Read Online The Billionaire's Runaway Bride by Marie Kelly - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marie Kelly
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often these days.
Over the next couple of months she had spent a considerable time gaining approval for the research team’s visit. Thankful that the areas involved were mostly stable, the only exception being Libya where with some real negotiations she had finally been able to obtain permission to visit the breeding ground. The only privately owned island with the animals had been that of Alexos Manetas and she had sent him a letter requesting permission, signing it Dr G Dionis. When a letter of acceptance welcoming the team had been received she had been filled with both relief and anxiety, not sure if he had realised who she was.
So it was eight months after her initial contact with Alexos, she had once more found herself on the island she had so briefly visited so many years ago. The team of four had rented a boat to live on, the two women and men having to share the basic two bedrooms, all used to ‘roughing it’ as part of the job. The boat also doubled as a base for dives, Grace happy not to have to be on the actual island itself for too long.
The team had already completed all but one area of the project, that being Libya after communications and negotiations had once more broken down, Grace still working on re-establishing the agreement she had been given at the start. The decision had been taken that the team would have a month’s holiday after finishing on the island, Grace relieved to find with a few simple Google searches that the owner of the island was not in residence. For over a week they had taken measurements and tagged the animals, Grace never tiring of the water or the bulky creatures which would become so graceful in the water.
After one such dive she had pulled off her fins, moving back up the beach, surprised to see Carol, her research assistant talking to a tall man. With the sun behind him Grace had been unable to make out the figure as slowly she had moved towards the pair. Pulling her face mask and snorkel from herself she had smiled welcomingly as she had heard Carol’s voice.
“Oh Mr Manetas…here comes Dr Dionis now”, Grace coming to an abrupt stop as realisation had hit her as to who exactly the man was, panic and fear thudding through every part of her as the smile had dropped from her lips. She had heard the expletive from him as he too had turned and come face to face with the woman who had so callously and publically abandoned him so many years ago.
“Grace!” her name bitten out with contempt and anger. Groaning softly she had watched as with his stance becoming rigid, he had turned and began to walk quickly away from the beach. Dropping her snorkelling equipment she had thrown Carol a panicked look before running after him leaving the bemused woman wondering what had just happened.
Reaching him, she had tentatively grabbed his arm, Alexos coming to an immediate halt as he had spun around his face black with barely contained rage.
“You have one hell of a cheek Grace”
She had looked up helplessly at the man she had once been expected to marry, her fingers pulling nervously at each other.
“I know this might be a shock” she had stuttered softly seeing as his eyes had narrowed dangerously.
“A shock? No…the shock was receiving a phone call six years ago from the lying bitch that had used me to get one past her family”
She had flinched at this her eyes dropping from his with shame “I had no choice Alexos…please”
Gritting his teeth he had glared down at her, a small sneer on his voice. “We all have choices Grace”
Before looking over at the rest of the group who were all now gathering to watch the scene unfold before them
“I came here to invite your team to dinner…right now I am trying hard not to throw the whole damn lot of you off my island”
With eyes suddenly so full of fear she had once more grabbed his arm, his cold black eyes drilling into hers as he had snarled for her not to touch him, Grace stepping back instantly, her eyes
Over the next couple of months she had spent a considerable time gaining approval for the research team’s visit. Thankful that the areas involved were mostly stable, the only exception being Libya where with some real negotiations she had finally been able to obtain permission to visit the breeding ground. The only privately owned island with the animals had been that of Alexos Manetas and she had sent him a letter requesting permission, signing it Dr G Dionis. When a letter of acceptance welcoming the team had been received she had been filled with both relief and anxiety, not sure if he had realised who she was.
So it was eight months after her initial contact with Alexos, she had once more found herself on the island she had so briefly visited so many years ago. The team of four had rented a boat to live on, the two women and men having to share the basic two bedrooms, all used to ‘roughing it’ as part of the job. The boat also doubled as a base for dives, Grace happy not to have to be on the actual island itself for too long.
The team had already completed all but one area of the project, that being Libya after communications and negotiations had once more broken down, Grace still working on re-establishing the agreement she had been given at the start. The decision had been taken that the team would have a month’s holiday after finishing on the island, Grace relieved to find with a few simple Google searches that the owner of the island was not in residence. For over a week they had taken measurements and tagged the animals, Grace never tiring of the water or the bulky creatures which would become so graceful in the water.
After one such dive she had pulled off her fins, moving back up the beach, surprised to see Carol, her research assistant talking to a tall man. With the sun behind him Grace had been unable to make out the figure as slowly she had moved towards the pair. Pulling her face mask and snorkel from herself she had smiled welcomingly as she had heard Carol’s voice.
“Oh Mr Manetas…here comes Dr Dionis now”, Grace coming to an abrupt stop as realisation had hit her as to who exactly the man was, panic and fear thudding through every part of her as the smile had dropped from her lips. She had heard the expletive from him as he too had turned and come face to face with the woman who had so callously and publically abandoned him so many years ago.
“Grace!” her name bitten out with contempt and anger. Groaning softly she had watched as with his stance becoming rigid, he had turned and began to walk quickly away from the beach. Dropping her snorkelling equipment she had thrown Carol a panicked look before running after him leaving the bemused woman wondering what had just happened.
Reaching him, she had tentatively grabbed his arm, Alexos coming to an immediate halt as he had spun around his face black with barely contained rage.
“You have one hell of a cheek Grace”
She had looked up helplessly at the man she had once been expected to marry, her fingers pulling nervously at each other.
“I know this might be a shock” she had stuttered softly seeing as his eyes had narrowed dangerously.
“A shock? No…the shock was receiving a phone call six years ago from the lying bitch that had used me to get one past her family”
She had flinched at this her eyes dropping from his with shame “I had no choice Alexos…please”
Gritting his teeth he had glared down at her, a small sneer on his voice. “We all have choices Grace”
Before looking over at the rest of the group who were all now gathering to watch the scene unfold before them
“I came here to invite your team to dinner…right now I am trying hard not to throw the whole damn lot of you off my island”
With eyes suddenly so full of fear she had once more grabbed his arm, his cold black eyes drilling into hers as he had snarled for her not to touch him, Grace stepping back instantly, her eyes
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