomorrow evening in New York." As Shelly kept reading, she was just a series of hoots and clicks to Abigail. "It is believed he could be looking for his next paramour," her friend said, stressing that last word out.

Abigail rolled her eyes. "Oh what crap are you reading? And why don't they just say mistress? He's looking for another mistress to shag until he gets tired of her like so many of those wealthy dudes."

Shelly looked up at her. "You can be so cynical, you know that?"

Cynical? Perhaps. But experience had taught her the hard way those rich guys just wanted something pretty on their arm, until they didn't. Then they'd move onto the next pretty thing and you're left to pick up the pieces of what you thought was real but was nothing more than a convenient distraction. Abi would never allow herself to be in that position again.

Across the park, Andreas Karidis tapped the oak wood desk of his New York office as he looked at the young woman on the screen. Abigail Pence. Her sexy, sultry face and body sprawled on the beach, her dark brown hair floating on the water's edge, her dark blue eyes shining in the sunlight. Next shot was one in the city advertising some perfume or other. Another click and she was lying on another beach in a small, pink bikini, her lush breasts almost popping out of the flimsy top, her long, slender legs seeming to go on forever.

He had to adjust himself as just looking at her had made his body react. Well, he was a hot-blooded Greek man after all. And beautiful women had always turned his head.

But there was something else about this Abigail person that had snagged his attention. There were stories about her sad childhood, about her struggles, about how she'd overcome them and against the odds made a life and career for herself. Andreas felt a connection to this woman. She reminded him a little of himself, although he had to admit, her life was much harder than his had been. Much harder. Which meant she would be perfect for what he had in mind.

The next evening...

There was nothing like the rush Abi got after a successful show. She loved that feeling, it was like nothing else. But this one in particular, which was for a cause so close to her heart, had brought her to a new high.

She had already changed into a pair of jeans, light blue blouse and a grey leather jacket and was celebrating with some of the other models backstage when a deep voice rumbled from behind her. "Great show ladies and gentlemen."

Abigail turned. From the moment she laid eyes on the man standing before her, she could sense he was something different, someone who had that undefinable quality that pulled people towards him. She knew he was a man women wouldn't be able to resist easily, including her, despite her best efforts.

The article Shelly was reading yesterday hadn't done him justice though. This man standing before her was an even more stunning example of a Greek god of mythology. He had startlingly intense blue eyes, the colour of the Mediterranean, and thick dark hair that was pushed back from his forehead. His muscles bulged beneath the smart business shirt he wore depicting the mythological warrior beneath the entrepreneurial attire.

This man seemed to possess an all-consuming raw sexuality that had the power to stop her heart. And the fact he was looking directly at her didn't escape anyone's attention. Least of all hers.

He reached out a hand to her. "Abigail, it's lovely to meet you. I'm Andreas Karidis," he said with a sensually accented voice, deep and rich in its vibration.

I know who you are, she wanted to say. My friend practically drooled over your picture last night.

Abi held out her hand to shake Andreas' but the moment she put her hand into his the zing of electricity that hit her from head to toe was undeniable, and she had to stop herself from jumping back a step. She somehow managed a 'nice to meet you' that sounded relatively normal, although how, she didn't know. Andreas made the male models she had worked alongside look like inept school boys, his sex appeal and confidence creating an aura of a man who knew who he was and what he wanted. He was unwavering in his own sense of self.

To her surprise, Andreas had also looked momentarily surprised as their hands touched, but pulled himself together a lot quicker than she did. His lips curled upward slightly and the sexy smile nearly knocked her socks off.

"I would like to speak with you more about the International Children's Appeal. I already have a table at Le Beradain for two." He leaned in just a little, "and I know the chef personally, so whatever you want will be done."

Abigail wanted to slap his arrogant face. She was brought back down to earth pretty quickly. She knew men like this. He wasn't actually asking her; he was clearly expecting a yes. She assumed no woman had ever said no to Andreas, although now that she was in his presence she could totally understand why. But she wasn't about to become one of those women.

"I'm sorry, I really can't. I have to get going soon," she said, noticing how his eyes changed at her refusal of his offer. He seemed almost...amused.

The buzz that had been created earlier in the evening when the others had found out Andreas would be sitting right in the front row along with several other wealthy patrons, went through her mind. But more importantly than that, Abigail remembered Shelly reading in the article that Karidis had started this charity and put a lot of money behind it. How could she have forgotten that? He had started this charity for orphaned children around the world. He wasn't just a patron.

All of a sudden, Abi regretted giving her answer so quickly. She wanted to change the no to a yes, change the answer she had given him, but her there was a part of her that was fighting those thoughts. Luckily for her though, Andreas was a man who didn't take no for an answer.

He locked her with those obsidian eyes of his. "This is important for the charity, Abigail. I understand this is something close to your heart." He spoke with an air of authority, a man who knew how to get what he wanted.

Abi held her breath as he spoke those words. He knew. About her past. She couldn't pinpoint exactly why this bothered her considering her past had been plastered all over the internet since her career had taken off. But it did.

"My car will be waiting out the front for you," he continued, his voice serious. Then he looked her up and down, a slight appreciative smile playing on his lips. "What you're wearing is just fine," he said then turned and walked towards the exit.

Please like and Vote for this chapter. Thank you!