Sapphire St. Clair's POV

"I'm ready," I said as I went out of the bedroom I shared with him. I found him patiently waiting for me in the living room fully dressed for the party we're about to attend tonight.

He turned around to look the moment I made myself known to him. "You look..." The words died in his mouth as he just stared at me walking further into the living room. Suddenly, I felt unsure about the evening gown I chose to wear tonight.

"Do I look, okay?" I asked, hesitantly. Glancing at my off-shoulder, burgundy-colored evening gown with a sweetheart neckline.

"You look..." he started again swallowing hard as eyed me from head to toe. "...like a goddess who just went down to earth to tempt the male species. Aphrodite will be jealous of your beauty. You look ravishing it makes me want to eat you right this moment."

He moved closer to where I was standing sneaking his hands to my waist and drawing me even closer to his body. I placed my hands on his chest to stop him when he was about to kiss me. "We don't have time for this, Mister."

"Just one kiss." He bargained, his eyes glowed like hellfire. "You're so damn beautiful I can't stop myself."

I was so happy at my choice of outfit for tonight's event from the appreciation I saw from him. I was grateful that I decided to style my hair with a wavy romantic messy updo and place a pearl headband on the top of my head. I also wore my mother's pearl necklace and drop earrings. Since the last time, we attended a party he told me that I was so unadorned very ironic since I am a jewelry heiress. "Loukas!"

I heard him sigh heavily and finally put some distance between us. "All right, fine. I guess I need to wait until we get home before I can get a kiss from you." He eyed me sensually, his eyes promising me another sleepless night. "I think we need to go home early then."

"You are incorrigible."

"That reminds me," he raised my left hand and frowned again. "I thought we already agreed with this, Sapphire?"

"What?" I asked as I tried to snatch back my hand but he just merely tightened his grip as he searched for an answer in my eyes.

"Your rings." He accused, his eyes were filled with hurt and sadness. "I thought we made it clear the last time we attended a party, Sapphire? I want you to wear them again."

"Is that necessary?" I asked warily, looking away from his intense gaze. "Bad enough that we're living together again what the Greek society will say about me?"

There was anger on his face that I didn't understand. "Why will you care what will they think about us? This is between us."

I stared at him helplessly. Was he not aware of the dark look people gave me since I arrived here especially the people who knew him? First, at his cousin Dionne's wedding how I could forget the way people showed me such a repulsive look since they thought I was back in the picture? And then, there's this event we attended together as a couple the same way this crowd looks at me but this time with their eyebrow raised for wearing his rings again.

"But..."

"Please...?" There was something in his eyes that made my resolve slightly crumple. Was it a vulnerability that I saw in his eyes? "Can you do it for me?"

"Loukas." I tried to remain firm with my decision here. I don't have the right to wear my wedding rings again since we're already divorced.

"You do love me, right?" He suddenly surprised me with his question. I never expected him to throw that at me right this moment. My eyes widened at him while my heart gave a painful thud. Doesn't he know by now the power he has over me? Even though I was trying so hard not to give him this much influence over me I could not stop myself my heart wasn't listening to my brain's cautions. "Do you love me?" He prodded again when I didn't answer the first time.

"Of course," I replied with a wide eye. "How can you think for a moment that I didn't love you when I stayed with you despite my reservations about this relationship?"

The relief I saw in his face was the kind of expression I would treasure in my life for he broke into a lovely smile his whole face lit with happiness. "I know you love me as much as I do but I just want to make sure. Now about your wedding rings."

"All right, fine," I said, completely giving up on this little argument we have. "I'll just get them in my drawer."

"There's no need." He said, stopping me in my tracks. He raised my left hand and got something in his trousers pocket. "I already have them burning in my pocket since I finished dressing up a while ago." He slipped the diamond ring and platinum wedding band on my finger with such familiarity. "I hope that you won't take them off ever again."

I remain silent since I cannot promise him that I will be able to do that but for now, I would let my wedding bands remain in my hand—at least for tonight since I knew Loukas would not let this go until he had his way.

"Shall we go now?" I asked lightly when I noticed that he also wearing his wedding ring on his finger. "I don't want us to be late to this party."

He kissed my left hand briefly where the rings glinted whenever it caught the light. "Let's go, my darling love."

We went hand in hand out of the penthouse and even when he drove away to our destination he refused to let go of my hand even if he was driving only with one hand in the steering wheel. Half an hour or so we finally arrived at the beautiful seaside mansion owned by the Vitalis family. As expected, it was a well-attended party from the elite Greek society.

All of a sudden, I felt a little bit nervous since coming face to face with the same crowd who didn't technically welcome me to their circle.

"Relax," Loukas muttered near my ear when he must sense the tension on me. This was the last place I wanted to be right this moment. "I am here with you. I will not anything happen to you that's a promise."

I smiled at him which didn't quite reach my eyes. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

He smiled back at me in a reassuring way as he led me inside the magnificent house. As I expected, a good amount of heads turned in our direction once they got a glimpse of us entering the room. I even noticed Loukas' aunt who gave me an acid look—not that I cared.

Loukas made sure to ease away the uneasiness I had since he securely placed his hand on my waist as if protecting me. It was not that long before the host of the party greeted us with a smile on his face that didn't seem fully genuine.

"Loukas!" The older man had said by way of greeting. "Thank God you made it. I was half-expecting that you would not come at all. My Cassie told me about the mishap that happened with the invitation we sent to you. Thank you for coming with such short notice."

"Spiro." Loukas acknowledge the man with a firm handshake. "Thank you for inviting us. My wife and I are very pleased to come."

I gasped at the casual way he threw the word 'wife' while talking to this man who was hoping Loukas would marry his daughter. Spiro Vitalis slid his gaze on me there was something about his eye that I couldn't fathom—hidden anger, I guess? But whatever it is, he hides it very well. "Wife, you say?"

The man beside me nodded with a smile on his face. "Yes, you must know that I once been married to an American girl."

There was a disappointment on the older man's face that he couldn't well hide. "But I thought you were divorced from your wife years ago."

"Yes, but we already patched up our misunderstanding, am I right, love?" He looked down at me with gleaming eyes.

I gave a stiff smile as I gazed back at him. "Yes."

"Well congratulations, then." Spiro Vitalis offered the displeasure was palpable in his elderly face. Even Loukas saw it in his face. "Would you mind if I leave you for a moment to talk to my other guests?"

"Oh, please do. Don't mind us." Loukas answered as the man walked away from us.

Once the host of the party was out of sight. I faced him with a stern look. "You do know how to upset the host of the party, sir. Deliberately throwing the word 'wife' in his face when you are fully aware that he is hoping you and his daughter..."

There was harshness in his eyes that I didn't understand. "I will not let anyone doubt my relationship with you ever again even if he is the host of the party. Besides, it's time for him to accept that there's no chance for me and his daughter."

I didn't know how to answer him so I just shook my head. "Come on," he cajoled, taking a fluke of champagne to the passing waiter. "Forget about it and let's enjoy the party. I will introduce you to some of my business partners and who knows you might get business deals from them." He gave me a meaningful smirk. "A potential buyer in St. Clair Diamonds."

I couldn't help but chuckle at his wittiness. If I didn't know better I would assume that the reason he agree to come to this party was so he could help me look for customers in our store. As promised he introduced me to his associates with a firm declaration of the status of our relationship and as the general manager of St. Clair Diamonds, he even managed to extract a promise that two of them would shop with their wives at the store soon.

I looked at him while he was busy chatting with these men with a private smile. This man was good, all right? If he's probably tired of being the CEO of their hotel business I will offer him a position in St. Clair Diamonds in the PR department.

Suddenly, I felt slightly dizzy I tried to close my eyes and took a deep breath but it was not working. I feel that the floor beneath me was spinning before I made a scene I excuse myself from them.

"You okay?" Loukas asked concernedly.

I smiled at myself with quite an effort and nod. "I'm fine. I will just walk in the garden to get some fresh air."

"I'll come with you."

I shook my head, giving him a reassuring smile. "I'm fine. Just stay here with your friends, I will be back later."

He let go of me reluctantly and I excused myself from them with a supreme effort I tried to walk as normally as possible since I could feel that Loukas' eyes were still on me.

Once I was in the garden I tried to take deep several breaths. I felt very dizzy how many glasses did I have? I asked myself silently. I normally have a high tolerance for alcohol and I only had one glass of champagne so why do I feel that the ground was spinning?

"Are you okay?" The concerned question came from the last woman I wanted to talk with tonight.

"I'm okay," I replied, stopping myself from making a scene at this party.

Cassie Vitalis moved closer to me and studied me for a moment. "I hope you don't get me wrong but you look kind of pale right now. Do you want me to call Loukas?"

"No!" I forced my eyes to open and stared at her with horror. "Please. Don't do that. I am fine. It's just very crowded inside that's why I went out to get some fresh air. I will be fine."

"Do you want to sit on the chairs near the pool area?" Cassie offered. "Come, I'll take you there."

I didn't have the strength to protest when I just let her help me sit on the lounge chair near the swimming pool. "Thank you," I said weakly.

I was expecting her to leave me in peace after but she surprised me when she sat on the other chair and awkward silence filled the atmosphere. Should I talk to her with anything and break this uncomfortable stillness and make me forget my dizziness or I'll just let things go this way?

It was she who broke the silence first after a moment. "I hope you don't find me fake when I say that I am really glad that you and Loukas reconciled."

I pointedly looked at her smiling face there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Really?"

She nodded, braving a smile on her beautiful face. "You must know that I have a feel for him but he assures me that he cannot reciprocate the feelings for he loves one woman only."

Despite the feeling of light-headedness, I feel I couldn't help but blush. "Did he tell you that?"

Cassie dipped her head staring at me. "You must know that I have loved him the moment I saw him exactly two years ago maybe you can call it love at first sight." The smile on her face was the kind of smile of a woman who was in love recalling her first meeting with Loukas. "He is the young business partner of my father. When I met him he was this kind of aloof and cold man I thought that given a time he would see me more than as his business partner's daughter I guess I am wrong."

"Cassie..."

She laughed warily. "I don't know why I am telling you this but..." she paused for a moment. "...I guess I need to tell you. I knew that he was a divorcé but there's much to know about his ex-wife other than she was an American heiress who left him less than a year of their marriage."

My heart constricted at her words. It wasn't her fault that she thought that way but that's everyone knew and believed in Greece that I was this heartless American girl who left my husband for the reason I only knew.

"It never occurred to me that you were his ex-wife when I first met you." She continued with the same sad smile on her face. "Now I understand his fascination with you when you started working at your family business inside his hotel. I never see him look the way he looks at you with other women. Only you could put sparks in his eyes. For him, you are the only woman on the planet."

"Oh... I don't know what to say." I moistened my dry lips as I stared at the gleaming pool under the moonlight.

"I like you," She confessed shyly. "I hope you don't treat me as an enemy as I genuinely like to befriend you and Loukas. I promise that I won't come between you. I know in time my love for him will fade just give it a time."

Before I had the chance to reply. Loukas came into the garden with a worried expression. "Are you all right, Sapphire?"

"She was a bit dizzy moments ago," Cassie replied, standing from the lounge chair. "I accompany her for a bit."

"Maybe it's time for us to go home." He announced helping me to stand. "Thank you for looking after her." He looked down at me with worry in his eyes. "Are you okay? Do you want to go to the hospital?"

An alarm crossed my face. "No! There's no need for that. I am fine."

He doesn't look convinced, as he places a protective hand on me. "Please tell your father that we will go home now and thanks for the party we enjoy it."

"Thank you for everything, Cassie," I muttered before we walked towards the parking lot. Once I was safely inside his car. I closed my eyes as another way of wooziness hit me.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Loukas asked worriedly as he saw me leaning my head on the window glass of his car.

"Yeah, let's go home," I answered faintly, closing my eyes while praying that this would stop now. "I think I just ate something at the party that didn't suit my stomach, that's all."