which we have already submitted to Alex Mandrakis.?
There was a note in his voice that was almost gloating. ?The delaying tactic I spoke of, little sister. Because he, of course, will eventually refuse these terms. We count on it. But not immediately, because he is clearly intrigued, and has even asked for certain?assurances from us, which we are prepared to give him, although, again, not immediately.?
?We wish, you understand, to string him along,? Andonis explained kindly. ?To make him believe these negotiations might even be genuine. That we are prepared, as you say, to let bygones be?bygones.? His eyes flashed. ?But we are not, Natasha mou , and by the time he discovers this we will already have our loan, and he will no longer be necessary to our requirements. You understand.?
Only too well, thought Natasha. My God, is this their idea of being wary?
Aloud, she said slowly, ?Far be it from me to rain on your parade, but it may not be as simple as that. What if your bank demands his signature as an essential part of any deal? If they want to make sure that Mandrakis is definitely on side before they reach their decision??
?That is unlikely,? said Stavros. ?Because the nature of this new agreement is a matter of extreme delicacy, and the bank will hesitate to exert pressure on either party.?
He was being altogether too smug, and on the shakiest of foundations, Natasha thought, annoyed and concerned at the same time.
She said coolly, ?I didn?t think banks were particularly delicate?not when enormous sums of money are involved. And, while the Mandrakis Corporation may be fireproof, because of, or in spite of, their new chairman, the Papadimos track record over the past year or so is not that great,? she added, ignoring a choking sound from Irini. ?They?d be taking a big risk.?
?But they will not see it in that way,? said Stavros. ?Not if they believe that our families will soon be joined by more than a business agreement.?
Natasha stared at him. ?I?m sorry,? she said slowly. ?I think you?ve lost me.?
?We have suggested a different kind of partnership,? said Andonis, and smiled. ?A marriage with our family, no less. And that is what he is even now considering.?
Natasha?s gaze swung automatically to Irini.
No wonder she?s in such a foul temper again, she thought. And this time, I can actually feel sorry for her. Whether they mean it or not, it?s pretty ghastly finding yourself offered to someone like Alex Mandrakis, knowing you?ll be turned down, whether you want him or not.
Although being accepted would undoubtedly be a whole lot worse. Because who in their right mind would want to be married off, as part of a business deal, to a man who didn?t know the meaning of the word fidelity ? And who changed his women as often as his elegant suits?
Most of her knowledge of him, admittedly, had been garnered from the gossip columns and glossy magazines in which he featured with such prominent regularity.
But she had seen him once in person at a reception in Athens which she?d attended with her friend Lindsay Wharton, whose father was attached to the embassy.
?Oh, wow,? Lin had whispered joyously. ?Don?t look now, but one of the wonders of the world has just walked in, accompanied, of course, by the usual size-zero model. Oh, why didn?t I go on with that diet??
?What are you talking about?? Natasha demanded, intrigued.
?Alex Mandrakis,? Lin sighed. ?Sex on a stick, and loaded with it.?
Mandrakis, Natasha thought with a start. Now, there was a name to conjure up trouble within the Papadimos household. Basilis would never have let her come tonight if he?d known his arch-enemy?s son was going to be present.
All the same, she?d risked a glance, knowing that their paths were unlikely to cross ever again, so this might be her sole opportunity to see what all the fuss was about.
Even without Lin?s description, he was unmissable, being taller than anyone else around him, and all lean elegance in his evening clothes.
And he
There was a note in his voice that was almost gloating. ?The delaying tactic I spoke of, little sister. Because he, of course, will eventually refuse these terms. We count on it. But not immediately, because he is clearly intrigued, and has even asked for certain?assurances from us, which we are prepared to give him, although, again, not immediately.?
?We wish, you understand, to string him along,? Andonis explained kindly. ?To make him believe these negotiations might even be genuine. That we are prepared, as you say, to let bygones be?bygones.? His eyes flashed. ?But we are not, Natasha mou , and by the time he discovers this we will already have our loan, and he will no longer be necessary to our requirements. You understand.?
Only too well, thought Natasha. My God, is this their idea of being wary?
Aloud, she said slowly, ?Far be it from me to rain on your parade, but it may not be as simple as that. What if your bank demands his signature as an essential part of any deal? If they want to make sure that Mandrakis is definitely on side before they reach their decision??
?That is unlikely,? said Stavros. ?Because the nature of this new agreement is a matter of extreme delicacy, and the bank will hesitate to exert pressure on either party.?
He was being altogether too smug, and on the shakiest of foundations, Natasha thought, annoyed and concerned at the same time.
She said coolly, ?I didn?t think banks were particularly delicate?not when enormous sums of money are involved. And, while the Mandrakis Corporation may be fireproof, because of, or in spite of, their new chairman, the Papadimos track record over the past year or so is not that great,? she added, ignoring a choking sound from Irini. ?They?d be taking a big risk.?
?But they will not see it in that way,? said Stavros. ?Not if they believe that our families will soon be joined by more than a business agreement.?
Natasha stared at him. ?I?m sorry,? she said slowly. ?I think you?ve lost me.?
?We have suggested a different kind of partnership,? said Andonis, and smiled. ?A marriage with our family, no less. And that is what he is even now considering.?
Natasha?s gaze swung automatically to Irini.
No wonder she?s in such a foul temper again, she thought. And this time, I can actually feel sorry for her. Whether they mean it or not, it?s pretty ghastly finding yourself offered to someone like Alex Mandrakis, knowing you?ll be turned down, whether you want him or not.
Although being accepted would undoubtedly be a whole lot worse. Because who in their right mind would want to be married off, as part of a business deal, to a man who didn?t know the meaning of the word fidelity ? And who changed his women as often as his elegant suits?
Most of her knowledge of him, admittedly, had been garnered from the gossip columns and glossy magazines in which he featured with such prominent regularity.
But she had seen him once in person at a reception in Athens which she?d attended with her friend Lindsay Wharton, whose father was attached to the embassy.
?Oh, wow,? Lin had whispered joyously. ?Don?t look now, but one of the wonders of the world has just walked in, accompanied, of course, by the usual size-zero model. Oh, why didn?t I go on with that diet??
?What are you talking about?? Natasha demanded, intrigued.
?Alex Mandrakis,? Lin sighed. ?Sex on a stick, and loaded with it.?
Mandrakis, Natasha thought with a start. Now, there was a name to conjure up trouble within the Papadimos household. Basilis would never have let her come tonight if he?d known his arch-enemy?s son was going to be present.
All the same, she?d risked a glance, knowing that their paths were unlikely to cross ever again, so this might be her sole opportunity to see what all the fuss was about.
Even without Lin?s description, he was unmissable, being taller than anyone else around him, and all lean elegance in his evening clothes.
And he
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