Playing by the Greek's Rules Read Free

easy to work for. He has this way of looking at you that makes you wish you could teleport. But he
is
very attractive. He isn’t my type so I didn’t pay much attention, but the women talk about him all the time.’
    â€˜I still don’t understand why you’re working there.’
    â€˜I’m trying different things. My research grant ends this month and I don’t know if I want to carry on doing this. I’m exploring other options. Museum work doesn’t pay much and anyway, I don’t want to live in a big city. I could never teach—’ She shrugged, depressed by the options. ‘I don’t know what to do.’
    â€˜You’re an expert in ceramics and you’ve made some beautiful pots.’
    â€˜That’s a hobby.’
    â€˜You’re creative and artistic. You should do something with that.’
    â€˜It isn’t practical to think I can make a living that way and dreaming doesn’t pay the bills.’ She finished her drink. ‘Sometimes I wish I’d read law, not archaeology, except that I don’t think I’m cut out for office work. I’m not good with technology. I broke the photocopier last week and the coffee machine hates me, but apparently having ZervaCo on your résumé makes prospective employers sit up. It shows you have staying power. If you can work there and not be intimidated, you’re obviously robust. And before you tell me that an educated woman shouldn’t allow herself to be intimidated by a guy, try meeting him.’
    Spyros rose to his feet. ‘Plenty of people would be intimidated by Nik Zervakis. There are some who say his name along with the gods.’
    Brittany pushed her water bottle back into her backpack. ‘Those would be the people whose salary he pays, or the women he sleeps with.’
    Lily took off her hat and fanned herself. ‘His security team is briefed to keep them away from him. We are not allowed to put any calls through to him unless the name is on an approved list and that list changes pretty much every week. I have terrible trouble keeping up.’
    â€˜So his protection squad is there to protect him from women?’ Brittany looked fascinated. ‘Unreal.’
    â€˜I admire him. They say his emotions have never played a part in anything he does, business or pleasure. He is the opposite of everything I am. No one has ever dumped him or made him feel less of a person and he always knows what to say in any situation.’ She glanced once across the heat-baked ruins of the archaeological site towards the man who had lied so glibly. Thinking of all the things she could have said and hadn’t plunged her into another fit of gloom. ‘I’m going to try and be more like Nik Zervakis.’
    Brittany laughed. ‘You’re kidding, right?’
    â€˜No, I’m not kidding. He is like an ice machine. I want to be like that. How about you? Have either of you ever been in love?’
    â€˜No!’ Spy looked alarmed, but Brittany didn’t answer. Instead she stared sightlessly across the plateau to the ocean.
    â€˜Brittany?’ Lily prompted her. ‘Have you been in love?’
    â€˜Not sure.’ Her friend’s voice was husky. ‘Maybe.’
    â€˜Wow. Ball-breaking Brittany, in love?’ Spy raised his eyebrows. ‘Did you literally fire an arrow through his heart?’ He spread his hands as Lily glared at him. ‘What? She’s a Bronze Age weapons expert and a terrifyingly good archer. It’s a logical suggestion.’
    Lily ignored him. ‘What makes you think you might have been in love? What were the clues?’
    â€˜I married him.’
    Spyros doubled up with soundless laughter and Lily stared.
    â€˜You—? Okay. Well that’s a fairly big clue right there.’
    â€˜It was a mistake.’ Brittany tugged the trowel out of the ground. ‘When I make mistakes I make sure they’re
big
.