"Yes. She's flying home today."
"Thank you."
"So, are we on target for the merger?"
"We will discuss it after I have spoken to Ash." Why he felt compelled to tell her that the relationship was over before he told her mother, he did not know.
She'd shown that their relationship meant nothing to her.
"Fine, fine. I'll talk to you Monday then."
Nikos allowed Rachel to think all was well and hung up the phone. They would talk on Monday, but it would not be about the full merger that would be based on marriage between Ash and Nikos.
__________________________________________________
Ash called Nikos when she arrived at her apartment Friday night. It was late and she was tired, but at peace about her decision.
Silence greeted her at the other end of the line when he picked up. It was his cell, maybe the connection was bad. Though she'd noticed that his cell phone had problems much less frequently than hers. Nikos just seemed to control whatever was around him better than the average person.
"Nikos?" she asked, trying to see if the call was still connected.
"I am here."
"I'd like to see you."
"Tomorrow."
"Okay. Do you want to come by here?"
"I will."
"When?"
"I will be there after breakfast."
"Great." Maybe they could spend the day together. She'd missed him.
The line went dead and she realized the call must have dropped. She didn't bother calling him back. She was too sleepy and she would be seeing him in the morning.
The next day, Ash was up early. She didn't know what time Nikos considered after breakfast, but she was ready at seven-thirty. He didn't arrive until nine.
When she opened the door to him, he did not kiss her, or even smile.
She wasn't so reticent. Begin as you mean to go on. And she meant for her relationship with him to be affectionate. Not that she had a lot of experience with that, but they could both learn. She leaned up and kissed his chin.
He didn't tilt toward her so she couldn't reach his lips, but she didn't let that bother her. "I missed you."
"Did you?"
She stepped back, biting her lip. "You're upset I was gone for a week."
"You could say that." She'd never seen him look so cold and remote.
If she wasn't sure she was mistaken, she would think his brown eyes were filled with disgust. But that would be much too strong a reaction for her little burst of independence.
"Are you angry I took longer than the weekend to make my decision?" she asked, trying to gauge his mood exactly as she turned and led him into her living room.
She sat down on the yellow sofa.
He took a chair as physically far from her as it was possible to get in the room. "So, you have made your decision?"
She tried a smile. "Yes and you might as well get used to the fact that I don't take orders well. It will make our life together less bumpy if you accept it. I'm also not fond of the cold shoulder treatment."
"So, you desire to marry me?"
"Yes."
"That is interesting. I must wonder why."
Her buoyant confidence that had carried her home began to falter. This conversation wasn't making any sense to her. "You haven't changed your mind just because I was gone for a week."
"No, I did not change my mind because you chose to take longer for your decision than I told you to."
"Good."
"However, other considerations have come to light." That was definitely disgust in his eyes.
"What do you mean?" What other considerations?
"You were no virgin when we had sex the first time."
"I told you I wasn't."
"But what I did not appreciate was that lack indicated a deeper flaw in your character."
"You consider my status as a nonvirgin a lack?" she asked carefully.
He simply looked at her.
"Should I then consider your similar status the same way?"
"I, at least, understand the meaning of fidelity to one partner."