Zeus

The sound of metal clashing against metal echoed through the private fencing hall. My face was covered in sweat as I lunged forward, my foil bending slightly as it hit Magnus' chest protector.

"Touch!" called out the referee. "Match point to Petrakis."

"Not again." Magnus, my cousin, Prince of England, yanked off his own fencing mask. His red hair plastered to his forehead and his eyes narrowed at me. "That's three to one. You're showing no mercy today, Zeus."

I lifted my mask and grinned at him. "You're getting slow, Your Highness. You need to train harder."

"Some of us have royal duties that prevent us from practicing often."

We both stood there in our pristine white fencing outfits—padded jackets, gloves, and breeches in the private training room of the east wing of Buckingham Palace. It was barely 7 a.m., but Magnus and I had been sparring for nearly an hour.

"Ah, excuses, excuses," I teased, walking over to the bench where our water bottles waited. "Maybe next time I'll fence with my left hand to give you a chance."

Magnus flopped down next to me on the bench. At twenty-six, a year younger than me, he looked every bit the royal he was—tall, handsome, with the famous Windsor blue eyes. But to me, he was just my annoying cousin who once put a frog in my bed when we were kids.

"You're on fire today." He said, gulping down some water. "Something on your mind? You fence better when you're upset."

"Why won't you accept that I always beat you, man?"

"Ha! That's not true, man. This time, you're just lucky." He protested, then said. "Come on, spill. Trouble with the family business? Did Grandpa Eros finally demand you to marry that mining heiress from Spain?"

I shook my head. "Nope, but that's still on his wish list."

"So, what is it?"

I hesitated.

I didn't plan on telling anyone about Zoe. But if I could trust anyone, it was Magnus. Despite being royalty, he was the most normal person I knew. And the most loyal. No family expectations. No business masks.

"If I tell you, promise not to say a word," I said. "Not to anyone. Not even your royal goldfish."

"I don't have a goldfish, but I promise," he said, making an X over his heart. "Royal oath."

I took a deep breath, then said. "I ran into someone from my past. Someone I never expected to see again."

"Ooh, mysterious," he said, wiggling his eyebrows. "A former flame?"

"More like a former inferno," I admitted.

"So, a woman. Hmm...she must be pretty special to have you this distracted. Tell me who she is."

I took a deep breath before starting. "Remember the girl I told you about... my ex-girlfriend in high school?"

"Which one? You had too many, man."

"Seriously, bro?" My eyes narrowed. "I'm talking about my first love."

"Ah, the love of your life before Grandfather made you break up with her?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Zoe Stavrakos," I said. "She's here. In London."

Magnus nearly choked on his water. "What? Where? How?"

"She's here for the same trade expo I'm attending. She has a food company now. Healthy snacks, organic ingredients. And she's staying at the Somersby Estate. Same as me."

"Really? Oh, man...that's quite a coincidence!"

"That's one word for it," I said grimly.

"What's she like now?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"She's still the same."

"Ah, so you mean she's still so hot and gorgeous that you can't take your eyes off her, and she makes your heart beat faster."

"Come on. Be serious, man. Yeah, she's still stunning—beautiful," I said before I could stop myself. "I mean, and her company is impressive."

His grin widened. "I see."

"No, you see nothing," I insisted. "It's just business."

"Of course," he said, not believing me for a second. "And how is Zoe taking in seeing you again?"

I pressed my lips together, frowning. "She's...very professional."

"Meaning she hates your guts for breaking her heart," he translated.

"I had no choice," I mumbled. "You know what Grandpa Eros threatened. He would have destroyed her and her family. Cut me off completely from our family."

His teasing tone disappeared. "The great Petrakis-Stavrakos feud. Grandpa Eros never forgave her grandfather for that business deal gone wrong."

"A ten billion dollar business contract that fell through is more than a 'deal gone wrong,'" I said. "Grandfather blamed Adonis Stavrakos for everything."

"And took it out on two teenagers in love," he said. "Very Romeo and Juliet of you both."

I stood up and paced across the polished wooden floor. "It doesn't matter now. It was eight years ago."

"And yet here you are, fencing like a man possessed because you saw her again." He crossed his arms. "You've still got feelings for her, right?"

"I don't."

"Zeus, I've seen you lie to board members, business rivals, and even to our own grandfather. But you've never been able to lie to me."

I stopped pacing. "Fine. Seeing her again feels so...weird."

"Weird," he repeated flatly. "That's the word you're going with?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"The truth, perhaps?" he suggested. "That you never got over her?"

I turned away, looking out the window at the palace gardens. "It doesn't matter what I feel. Nothing's changed. The family feud is still there. Grandfather is still there. The company is still there."

"And Zoe is also still there," he pointed out. "Right under the same roof as you. Seems like fate to me."

I turned back to him. "Fate? Really?"

"Come on, bro. We're the Petrakis, designed to be romantics," he chuckled. "But seriously, you're twenty-seven, Zeus. Don't you think it's time for you to make your own choice and fight the one you want?"

"Says the man whose marriage will probably be a diplomatic arrangement."

"Ah! You're wrong, bro. My royal family can't force me if I'm not willing. But you..." He stood up and clapped me on the shoulder. "The Zeus I know isn't afraid of anything. Except, perhaps, his own heart."

"Now you sound like a bad romance novel," I grumbled, and he chuckled aloud.

"So, what are you going to do about Zoe?"

"Keep it professional," I said firmly. "Focus on the expo. Avoid being alone with her."

"And how's that working out so far?" he asked with a knowing look.

I thought about our garden moment last night.

She appeared in front of me, looking so cute in her oversized t-shirt and sexy shorts. At first, I thought she was a mere figment of my imagination—a result of my constant thoughts about her. But she was undeniably real, just like the relentless pounding of my traitorous heart.

Whenever she was near, I couldn't help but lose control, which explained our nearly shared kiss.

"Not great," I admitted. "Her company is likely going to sign a distribution deal with John. If that happens, my shipping company will handle her products."

"Ah." He grinned. "So you'll be working together whether you like it or not."

"Exactly."

"And do you like it? The prospect of working with her?"

I didn't answer right away.

Did I? Part of me dreaded it—the constant reminder of what we once had, what I gave up. But another part...

"It doesn't matter what I want," I said finally. "It's business."

He shook his head. "You sound just like Grandpa Eros when you say that. 'It's business, boy! Do the Petrakis way!'"

His imitation of grandfather was spot-on, down to the thick Greek accent. I couldn't help but laugh.

"He'd disown you if he heard you," I said.

"He'd have to get through the royal guard first." He grinned, then said, "Want my royal advice?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"You're going to die someday, cousin," he said, suddenly serious. "We all are. Even the might of the Petrakis fortune can't prevent that. So the question is...do you want to live our grandfather's life, or yours?"

I blinked, surprised by his wisdom. "When did you get so philosophical?"

"I'm a prince," he said with a wink. "We're trained in profound statements from birth. Right after waving and ribbon-cutting."

We laughed and walked toward the changing rooms, our fencing foils tucked under our arms.

"But seriously," he continued, "be careful. Not just because of Grandpa, but because this girl, Zoe Stavrakos—woman now—clearly means something to you. Don't play with her heart if you're not willing to fight for her again."

"I'm not playing with anything," I protested. "I'm avoiding her."

"Ah yes, the famous Petrakis avoidance technique. Works brilliantly until you're staring at each other across a candlelit dinner," he said. "Promise me one thing?"

"What?" I asked suspiciously.

"If you decide to pursue this woman, please let me be there when you tell Grandpa Eros. I want to see his face when the mighty Zeus Petrakis defies him for love."

I pushed him playfully. "You're enjoying this too much," I said, shaking my head.

"Of course I am!" He laughed aloud. "My perfect cousin, the golden boy of the Petrakis empire, tormented by his high school sweetheart."

"I'm not tormented," I insisted.

"Come on! She's the reason you couldn't sleep last night. You called me at midnight for a sparring session early in the morning."

"Whatever, bro," I said, then checked my watch. "I have to run—a business meeting in an hour."

"Okay, fine. I know business is your life. But before you go, listen, Zeus..." His voice turned serious again. "Whatever you decide about Zoe, make sure it's what you want. Life's too short for regrets."

I nodded, reflecting on his words as I left Buckingham Palace in a chopper a few minutes later. Despite Magnus being royal, he was also right.

Eight years ago, I decided out of fear and family obligation. I walked away from the woman I loved the most. Now, fate has granted me a second chance, or maybe it's a harsh reminder of my past actions.

The question was, what was I going to do about it?

The Petrakis family and the Stavrakos were like oil and water. Grandpa Eros had made that abundantly clear eight years ago.

Some things never change.

But...

Had I changed? And more importantly, had Zoe?