Full marks for Eve, George thought. Sit tight, Eve had said. I’ll tell you when to call her. For the first time George had the feeling the plan really was going to work. Until now he had let it nibble at the edges of his mind, toying with the idea of controlling the incredible Blackwell fortune, but he had not really dared believe it. It had been merely a game that he and Eve had been playing. Looking at Alexandra now, seated across from him, her eyes filled with naked adoration, George Mellis knew it was no longer just a game. Alexandra was his. That was the first step in the plan. The other steps might be dangerous, but with Eve’s help, he would handle them.
We’re in this together all the way, George, and we’ll share everything right down the middle.
George Mellis did not believe in partners. When he had what he wanted, when he had disposed of Alexandra, then he would take care of Eve. That thought gave him enormous pleasure.
“You’re smiling,” Alexandra said.
He put his hand over hers, and his touch warmed her. “I was thinking how nice it was our being here together. About our being anywhere together.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a jewel box. “I brought something for you from Greece.”
“Oh, George…”
“Open it, Alex.”
Inside the box was an exquisite diamond necklace.
“It’s beautiful.”
It was the one he had taken from Eve. It’s safe to give it to her, Eve had told him. She’s never seen it.
“It’s too much. Really.”
“It’s not nearly enough. I’ll enjoy watching you wear it.”
“I—” Alexandra was trembling. “Thank you.”
He looked at her plate. “You haven’t eaten anything.”
“I’m not hungry.”
He saw the look in her eyes again and felt the familiar soaring sense of power. He had seen that look in the eyes of so many women: beautiful women, ugly women, rich women, poor women. He had used them. In one way or another, they had all given him something. But this one was going to give him more than all of them put together.
“What would you like to do?” His husky voice was an invitation.
She accepted it, simply and openly. “I want to be with you.”
George Mellis had every right to be proud of his apartment. It was a tasteful jewel of a place, furnished by grateful lovers—men and women—who had tried to buy his affection with expensive gifts, and had succeeded, always temporarily.
“It’s a lovely apartment,” Alexandra exclaimed.
He went over to her and slowly turned her around so that the diamond necklace twinkled in the subdued lighting of the room. “It becomes you, darling.”
And he kissed her gently, and then more urgently, and Alexandra was hardly aware when he led her into the bedroom. The room was done in tones of blue, with tasteful, masculine furniture. In the center of the room stood a large, king-size bed. George took Alexandra in his arms again and found that she was shaking. “Are you all right, kale’ mou?”
“I—I’m a little nervous.” She was terrified that she would disappoint this man. She took a deep breath and started to unbutton her dress.
George whispered, “Let me.” He began to undress the exquisite blonde standing before him, and he remembered Eve’s words: Control yourself. If you hurt Alexandra, if she finds out what a pig you really are, you’ll never see her again. Do you understand that? Save your fists for your whores and your pretty little boys.
And so George tenderly undressed Alexandra and studied her nakedness. Her body was exactly the same as Eve’s: beautiful and ripe and full. He had an overwhelming desire to bruise the white, delicate skin; to hit her, choke her, make her scream. If you hurt her, you’ll never see her again.
He undressed and drew Alexandra close to his body. They stood there together, looking into each other’s eyes, and then George gently led Alexandra to the bed and began to kiss her, slowly and lovingly, his tongue and fingers expertly exploring every crevice of her body until she was unable to wait another moment.