Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

2. Reunion

Angel

“Look, I can’t call Mr. Alekos except for an emergency. He doesn’t like to be disturbed while he is working. Besides, I might get in trouble.”

Cherry might be frank with me, but if I don’t speak with Alekos…. A lump forms in my throat, and I swallow hard. “This is an emergency. Mr. Alekos is the only one who can help me!” My voice c racks, and my vision becomes blurry. I don’t usually cry in front of other people, but I might do it right now.

Cherry looks at me, and something flickers in her gaze—pity. “What did he do? Got you pregnant? If that is the case, it is best to talk to his lawyer.” She hands me a business card. Written in big, golden letters is the name of a law firm.

Staring at the card in my hands, I contemplate what will happen if I do say I am pregnant. Not that it was possible since Carlos never touched me, and the last time I saw Alekos was on his last day of high school—we didn’t speak that day since we were mad at each other. While I do have friends, I don’t dare to ask them to help me. But Alekos, if he is still the same as in high school, will be my ticket out of the city, or so I hope..

With tears still pooling in my eyes, I lie. “Yes. I am expecting his baby, and I am not going away until I speak with him.”

Cherry sighs dramatically before picking up the phone. “Mr. Alekos, a woman is looking for you. She says she is pregnant.”

“Who?” Alekos yells so loudly that even I can hear him.

Cherry winches. “She told me her name is Angelica Hernandez.”

“I don’t know any woman that goes by the name Angelica.” His cold, flat tone gives me the impression that he is not lying. The ba st ard forgot me. But I’ll be dam ned if I leave without talking to him.

“Whoever she is, get rid of her. Call security if you have to,” Alekos growls.

“Yes, Mr. Raptou.”

Cherry is about to put the phone on the receiver when I snat ch it away from her. Before she can stop me or Alekos can end the phone call, I say, “You might not remember me, but I am sure you know who my father is—Luis Hernandez.”

Alekos is silent for a moment but then says something that makes me want to scream. “Ah, it is you. Put the receptionist back on.”

Cherry takes the phone from me, and after giving me a death glare, she says, “Mr. Raptou?”

“Send her to my office,” he barks.

This man has always had an attitude.

Cherry gives me a visitor card. “With this, you can go to the top floor, where the CEO and the directors’ offices are. Florence is Mr. Raptou’s secretary. She will direct you to his office.”

“Thank you for the help!” I say as I take the card from her and make my way to an elevator.

I open it with the help of the card and push the button for the top floor. My heart starts to hammer inside my chest. Alekos and me—our friendship has always been strange.

Alekos sounded angry. What if he refuses to help me? What will I do then? I don’t have anyone else to turn to. I will do anything to make Alekos help me. And it so happens that I have something Alekos wants.

The elevator stops, and I get out. It takes me a few seconds to locate Florance’s desk.

“I am here to see Mr. Alekos.” I show her the visitor card. “He is waiting for me.”

After confirming with Alekos, she shows me where his office is.

Before I enter, I knock once on the door.

Alekos Raptou is sitting behind an opulent mahogany desk, his cold grey eyes watching me, studying me. I close the door and wait for him to say something. The last time we spoke, we had a huge fight. I shift my weight from one leg to another, unsure if I should be the one to break the ice and say something first. He keeps looking at me with an expression on his face that I can’t quite decipher.

Once, he used to be my best friend. But I should have known it would not last, not when he was a Lord. Dukes and Lords are not friends, they are enemies. And here I am, in the den of one of my father’s enemies. Will Alekos save me or condemn me to a life of suffering?

During his college years—the wild years—his photos were published in many tabloids next to a scandalous article about his S** life. And I might have stalked him on the internet. Until I forced myself to stop. The last time I saw a photo of him was one year ago. He has always been handsome, but the man in front of me is… mouth-watering. And this is coming from a woman that had never been phased by men.

Minutes pass without either of us saying a word, and I am starting to think that I made a huge mistake by coming here when he finally speaks.

“Angel Hernandez,” he spits my name.

Does he still hate me? I mean, I know that our fight was huge, and we both said hurtful things, but I had hoped that he was over it. Not that he didn’t deserve the things I accused him off. He was a total jerk that day.

In a calm tone, I say, “Alekos, nice seeing you again.”

He stands. My heart almost leaps from my chest. “I can’t tell the same thing.”

When did he get so tall? And handsome?

He walks slowly, like he is giving me time to get away from the office before he gets to me. And I want to do just that because seeing him after so long only reminds me of how badly he broke my heart. Not that I ever let him know how much he hurt me.

If I were wiser, I would leave his office.

But I need him.

He finally reaches me, and he traps me between his hard b*dy and the door, placing his hands on either side of my head. Heat radiates from him.

When I see the anger in his eyes, I gulp loudly. He is not the same Alekos I used to know. This Alekos is… cold. Ruthless. What have I gotten myself into?