CALIX

I sighed for the nth time standing in my grandparent's mansion here in Mykonos. I was back here in Greece to celebrate my grandmother's birthday. If I had my way, I'd prefer to skip the festivity and just spend my time in New York but my mother, Irinna was insisting that I should come or else she would give me endless lectures again for not caring about our family.

"When will you change with your laid-back personality and help with the family business?" My mother always nagged at me whenever I was back in Greece for vacation.

Seriously, I didn't have any interest in our family's hotel business. My cousin, Loukas' seemed doing a fine job running the hotel empire without difficulty. I couldn't see myself confined in an office for hours—I'd rather see myself wandering in the streets doing what I love—that is photography.

I watched the progressing party from the sidelines. To be honest, I was not in the mood to socialize I want to fly back to the US as soon as possible. I want to see that dark-haired, dark-eyed innocent kitten I left in New York to be at this party. Sometimes, I hate how Greeks held celebrations that usually lasted for days. So it was likely that I would be stuck here until the festivity was over.

"Not having fun?"

I turned around to see my younger sister, Dionne, grinning at me. She recently got married to her longtime boyfriend and so far, it appeared that she was blissfully happy with her new husband. I raised at her the wine I was holding. "Oh, I was having fun." I mocked her.

She raised an eyebrow in my direction. "Not from what I see." I chose not to answer her and just focused my attention on the guests who were having a good time tonight. "I see that you don't want to be here tonight, brother. Did Mama force you to attend Yaya's birthday?"

I spared my younger sister a glance. "What makes you say that?"

She smiled brightly in my direction and shrugged. "I knew you well. I know that you'd rather want to stay in Monte Carlo than here in Greece with your family. It doesn't help when Mama is forcing you to take a job at the company."

I pinched her cheek playfully. "You think you're way smarter than me now that you are finally married, huh?"

She slapped my arm with a scowl. "Aw! That hurt," she complained while rubbing her cheek. "Stop doing that or my cheek will get sag before I can even give you a niece or nephew. I am not a kid anymore."

"You're pregnant?" I asked with wide eyes.

"What?! No!" She frowned at me. "We are still in our honeymoon period and we want to enjoy our time before thinking of having a child. That's a huge responsibility, you know."

I smiled sardonically in her direction. "That's what you got for marrying so early."

"Hmph!" Dionne glared at me insolently. "What about you? Any plans of getting married soon? You are not getting any younger, Calix, before you know it you are way past forty before you realize it."

"Hey! I am only twenty-nine." I protested.

"Don't you know that Yaya is waiting for a grandchild from you?" Now she brought up that conversation involving our grandmother. "When will you settle down and start your our family?"

I threw a disapproving look at her. "Are you Mama? Why are you spouting this nonsense on me now? I thought I was your brother who always had you on my back. Why are you changing camp now, Dionne?"

She rolled her eyes at me. "Of course, I still support you with your life's decision and the way you're such a commitment-probe. I am just worried as your younger sister that it might be too late before you realize that you want a family of your own."

"I don't." I scoffed at her, sipping my vintage wine.

"I see. What happened to the woman you took to the guest house at cousin Loukas' wedding?" she pretended to look around. "Get tired of her already?"

I nearly choke my champagne at my sister's words. "Good Lord. Don't say something like that when I am drinking."

"What?" She frowned at me innocently. "I am merely inquiring about her. I thought she was pretty special to you since you even asked me for brand-new underwear for her to wear the following day. I knew she spent the night with you and I also knew that she's somewhat special since you never ask me for anything before."

I looked away from my sister's inquisitive gaze and murmured under my breath. "Her underwear was just missing, that's all."

My sister sighed deeply and then shook her head. "If only you are not a playboy, brother. I might set you on a blind date with my friend, Cassie. She's currently broken-hearted because of our cousin, Loukas."

My jaw clenched as Dionne reminded me of how much Cass was so in love with Loukas. I thought that when I finally had her in my bed I would not be affected that much knowing that she was in love with my cousin. I've never been jealous of Loukas on anything since we were a child but now...

No way. That was an absurd thought. I was not a sentimental fool I knew what I was getting with my current affair and I was content with that set-up. Seeing that my sister was still waiting for my answer. I gave her an arch look. "I am not interested."

Dionne sighed. "I gather that much. I am planning to ask my husband if he has some unattached male friends we can set up with Cassie. I want my friend to find the happiness she deserves. Loukas might not be the man who can give her happiness our cousin might as well as blind when it comes to other women except for Sapphire."

Try to find her a blind date and you'll see your brother's wrath. Of course, I couldn't say it out loud since no one knew about our secret affair. We agreed to keep it a secret since I didn't want to tarnish her reputation associated with me. But that didn't mean that I would let my sister pair her up with some random guy. No way in hell.

I gave Dionne a severe look. "What about your friend's feelings? Have you considered it before thinking of setting her on a blind date? Maybe she doesn't to date for now."

"Oh, right..." she bit her bottom lip warily. "I haven't thought about it. Also, I heard that she's currently not in Greece at the moment. Maybe I'll ask her thoughts about a potential blind date when we bump into each other again."

"Oh? Where is she?"

Dionne shook her head. "I heard that she took a job in the US. I am not sure which part and what kind of job that is."

Yeah, right. She's in Manhattan working at the art gallery and I am a frequent visitor to her apartment, dear sister. "Maybe she's already seeing someone in the States, don't you think?"

"Cassie Vitalis?" My sister scoffed. "That friend of mine was so innocent that she didn't even know when a guy was already flirting with her. I was rather surprised when she told me that she's been in love with Loukas in the past."

My brows furrowed. I didn't know why that statement didn't suit me well. It felt like there was some pile of rusty nails on my stomach. "Maybe she isn't really in love with Loukas but more of an infatuation."

"I don't know. But she kept on gushing Loukas this, Loukas that in the past."

As much as I wanted to chat with my sister our conversation turned in a direction that started to annoy me. The last thing I wanted was a discussion on how in love Cass is with Loukas. It irritated the hell out of me!

"You know, what? I love to chat with you more but I think I need to talk to someone I just stopped on the other end of the room. Excuse me."

I didn't wait for my sister's reply as I left her on the balcony alone. I was about to slip out of the party without anyone noticing it from my family when the man I had been avoiding since the party started blocked my way. "Calix! Good to see you, young man."

I gave Cass's father a tight smile. "Mr. Vitalis. Good to see you too."

"I'm surprised to see you here," he said conversationally. "How's Monte Carlo lately?"

If he was just another man I could have lied to him easily but this was Cass's father and I didn't want to lie to him that much. "I am staying in New York lately, sir."

His eyes widened at me which made me slightly nervous. "Oh? What a coincidence. You know my daughter, Cassie, is also staying in New York now for her first job. Though I miss her I know that she wants to pursue a career in Manhattan that's why I let her do the things she likes."

"Is that so?" I pretended to be surprised since I knew that this man would appreciate it if I told him about... My lips twitched with a smile. I wondered if he would be still this friendly to me when he learned that I was sleeping with his daughter. I consciously touched my neck. I bet that he would probably detach my head from my neck if he learned about it.

"Yes. For a while, I was hoping that she and Loukas might marry in the future since my daughter is already fascinated with your cousin." He smiled sadly in my direction. "Sometimes you will not always get what you expect in life. My daughter marrying into your family will be the biggest merger between families."

I gave him a taut smile. What's wrong with these people who kept on reminding me how in love Cass was with my cousin? Was it intentional for them to rub it on my face at every opportunity? Didn't they know that Cass was already trying her best to move on from that chapter of her life and I was damn helping her to forget Loukas as soon as possible?

"Anyway," Spiro said lightly, tapping my shoulder in a friendly manner. "It's good to see you, young man."

"You too," that's all I have managed to say.

After my unexpected encounter with Cass's father, I made sure that I would not bump into anyone at the party and start an unwanted conversation with them. I slipped out of the party and made my way to my apartment. I knew I was being an ass for not even saying a proper goodbye to Yaya but I have enough of the party.

Once I was in my apartment in Mykonos, I removed my coat and threw it on the sofa while I poured myself a drink. I only had a glass or two of champagne at the party and it was not enough to numb my feelings inside. I need something way stronger than mere bubbly.

With booze in hand, I went out of my balcony enjoying the gentle wind of a summer breeze. I watched the lights dance from the island of Mykonos and how peaceful the night was was a stark contrast to the emotion I feel inside of me at the moment.

I took my liquor with one swig as I winced and the liquid felt like burning my throat. I should have expected that coming here would only remind me of how it was common knowledge that Cass was so in love with Loukas. Back in New York, no one talks about it but here it was different. No wonder, Cass chose to stay away from Greece, away from the gossip of the Greek high society.

Back at the party, I wanted to shout to them that Cassandra Vitalis is now mine. I was the one who kept her company in New York and kept her warm in her bed at night. I was the one who was trying to make her forget Loukas—the man who was trying to attempt to remove the traces of my cousin in her heart. And it was not about being conceited but I might as well proclaim that I was the guy who was making her happy right now.

I didn't know how long I'd been staring into nothingness when I looked down to glance at my wristwatch, it was already two in the morning. I mentally calculated the time in New York by now and decided to call Cass since it was only seven in the evening in her time zone.

After a few rings, she finally answered my phone call. My heart skipped a beat when I heard her voice on the other line. Oh, how I miss this innocent kitten. "Hey," I said, clearing my throat. "Did I disturb you?"

"Oh, no, you don't. How are you, stranger?"

I couldn't help but smile. "Fine. Just got home from my grandmother's party. How about you? How's your day?"

"Same as usual at the art gallery. My coworkers are inviting me to go clubbing tonight. I'm getting ready for our night."

I was aware of how my hand tightened its grip on my mobile phone. Did I hear her correctly? Cassandra Vitalis would go to a nightclub tonight? The hickeys I gave her were still on her chest, right? "I don't think you mentioned this to be this morning."

"Oh, it's only last last-minute decision. They are persistent. I don't want to look like a prig that's why I agree to come."

"I see," I didn't have the right to forbid her to come with her coworker since I am not her boyfriend or something. "Is your boss will be there with you?"

"Huh? Mr. Braizen? No. It's only a girls' night out."

I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. I didn't trust her boss, based on what Cass had been telling me I think he had a hidden agenda with her. "Ah, Cass?"

"Yes?"

"Just be careful, okay? I am not in New York to look after you. Be careful at the nightclub. Don't let your eyes off your drink. If you removed your eyes even for a second on your cocktails, don't ever drink that you better just order a new one."

"Huh? Why?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes. Of course."

"Then, just do what I told you to do, promise?"

She laughed heartily on the other line. "Yes. I promise."

"Good," I said with satisfaction. "Just text me when you are about to leave your apartment and when you arrive back home, do you understand?"

"God! You are worse than my Baba when it comes to my safety, Calix." She complained with a chuckle.

"Do it or I will be mad at you."

"All right. I will do what you want just don't get mad at me."

I let out a deep sigh. "You know very well that I can't be angry with you."

"Really?"

"Hey, don't use that against me," I said. "Don't be greedy."

She laughed again. I didn't know why but I found her laugh to be so infectious. "Fine. Umm, Calix...?"

"Yes?"

"I-I miss you."

I nearly dropped my phone as my hand felt lost in its strength with those three simple words. How just a simple sentence could shake my whole existence? "R-Really?" I asked in a raspy voice.

"Yes," she admitted. "I'd rather spend the night with you than go out clubbing."

I groaned closing my eyes while smacking my forehead using my first. "Please don't say that when I am miles away from you. Now you are making it difficult for me to sleep tonight. All I will think of is nothing but you naked in my bed."

"Ops. Sorry."

"I miss you too, Cass. I wish I was there with you right now." As much as I wanted to talk to her more it was time for her to leave. I reminded her to be careful at the nightclub and be mindful of the strangers who would try to talk to her while I went to be with a heavy heart and my mind was filled with images of her naked body waiting for my possession.

The last thing I wanted before I went to bed was to act like a teenager who would find his release using his hand if I did not stop thinking about Cass's naked body.