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‘What do you call your child?’ Leonidas murmured thickly

Maribel went rigid ‘Why are you asking me that?’

‘And why are you avoiding answering me?’ Leonidas shot back at her

A horrible cold knot twisted tight inside her sto she could lie about, for her child’s name was a matter of public record ‘Elias,’ she al on her at the worst possible moment

It was the narandfather and also one of his, and she pronounced it correctly in the Greek fashion, Ellee-us, not as soht have said it Leonidas was so much shocked by that awareness that he was struck dumb, as he could not initially accept that what had only been the ht actually turn out to be true

‘I always liked the name,’ Maribel told him in a last-ditch attempt at a cover-up

‘Elias is a Pallis narandfather had it and so also do I’ Hard dark eyes rested on her with cold intensity ‘Why did you choose to use it?’

Maribel felt as though an icy hand were closing round her vocal cords and chest andit impossible for her to breathe properly ‘Because I liked it,’ she said again, because she could think of nothing else to say

Leonidas swung away fro into fists of frustration He had no ti His chequered life had taught his, but patience was not one of the to tell him He did not do unprotected sex A risk-taker in business and sport and equally fearless in many other fields, he was cautious when it ca the safe approach He did not want children He had never wanted children Even less had he ever wished to run the risk of giving soun to hold to his head and his wallet For what else could an unplanned child be to a man of his extreme wealth? A serious liability and a complication he could do without It was a ht he was too sen’s funeral he had been in a very bizarre mood and he had abandoned his usual caution More than once

Maribel surveyed Leonidas with a surge of reluctant perception Severe tension held his lean, powerful body taut He was staggered and he was appalled, and she quite understood that She did not blanant It was true that she had felt rather differently when she had first discovered her condition, but the passage of time had altered her perspective After all, Elias had enriched her life to an alret his conception

‘Let’s not discuss this,’ she ently

That suggestion outraged Leonidas How could a wo so foolish? But was it possible that she could have given birth to his child without even letting hinant? Surely it had to be iic refused to accept her in such a role—she was a very conventional woman Yet why else had she named her child Elias? Why was she so nervous? Why was she irrationally trying to evade even discussing the matter?

‘Is the child mine?’ Leonidas demanded harshly

Her natural colour had ebbed and with it the strength of her voice ‘He’selse to that statement’

‘Don’t be stupid I asked a straight question and I will have a straight answer What age is he?’

‘I’m not prepared to discuss Elias with you’ Dry- so fast she felt nauseous, Maribel straightened her spine ‘We have nothing to talk about I’m sorry, but I would like you to leave’

Leonidas could not give credence to what he was hearing In all his life he had never been addressed in such a fashion ‘Are you out of your mind?’ he breathed in a raw undertone ‘You think you can throw this boo away?’

‘I didn’t throw anything at you You reached your own conclusions without any assistance froue with you’ Her blue eyes were violet with a curious mix of defiance and entreaty

‘But if I hadn’t reached the correct conclusion, you would surely have contradicted me,’ Leonidas reasoned with harsh bite ‘As you did not, I can only assume that you believe Elias to be my child’

‘He is ether to prevent the ‘I’ive it all the saical way first’