Videos for this chapter

'Cater 2 U' by Destiny's Child

Niko's POV

Tatianna's lips are just as I imagined - soft, sweet and a perfect fit with mine. She wrapped her arms around my neck and pushed me closer to her. But, it can only be a kiss for now. I want to leave her wanting more. So, I hovered over her.

"Now, repeat after me, 'I will accept the free phones.'"

"I will not accept the free phones."

I was about to go in for the kiss again but, "Okay! Thank you, Niko for the phones. And, if you are trying to win my heart, it is going to take more than that amazing kiss."

I sat on the side of the bed. "So, I'm an amazing kisser?"

"Look, from head to toe you are undeniably a sexy and attractive man. You can have any woman you want. Why me? Aren't you afraid of my skin tone being dark?"

"Why not you? The way you just described me is the way I see you - sexy and attractive. Might I also add very curvaceous and sassy. You didn't back down from me over the phones. I like that quality in a woman. Tatianna, your skin tone is beautiful. I want you to see how beautiful you are with your skin tone. I want you, skin tone and all."

"I am only sassy when the need arises. I am my own boss. Been that way for years until the jerk who no one knows where he is and will stay that way hurt me. I hate him for doing that to me. I'm just like my grandma and mom. You say that now about my skin tone. But what is going to happen when someone questions your choice of women?"

"I'm going to beat them to a pulp. My choice in women is exactly my choice, no one else's. I'm not going to give up on you. I never cared for people's opinions, well except for my father, grandmother, Cass, and Matti. They all like both you and Aiesha. My mother's opinions I don't listen to anymore. I listened to her about dating my last girlfriend. And, look at what happened - she cheated and stole money from me. Guess what else? My mother had the audacity to want me to get back with Ana, and act like she never stole money from me or cheated in me."

"Did your mother seriously do that?"

"Yes she did. I love my mother, but my love life is mine. I don't care if she doesn't like my choice. Whatever I can do to talk you away from being self-conscious about your skin tone, I will do it. It is worth repeating - my feelings for you are real. Listen, how would you like to take a trip to Greece for a week? We would leave on Sunday."

"And, who else is going?" She placed her cast free hand on her hip.

"Yuri and Akiko so far. I'm going to ask Aiesha, Matti, and your parents. After what happened, I figured we all need a break. And, I noticed you were reading about Greek culture. So, how would you like to experience it?"

"I would love to go. Thank you. I'm going to take a nap now."

"Okay. Enjoy your nap." Tatianna laid her head on the pillow and fell asleep. I then left the room.

"Ethan, set up Tatianna's phones and service - free of charge."

"Yes, Niko."

I knew I would get my way with this.

*******************************************

Narrator's POV

As promised, Niko talked with Matti, Aiesha, Jarvis, and Pandora about the trip to Greece. Everyone was excited to go. So, everyone stayed at Niko's home until time to leave for the trip.

Aiesha packed for herself and Tatianna. Niko advised everyone to pack enough for 50 to 60-degree temperatures, so that is what they did.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday, January 14th, 2018

Tatianna's POV

It is a long flight to Niko's hometown of Mykonos - 14 hours and 34 minutes. And, there is a 10 hour time difference. So, our flight left San Diego early - 8:00 am. We will be getting into Greece late. But, that is okay because I am excited.

Niko's plane is huge! And, of course, I am sitting next to him.

"Thank you for this trip, Niko.  I have never been to Europe before. I always traveled to the Caribbean to be with my family."

"You're welcome, Tatianna. I enjoy taking my family to Greece."

Well, I am going to be his sister-in-law. The pilot then came over the loudspeaker,

"Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelts. Welcome to Greece."

I had trouble fastening mine because of the cast on my arm, so of course, Niko helped me.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Within 15 minutes, the plane landed at what looks like a private airport.

I looked out the window and saw two stretch limos heading towards the plane. The flight attendant opened the plane's door. 

Niko helped me off the plane first, then to the limo. Not a surprise there. Then, Niko, Matti, and my dad grabbed our luggage. These limos were huge - SUV size. Niko instructed the drivers, then came and sat next to me. No surprise there neither.

"It will not take us long to travel to my house. We will be there in 20 minutes," Niko tells everyone. Then, the driver pulled away from the airport.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Niko's POV

I come back to Greece every year, but this time is special. I have my future family with me. In the past, I brought Ana one time and that was enough. She was nasty and rude to my housekeepers. I had to talk them out of quitting.

My house has a long driveway with trees lined on each side.

"Welcome to my home." I had this place built from the ground up. And, I have a private beach for my family and guests.

"Oh my gosh, this place is amazing!"

"Welcome to your Greek home, Tatianna," I said it low enough for no one to hear.

"Thank you. Each bedroom has a balcony, as well as a private bathroom. I'm sorry about not having a ramp, but that can be fixed today." I want to carry her so bad.

Tatianna turned to face me and smirked, "Try harder, Niko."

She knew exactly what I was thinking and going to do. Her smile and facial features make me weak in the knees. And, Tati is the only woman I have done that with. Matti and Aiesha had already got out, so they helped her out of the limo.

Dang.

"Guys, I want to try to walk up the steps without the crutch and wheelchair. I can hold onto the rails."

So, as Tati took each step, I stood behind her to catch her if necessary.

Aura and Cyrene had opened the door for everyone to enter.

They saw me standing behind Tatianna and said in Greek, "She is very beautiful, Niko. We are going to like her." They do speak English, but with an accent.

Matti is the only one who understood what they said. Everyone else could not understand a word.

"Welcome to Mykonos. We are Aura and Cyrene. Whatever you need, just let us know."

"Thank you, Aura and Cyrene. Please call me Tatianna. I could use a glass of water and something to eat."

"Right away." They curtsied and made their way to the kitchen.

"I'm sure everyone is tired, so I'll give you a tour later. Tati, your room is on the first floor. Matti, can you show Aiesha, Jarvis, and Pandora to their rooms. Yuri and Akiko, would you like to stay on the first or second floor?"

My house is huge. I have bedrooms for several families to stay if the need arises. I am family oriented that's why there is so many.

"The second floor is fine." They both answered.

"Okay. I'll take Tati to her room first and be right back."

She still wanted to walk without help. I stood beside her and we walked slowly to her room.

"I wish I could stay in Greece for two weeks. This room is beautiful." Tatianna slowly walked over to her balcony to admire the view.

"That can be arranged if you would really like to stay for two weeks."

She turned around and said, "Seriously?"

"Seriously, yes. I can work from my home office. And, check on my businesses here in Greece."

"Thank you. I would love to stay."

"You're welcome." Yes! I am glad she said yes. We then heard a knock on the door.

"Tatianna, I have a glass of ice water and a Skaltsounia. It is a walnut filled, crescent-shaped pastry. If you want something else, I can get it for you. And, are you allergic to any specific ingredients?" Aura and Cyrene handed Tati the water and pastry. They are actually my favorite Greek pastry.

"Oh my gosh, this is delicious! And, I am not allergic to anything. Thanks for asking."

"You're welcome." Aura and Cyrene curtsied and left the room.

"I'll check on you later. I'm sure you're tired from the flight."

"Thank you, Niko."

I left Tati's room and headed to my own. I am definitely tired.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday, January 15th, 2018

Today, we are flying to Athens. It was easier and less time to fly. Driving would take almost 5 hours.

"I have a villa in Athens for us to stay over in. It wouldn't be wise to take Tatianna to the Acropolis, but there is a museum that we can go to. If everyone wants to split up we can. Then, meet up at a specific spot. It would be best if Matti and I split up."

"We'll go with Niko to the museum, so we can help with Tati." I can't tell Yuri and Akiko apart. They are identical. But one of them volunteered.

"We will go to the Acropolis with Matti and Aiesha." Pandora mentions.

"So, Matti, Aiesha, Jarvis, and Pandora are going to the Acropolis. Yuri and Akiko, you're going with me and Tati. I rented two SUV's, so Matti will have a set of keys and so will I."

Once the plane landed safely, both SUV's drove close to the plane. The plane's door was opened by my flight attendant. I didn't even say anything, so in one swoop, I lifted Tatianna out of her chair and off the plane.

She started laughing. "You couldn't wait to do that, could you? Try harder, Mr. Kostopoulos. But seriously, thank you."

After carrying Tatianna down the steps to the SUV, I gave Matti a set of keys and I kept a set.

"Matti, where should we meet?"

"How about the family restaurant for dinner?" He then replies.

"Sounds like a plan. See you then." Matti got in his SUV and pulled off. I got in mine and we pulled off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tatianna's POV

While on our drive to the museum, I could not help but soak up the beautiful Grecian scenery. "Greece is beautiful, Niko. I know it is just a small portion, but I can't help but admire the beauty of it."

We pulled up to the museum and Niko went to the valet stand. Then, he came back over and grabbed the wheelchair out of the trunk. I tried to get out of the truck on my own. I know I just recently got out of the hospital, but I am tired of that wheelchair.

"I want to walk around without the wheelchair for a bit."

"Tati, hold onto Niko's arm while you try to walk. If you have any pain or discomfort, just let Yuri or I know."

"Thanks, Akiko." Don't tell me they are trying to set me up with Niko too?

Once inside the museum, we didn't even have to wait in line for tickets. Not surprised. Niko is probably well-known here in Greece.

The new Acropolis Museum has a total area of 25,000 square meters, with exhibition space of over 14,000 square meters. I will definitely be using the wheelchair. As we walked around, I noticed the stares that people started giving us. I knew it would happen. Niko noticed too, and he told everyone who stared, "Mind your own darn business!"

After about an hour, my legs started feeling tired. "I'm ready for my chair now." Once I sat down, Yuri and Akiko took turns pushing the wheelchair. "Thank you, ladies."

"You're welcome, Tati. Sit back and enjoy the ride."

We stayed in the museum for about two hours. Then, Niko took us to the charming neighborhoods of Plakà and Anafiotikà. The pathway was narrow with rows of beautiful homes. We saw several little cafe shops with delicious Greek pastries. During our tour, we saw a gift shop. I looked over to Niko with puppy dog eyes. I didn't want to bat my eyelashes to give him any ideas. My heart just can't take another relationship.

"Of course, we can go inside." He says as he wheeled me in the store. Niko told us what everything in the store was. And, I think I bought one of everything. Niko, Yuri, and Akiko laughed at me.

"Well, it's for my house and office at work." Niko tried to pay for my things, but I wasn't having it. He is not getting his way this time. "No, you will not, Mr. Kostopoulos. I am paying." He was mad, but I didn't care. I am an independent woman, but not like my friend Bliss. Bliss doesn't want a relationship, where as I do. I miss her. We had so much fun at NYU. Bliss, along with Ryan were basically my only friends. Hopefully, we can run into each other again.

After leaving the store, "We can drop off our packages at my house, then meet up with Matti." So, we made our way back to the truck and off to Niko's house.

Gorgeous - is the first word I can think of to describe this house.

"I'll be right back," Niko says while exiting the truck. He started bringing in the bags.

"I'll help you, Niko." Yuri and Akiko both got out to help. I spent the most, so it is mostly my bags. I feel so bad about that. These casts and injuries are depressing. Like I said, I am independent. A few tears slipped out, but I wiped them away before they would see them.

Within 10 minutes, they came back.

"Now, onto the restaurant." Niko got back in the SUV, along with Yuri and Akiko. Then we made our way to their family restaurant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Niko's POV

I was mad that I didn't get my way with paying for her things. 

"Welcome to Kostopoulos' Greek Restaurant. The restaurant has been rated #1 for the past decade." After parking in one of our family spots, I got out and went to the passenger side.

"Do you want your wheelchair?"

"No. I would like to sit in a regular chair." Tatianna looked sad when I asked that. So, after helping her out, I asked,

"Are you okay?"

"I'm tired of that wheelchair. It is a reminder of what happened to me. It hurts like heck. I'm used to doing things on my own, not having someone cater to me every minute."

"That is one of the reasons I wanted everyone to go on this trip. Tati talk to me, Yuri, Akiko or one of the others. You are strong and are going to make it through this."

"And, I for one am going to help you and cater to you whichever way you want me to."

Matti was already inside. But before we reached our reserved room, here comes trouble. This woman has been after me for years, ever since we left Greece for California. How desperate can a person be? She is just like Ana, a pain in my ____. And, the looks Selene were giving Tatianna were pissing me off. 

"Niko Kostopoulos, what are you doing in town?"

She has one of the most annoying, shrilly voices I have ever heard. I can't catch a break. But if she tries anything to hurt Tatianna, I will not hesitate to throw her on that darn island in Tahiti!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The opening sign is courtesy of Can Stock Photos - © Can Stock Photo / roxanabalint

Picture of Niko's Greek home is courtesy of Can Stock Photos - © Can Stock Photo / karnaval

Picture of Tatianna's bedroom is courtesy of Can Stock Photos - © Can Stock Photo / lmphot

Picture of Niko's Athens, Greece home is courtesy of Can Stock Photos - © Can Stock Photo / RUZANNA