The Tycoon's Rebel Bride (The Anetakis Tycoons #2)(50)

Theron looked sharply at him. “What?”

“This morning, Isabella was on the beach early. I found her on the other side of the patio, visibly upset by something she’d overheard in your conversation with Chrysander and Marley. She begged me not to say anything. She said she didn’t want you to feel any worse.”

Theron closed his eyes as he remembered waxing on about what he wanted. When what he wanted had been in front of his nose all along.

“I’m a damn fool,” he muttered.

“No arguments here,” Piers said with a wry smile. “The question is, what are you going to do to get her back?”

Isabella hadn’t considered the repercussions of landing a helicopter on the estate of what appeared to be an extremely wealthy, Greek family. As soon as they settled on the ground, they were surrounded by a dozen security guards. All carrying guns.

So maybe this wasn’t her best idea.

The door was wrenched open, and she found herself staring into the grim face of one of the gunmen. He barked out something in Greek, and Isabella stared helplessly back at him.

“I only speak English,” she said.

“What do you want? Why are you here?” he asked in heavily accented English.

She took a deep breath and tried not to stare at the muzzle of the gun which was precariously close to her nose.

“I’m here to see Alannis Gianopolous. It’s important.”

“Your name,” he demanded.

“Isabella Caplan.”

He lifted a small wire and released a torrent of Greek into what she assumed was a microphone. A few moments later, he lowered the gun and took a step backward.

“This way please, Ms. Caplan.”

He even reached a hand in to help her down. A few moments later, he escorted her inside the palatial estate that was situated on a cliff overlooking the ocean. In any other circumstance, she would have spared a moment of envy for such a gorgeous place.

“Isabella, my dear!” Sophia exclaimed as soon as Isabella was inside. She took hold of Isabella and kissed her on either cheek. “What on earth are you doing here? And where is Theron?”

Isabella looked down for a moment and then back up at the older woman. “I need to speak with Alannis. It’s very important.”

Sophia frowned slightly, concern filling her eyes. “Of course. Is everything all right?”

Isabella offered her a shaky smile. “No, but it will be.”

“Wait here. I’ll get Alannis for you,” Sophia said.

Isabella walked to the huge glass window that overlooked the steep drop-off to the ocean. Alannis even lived in a perfect spot. Close to Chrysander and Marley. They could all be one big, happy family after Alannis married Theron.

“Isabella?” Alannis’s soft voice filled the room.

Isabella turned to see the other girl staring at her, clear confusion written in her dark eyes.

“Mama said you wanted to see me.”

Isabella gathered her courage and crossed the room to stand in front of Alannis.

“I came to apologize and to right a wrong.”

Alannis frowned harder. “I don’t understand.”

Isabella took a deep breath. “I set out to break up you and Theron. I knew he wanted to marry you, but I’ve been in love with him forever, and I wanted him. I never stopped to think about what he wanted or that I was hurting two people in the process. You and him.”

“But—” Alannis began.

“He wants to marry you,” Isabella continued on, cutting her off. “You’re who he wants. Go to him, Alannis. The helicopter is waiting to take you to the island. He’ll be glad to see you. I’ve ended things with him. I gave him back his ring. Make sure he gives you a different one. You deserve a fresh start. One not tainted by me. Make him do it right, with all the romance and fuss you deserve.”

Tears filled Isabella’s eyes again. “I’m sorry I hurt you,” she said. “I hope you’ll be happy.”

She turned to walk back out of the house.

“Isabella, wait,” Alannis called. “You don’t understand.”

All Isabella understood is that if she didn’t get out soon, she was going to come completely unraveled. She just prayed the taxi would be waiting as she’d arranged.

“Please show me out,” she choked out to the security guard who’d escorted her inside. “I have a taxi waiting out front.”

As soon as the guard opened the front door, Isabella hurried down the drive toward the wrought iron gate. They opened automatically as she neared, and to her relief, a taxi waited outside on the street.

“The airport,” she said as she climbed in. As she pulled away, she saw Alannis waving to her to stop. Isabella ignored her, turning away.

No one had ever told her doing the right thing would hurt so much.

“How long can it possibly take for the damn pilot to get out here?” Theron demanded as he ran his hand through his hair for the tenth time in an hour.

Frustration beat at him. He was stuck here on the island until Chrysander’s pilot could come out. Now, finally, he was supposedly on his way.

Chrysander put down the phone and turned to Theron. “Isabella’s pilot took her to the Gianopolous estate.”

Theron stared at him in utter confusion. “Why on earth would she have gone to see Alannis? I had no idea she even knew where she lived.”