Eva Snow’s P.O.V.

I stared at the name on the shining golden billboard infront of the huge large skyscraper building my pulse racing faster than the speed of light...

No matter how I try to calm my nerves, I could feel my insides turn to jelly, my head spinning like it's been hit and yet I still can’t calm it. Even my breathing becomes uneven as I start to feel uncomfortable and nervous, infact am currently having a mini panic attack.

I glanced around the building as I managed to move my feet again to walk, it wasn't hard for me find him, but going to see him seems to be the most diffcult thing have ever done in my life...

Staring at the word “Patrakis Industries” labeled on the top of the building again. I quickly move into the company, banishing any sense of fear and doubt...

I can do this!

The bay of the elevator lifts behind me was packed and full of people coming and going in constantly so I turned towards one, saw the upwards arrow and moved quickly into it, my fingers unsteady as I pressed the button for the top floor. It wasn’t just the nerves that has my body in overdrive, though of course thiers also anxiety and fear too. But the main reason is the thought of seeing Vitalo again the man who has driven me wild and filled my body with a new notion of pleasure. The man who thought me how to move, feel and receive pleasure. The one who’d redefined me in countless ways and then gone on with his own life like it never happened.

He's the very man I’d sworn I wouldn’t see again after the night of our secret rendezvous. But it seems fate are having somekind of fiesta because right now am currently at his workplace, imagine how frusrated and scared I am right now because I just found out he's not just greek but also a billionaire...

With no scandal attached to his name, he known to be a cruel but honest tycoon and marriage isn't something he wants to consider in the next twenty years... Yeah you heard me right!

It's not that I came to look for him for his money or for somekind of recognition because I need to face reality too, I just think it's his right to know he has a child and he's going to be a father soon. I promised myself after finding out about the pregnancy that no one is gonna find out about the baby But here I am, nine weeks later, in the foyer of a high rise in Athens about to drop a bombshell in his lap.

I went to his company In New York City but I was told he's now working directly from the HQ in Greece, Athens . I don't know what kind of spirit that possessed me but I bought a plane ticket to come to see him and tell him about the baby ...

Knowing fully well this might end badly and I might just go back home hurt but I still took the risk because I still think he deserves to know, my hands curve protectively over my still-flat stomach, and I fought a wave of nausea that had more to do with my anxieties than the pregnancy I had only just learned about.

The elevator shot up, and my eyes banked downwards. The journey was mercilessly long, making stops on several floors before finally pinging at the building level dedicated to the CEO of Patrakis Industries. I held my breath as I stepped out of the Elevator into the lobby I felt even more nervous.

Unsurprised to find myself enveloped immediately by corporate luxury. White and black leather sofas banked against one wall, enormous, modern floral arrangements and a square desk in the centre of the high-ceilinged foyer showing four receptionists – three women and a man, all dressed in navy suits and white shirts.

Swallowing nervously I quietly approached them saying

“Hi, I’m here to see Mr Patrakis,”I say licking my dry lips..

The male secretary man looked up. “Your name?”

“Evangeline Snow”I said my full name..

“Ms Snow,” the man frowned, scanning his iPad. “Do you have an appointment with Mr Patrakis?”He asks..

I lifted my eyes to the view framed by the floor to ceiling windows, shaking my head in a small demur.

“No, I didn't But I need to speak to Mr Patrakis it’s urgent.”I reply..

The man’s expression assumed a look of discontent. “I see.” He flicked the iPad. “Mr Patrakis could see you in a few days. I can schedule you in after lunch on the eleventh or something?”He murmurs as he busies himself with something on his computer...

I was startled and a bit disappointed. The very idea that I might not be able to see him made me realize how foolish I was for a moment.

“Is there anyway I can see him, because it needs to be today,”I insisted, clearing my throat.

“It’s important.”I say ...

“Everyone who sees Mr Patrakis does so on important business,” the man pointed out. “And his schedule today is full.”He relies smartly.

“Would you just tell him that Eva Snow is here to see him?”I murmured, smiling weakly as I pleaded with him.

The receptionist stifled an irritated sigh and then nodded. “Fine. Take a seat, I'll see what I can do”He murmurs.

I cast a glance towards the sofas but shook my head. “I’d prefer to wait here.”I say..

The man shrugged and picked up the phone, speaking into it in Greek, His face was impossible to read as he spoke.

“Mr Patrakis says he can see you, but he has only Five minutes to spare before he has to leave”He replies professionally.

It then dawned on me, that he might not really remember me...

“Something like fear curdle inside of me at this clinical and cold rejection. What had I expected? Red carpet and trumpets?

Hell am a contemporary romance writer and I write about this kind of scenes so I probably should have known better!

“Thanks am good, this won’t take long,”I murmured, swallowing past the lump in my throat and straightening my spine as I tried to appear unaffected by his cold attitude.

“Good.” The receptionist stood, coming around from behind the desk and leading me towards a set of frosted glass doors towards the back of the foyer. A plaque on the front read “VITALO PATRAKIS” in all capitals, as though he needed any help announcing his importance.

The receptionist knocked once and then pushed the door inwards, stepping backwards to allow me enter. I had no time to calm my nerves anymore or time to prepare.

There stood Vitalo on the other side of the enormous office space, watching the door as though he expected a pride of lions to burst through. His body was taut, his expression stiff, his eyes watchful and mistrustful, and in that moment, I experienced a sharp moment of doubt, a tremor of something like regret.

Swallowing nervously I try to ignore the judgemental look in his eyes, this man is the father of my baby, and he deserved to know about the pregnancy. I didn’t need anything from him, but I've seen what secret babies do to people, and I know that heartbreak is an inevitable and unforgivable..

And I can't put that on my child and on myself either.

I sucked in a breath, looking at him and trying to recall the strength of the connection we’d shared that night, the way he’d kissed me and held me. I tried to remember that he was simply a man, rather than this powerful tycoon with his sky-high office, bespoke suit and hard stare.

Only it was impossible, and inside I was trembling with a whole host of emotions.

“Vitalo”I whisper as I stepped deeper into the room, pushing the door shut behind me.

He didn’t react at first. And then, with a frown pulling at his lips, and a look of consternation he then murmurs, “It’s Karen, isn’t it?”

Immediately my chest swirled with hurt and shame. He didn’t even remember my name? I was just another girl he fucked! His look showed no sign of recognition. My stomach swooped, dropping right out of my body, leaving me with a clawing sense of pain and… embarrassment. A sense of being stupid and naïve.

“Eva.”I manage to correct with my shaky breath. I swallowed, knowing I needed to get a grip on myself..

“oh.” His frown deepened. “We met… on the fundraiser benefit night right? At paris?”He says blandly...

Oh shit!

This has just gone from worse to worst!

“Lord help me”I silently pray as I faked a smile..

“No,” I shook my head my face draining of all colour my knees feeling incredibly weak.

“How many women did he sleep with?I thought as I stare at him suddenly feeling cautious.

Who else did he take home after me?”I thought angrily as I cleared my throat. “We met at my sister's wedding Mariana Snow”I reply

“Ah,” he nodded, his eyes narrowing imperceptibly. “Now I remember you're the virgin.”He says smiling...

Fuck!

Those words seems to nearly knock me out of my feet but I tried in keeping my composure and not letting his words get to me...

Which at that point in time seemed like the most diffcult task!

And that alone took everything in me!

I suddenly felt all hot and cold. Shame seems to crawl up my ass as he just threw it all in my face. The word "The virgin" meant nothing to him, and it seems as though he has a trite little phrase for each of the women he took to bed. Hell, he probably did.

“Yes, am the virgin.”I say...

“Ahhh, I believe I told you that night was a one-time thing. I’m not quite sure what you’re doing here in my office…” he let the words drift into nothing and each syllable slipped inside my nervous system, making my body tremble.

“Oh I didn't come here for a do-over, believe me,”I then snapped angrily lifting a hand to my hair and toying with the ends before realizing it was a nervous gesture, I then dropped my hand to my side and turned to face him, and the coldness of his expression almost knocked me sideways.

I knew enough of secret babies to know it wasn’t a good idea to keep such a thing from a man, and yet, as I stared at him and from the way he looks at me as though he was still trying to remember a thing about me, all the words I had come in prepared with to speak sunk back inside of me.

“Then?” He prompted, and cast a look at his watch, his impatience the nail in the coffin of the confession I wanted to make.

“It doesn’t matter,”I finally say, compressing my lips.

“I shouldn’t have come here”I whisper as it finally dawned on me...

For a second he frowned, and I thought he might try to urge me to stay, to wait with him, but then, he nodded.

“Probably not.” He walked towards the door, curving his hand over the knob, his eyes latched to mine with bland curiosity.

To my surprise, he drew the door inwards, waiting for me to step out of his office. The lack of ceremony and civility were nerve-racking shocking. My body and nerves that had been jangling all morning were now numb, or slayed, possibly for good.

I looked into his eyes, the eyes of the man who’d taken away my virginity, the man who would be the father to my child, and all I felt was just the coldness and the bare burnt consequences of my stupid reckless action..

I managed to walk out of his office with my pride and ego shattered in pieces. He barely even said a full sentence to me but I could already read all what he thinks of me...