The Greeks Demand

Chapter 2

When Niklas returned from his trip down memory lane Arabelle had already left and his assistant was sipping the wine. He picked up his glass of wine and took a big gulp. His assistant always orders a bottle, although now he would prefer something stronger.

Arabelle rushed into the kitchen her heart thumping against he ribs like crazy confusing her lungs and her ability to breathe normally.

“Zoey, I need you too add tables three and four to yours, only for a while then I’ll take over from you again.”

“Sure thing! Belle are you okay? You’re awfully pale.”

“Yes, I’m fine. I just have a bad aftertaste in my mouth.” Zoey smiled at Arabelle before leaving the kitchen to go and serve her tables.

The blonde waitress went over to Niklas table she couldn’t help but stare at him like most women did. He has become so use to it that he hardly notice it anymore. He wasn’t happy with the turn of events, not happy at all. He felt quiet frustrated with Arabelle he pulled his fingers through his thick dark brown hair.

“Where s Arabelle?” He spit out at the waitress. His voice demanding and deep. She took a step back from him and reclaimed her composure.

“She is busy at the back, my name is Zoey and I’ll be your server today.”

“Tell Arabelle to come out and face me!”

“I can’t do that sir, she is extremely busy at the back and does not want to be bothered.” Niklas ground down on his teeth. How can this girl tell him no!

“Tell her I’m not leaving until she comes out and talks to me.” The girl sighed equally frustrated by the situation, she closed her writing pad an left. Arabelle secretly watched the conversation between Zoey and Niklas, but she was to far to hear anything.

“He doesn’t want me to serve him! He says he isn’t going to leave until he has talked to you.” Of course Arabelle thought. Niklas always get his own way, nothing is ever out of his reach.

“Fine.” Arabelle left the safety of the kitchen and walked into the lions den, secretly hoping he doesn’t pounce.

“What do you want?” She asked him her face in neutral.

“I want to talk to you.” He said smiling up at her.

“Talk then, I have things to do.”

“Somewhere private.” Being alone with him is not a good idea, being alone with him in a confined space like her office is really not a good idea.

“Fine follow me.” She led him through the kitchen out the back door into the alley where the restaurant received all its deliveries.

“What do you want, Niklas?” He was amazed that she had the guts to be alone with him and more so that she took him out to an alley.

“I planned to come and see you while I was in town, but I didn’t think I would run into you here of all places, how long have you been a waitress?” Arabelle wasn’t a fool, this nice act of his was just that an act and she wasn’t going to fall for it.

“I’m not a waitress, I’m the owner of the restaurant, one of my waitresses is off with the flu so I was handling her tables. Niklas, what do you want?” Niklas couldn’t help his smile, he loved the fire in her and the way she was standing there not taking any of his bullshit, challenging him to come to a point.

It took all she had to stand there and face him. Her body longed for his touch, its the one thing she would never overcome. No man would ever be able to make her feel as he made her feel, they wouldn’t even compare. He dominated her pleasure utterly. Her eyes trailed over his strong bronze arms which were strained by his tight white t-shirt that he was wearing. It made him glow in a way, it was such a definite contrast, it creates an effect that would make sure no one would miss him. His muscled legs also visible in the jeans he was wearing. She swallowed refraining her eyes from drifting an further to the bulge she knew was there.

He watched her eyes admiring him which gave him time to admire her right back. Her body was more defined from what he could remember. Her breasts looked fuller and tighter, her middle thinner – a lot thinner and toned. All this visible in the tight black shirt she wore, it stuck to her flat stomach and stretched across her breasts which rose and fell it was mesmerizing, until she folded her arms across them, that only made it torturous.

“Niklas I asked you what you wanted?” He had big plans for this girl that still made his blood boil and his body ache.

“I wanted to come and see how you were?” If she could have been more shocked she would have probably swallowed her tongue. The nerve of him to come and check on her like she is still heartbroken over him, oh please!

“I’m great! It’s been three years I’m not heartbroken and longing after you! I moved on!” He didn’t expect her to lash out like some silly teenager. He wanted this to be civilized as possible, is love ever civilized though, all is fair in love and war right.

“And how did that work out for you?” He regretted the question as soon as it left his mouth. He saw the immediate anguish and hurt displayed on her face.

Niklas words cut deep and rang true, After their break up her mother coaxed her back into a relationship with Michael, the relationship she had ended because she had met Niklas. Her marriage to Michael was a loveless and emotionally draining. They both married for the benefits of it, Michael wanted a wife with pedigree and she wanted someone to help her forget Niklas. Micheal didn’t stand a chance he was dull in comparison, but he was good to her in the beginning. She knows she didn’t make it easy for him. At the courting part of their relationship she was still in love with Niklas and heartbroken because of it, then she found out she was pregnant and it wasn’t Michael’s child, he had accepted it with grace, he had calmly explained that he knew she had a past and he wouldn’t let it jeopardize a future for the two of them. In truth he was only playing a role after the first month of marriage his true colors started to show. He had a gambling addiction along with a mayor drinking problem and the idea of being committed was not something he had practised, he even brought his girlfriends to their home. Her father had been nice and had helped them a lot when they didn’t have money for anything, least of all his gambling debts. He had given Michael a job at De Lancret transport. It was at that time that she started her restaurant and build it up to what it is now. It was only after her fathers death a year ago that everything came crumbling down. Michael had been stealing from the company and used De Lancret transport to take out huge loans. The damage was too great to fix and in order to pay for all the debt the company was liquidated. Even so there was to many debt which is why all her fathers possessions, including the house she grew up in is being auctioned of this weekend and there isn’t anything she can do about it. Not that she hasn’t tried, because she had, she even took out a loan on her restaurant.

The worst part of it is that she is stuck in this all alone, since her hateful husband died from an overdose six months ago in a sleazy motel leaving her and her two year old daughter with nothing but debt, including his funeral cost.

“I’m sorry that wasn’t fair.” He could see the situation bothered her a lot. She was biting the inside of her lip, her arms tightened around her even more and her hands in tight fists.

“You’ve seen me, we talked, I told you I’m great, can I get back to running my business now.” Her voice was drained and held little fight which was to his benefit. She was vulnerable at the moment, he saw the rawness of her pain.

“I came because I want you back.” Her eyes bulged as she stared at him in disbelief.

“Are you insane! Why on earth would I want to do that! You have a lot of nerve coming here! Did you really think I would just fall back into your bed because my world crumbled a little! What did you think that I was still broken hearted and would run back into your arms, you’re dead wrong! I don’t need a man to fulfill my life. My life didn’t end the day I broke up with you! I moved on, I grew up!” he didn’t expect her to go from vulnerable to offensive and strong. This might be harder than he thought, but everyone has a price and he will find hers.

“I didn’t come her to be rejected, Arabelle. I always get what I want and I want you...I will have you.”

“You are deluded! We broke up for a reason, we aren’t good together!” Her heart shattered that day walking away from him was the second hardest thing she has ever done. Burying her father being the first. Niklas and her relationship had problems from the start. He never fully trusted her- he doesn’t trust any women, he never fully commits- theirs was just an affair. She had moved in with him, adored him, did everything a loving girlfriend should do, but it didn’t matter. She had basically taken the role of wife. After their first year together she had finished her business course which gave her a lot of extra time. Niklas had moved them out to Alderly edge, into a big house on Whitebarn road. She did most of the cleaning and cooking to the staffs dismay. It was at that time that she met Demetreus, Niklas’ nine year old son who had been in a boarding school most of his life. From that moment on she also played the role of mother.

The relationship was great, she never loved a man like she loved him. She would have taken on the whole world for him, but the whole labels doesn’t matter thing was eating away at her every single day- she felt used. Then he would take her to galas, fundraisers, business functions and parties where he was proud of her, showed her off for everyone to see that she was his. She remembers being at one of his friends housewarming parties, his friend had just gotten married and was already complaining, which is when Niklas boasted about how single life was great, not being tied down was how it should always be. His friend had turned his attention to Arabelle, asking what she was then Niklas calmly replied ‘she gets it, we enjoy our time together without the labels of it.’ That conversation haunted her. He had degraded and embarrassed her. He made her feel like noting but a pretty little airhead s*x toy. This also started up her jealousy and doubt. She was worried every time he was late or canceled a date. It got to a point where she let it consume her. She lost weight, too much weight she noticed this when none of her clothes fit anymore. She wanted to leave, she had too. She almost did, but just as she was about to open the door Demetreus had come rushing in crying; he had a fever and she rushed him to the hospital. Three months later a picture showed up in a newspaper of Niklas at a restaurant with another women. She didn’t listen, she didn’t stop, she ran.

“We were good together! You were the one who left!”

“I had too! Our relationship was poisonous! I couldn’t do it anymore.” Niklas had enough he was over arguing with her.

“You must have a price, let me make you a proposition. If you come back to me I’ll help your business. I’ll make it one of the most elite restaurant franchises, it will be featured at every resort and hotel that I developed. Think of all the exposure you’ll get, you’ll become a brand name overnight.” She wanted to slap the smile of his face, how dare he do this.

“I am not for sale, neither is my restaurant. I do not want to expand. I like my restaurant the way it is, expanding will take away the exclusivity it won’t be a one of a kind anymore. Not everything has to be big, Niklas! Size doesn’t matter.”

“Size matters you know it does.” He wasn’t talking about her restaurant anymore. He winked at her which caused her blush to appear on her cheeks, she cursed herself for being so easily effected by his comment.

“There must be something you want. Anything just name it and it is yours.” Cocky son of a b***h she found herself thinking.

“I want more than anything for you to leave me alone. I’m over this conversation, I’m not interested in your proposition or you!”

“Fine I’ll leave, but before the end of this week you’ll be mine again. Everyone has a price I’ll just have to find yours.”

“Good luck with that.” She won’t give in she can’t possibly too many things are at stake. Her heart for one and her daughter. His child that he doesn’t know exists, she needs to keep it that way.

Niklas walked back into the restaurant and paid for the wine. He left the money on the table along with his card, he had written on the back, ‘You’ll be using this before the week is over.’