Free PAGAN ADVERSARY by Sara Craven, Chieko Hara Page B

you think I
    am?' His voice was icily furious, and Harriet shrank inwardly.
    But she lifted her chin, and kept her voice steady. 'What does it matter
    what I think? It won't make the slightest difference to—to what you
    intend to do. Will I be allowed to write to him, when he's older—send
    Christmas presents?'
    He said something succinct and violent in his own language and came
    over to her. 'Sit down,' he ordered, and she obeyed, because she was
    afraid if she hesitated he might make her do what he wanted, and the
    thought of being touched by him again, even in anger, was an
    unbearable one. She thought he might be going to sit beside her, and
    her whole body tensed uncontrollably, but he remained standing,
    looming over her, his dark brows drawn together in a thunderous
    frown.
    He said quietly and coldly, 'Yes, it was my intention to take Nicos
    away—it would be pointless to deny it. But I had not realised then
    how strong the child's feeling was for you—how necessary you had
    become to him. It would be an act of senseless cruelty to separate you
    so absolutely.' He paused. 'So there must be a compromise.'
    She looked at him bewilderedly, trying to decide what he meant. Was
    it possible that he was going to let Nicky stay with her, but contribute
    to his support?
    He said, 'When I take Nicos to Greece, you will have to come with
    us.'
    Harriet had been leaning back against the cushions, but now she shot
    bolt upright, sending him a horrified glance.
    'No!' she almost choked. 'No, I won't. It—it's impossible!'
    'How is it so?'
    Because I don't want to see you any more, she thought. Because I dare
    not spend any more time in your company than I have to.
    She said, 'Because, as you once reminded me, I have my own life to
    lead. I have a home—a job. They've been good to me—the company I
    work for—very understanding, but they're not going to make
    allowances for ever. And jobs are hard to come by at the moment.
    And my flat—it may not seem much to you, but....'
    'These things—they mean more to you than Nicos?' he demanded
    coldly.
    She gasped, 'Of course not!'
    'Then you imagine that if you oblige me in this, I should leave you
    homeless and without employment?' he asked with contempt.
    Harriet shook her head. 'I—I don't want charity.'
    'And I do not offer it,' he returned impatiently. 'We shall reach a
    proper agreement before you leave.
    This was going too fast. She said, 'I don't know yet that I'm leaving
    for anywhere.'
    'Always this resistance!' Alex flung his hands up in a kind of angry
    resignation. 'When you thought I was prepared to take Nicos from
    you, you argued. Now I say that you can go with him, and you are still
    arguing!'
    'Put like that, of course, it all sounds so simple,' Harriet said defiantly.
    'You make the decisions, and I agree without a murmur. Has it never
    occurred to you that I might not want my life turned upside down?'
    He shrugged. 'Are you saying that it is entirely to your satisfaction?
    That you have everything you want?' His eyes held hers mercilessly.
    'Well?'
    'Does anyone have that?' Harriet shifted nervously. 'But that doesn't
    mean I want to—-to throw away everything I've worked for.' She
    sighed. 'But I can't expect you to understand. Compared with the
    Marcos Corporation, my efforts must seem totally pathetic. But
    they're important to me.'
    'More important than the wellbeing of your nephew,' he said
    flatly..'You know that isn't true!'
    'Then there must be some other reason.' He paused. 'Is there, after all,
    some man you cannot bear to leave?'
    'There's no one,' she said, and could have cursed herself for the
    hastiness of her reply. That was an excuse he might have accepted.
    'Then I fail to understand what problem exists, except in your
    stubborn little mind,' he said. He was frowning again. 'You saw how
    Nicos was last night. It cannot be good for a small child to be so
    deeply disturbed.'
    'And I can't see how my going to Greece with you would improve