Chapter 2

" I would need proof of your engagement to Ms. Rewis. " - Simon

" Of course. " - Yuri said politely, cutting the doctor off.

Taking out a business card from his wallet, he handed it to the older man.

" It's the law firm the late Mrs. Rewis, Kathryn and I have employed to formalize our engagement and upcoming wedding. " - Yuri, added.

Simon's heart sank when he saw the name embossed on the card. It was indeed the law firm the Rewis family used, and the lawyer's name was also one he was acquainted it.

" You are aware of Ms. Rewis condition, of course? " - Simon, tried another tactic for not to be defeated.

He tried not to flush in discomfiture when the younger man raised a brow at his question, the simple gesture conveying just the right amount of courteous disapproval. It made the doctor feel like he had overstepped the line, and his dislike of Yuri Daniel Athanas increased.

" I have been employed by the late Mrs. Rewis as Kathryn's doctor.. " - Simon, said defensively.

" Perhaps.. " - Yuri said very gently.

" What you mean is that you have been employed as Kristina Rewis physician and not Kathryn's herself. " - Yuri, added.

During his flight to Greece, Yuri had made use of his time wisely, gathering as much information as he could on how the Rewis family had gotten on in the past four years.

" It's almost the same. " - Simon, was saying sullenly.

" No, Dr. Corba. It's not. " - Yuri managed to keep his contempt from his voice in the same gentle tone.

This man was a bully, but like all bullies, they were weak, timidly, and cowardly inside. He had a hard time accepting that someone as naturally intelligent as Kathryn Ice couldn't see that for herself.

Simon wanted to argue the point, but his cowardice got the better of him at hearing the note of warning in Yuri's tone. It finally dawned on him that, boy or not, Yuri was the typical alpha Greek male.

Since the boy considered himself responsible for the Rewis heiress, challenging his authority would be the quickest way to failure. For now, Simon decided, it would be best a strategic retreat.

" You're right, Mr. Athanas. I apologize for misspeaking. " - Simon, pinning a humble smile on his face.

Yuri only nodded.

" I can only say in my defense that being Mrs. Rewis' doctor for the past year had made me concerned about her granddaughter as well. " - Simon sent a questioning glance to Yuri.

" But you do know about her condition? " - Simon added, clearing his throat, acted like the next words pained him to speak.

" She isn't all right in the head." - Simon, added again.

" You must exercise greater care with your words, Dr. Corba. I'm sure you didn't mean to imply that my fiancée is in any way insane. " - Yuri, paused.

" Did you? "- Yuri, was a threat.

" Not at all, Mr. Athanas. " - Simon said quickly.

But inside him, his hatred festered, an emotion that allowed him to remain blind to the fact that it was really his own cowardice.

" Again, I only speak out of my great concern for Mrs. Rewis daughter. She's a very, ah, different person and I only care about her well-being. It would be better, " - Simon said hopefully.

" If she were to pass her mourning period in our clinic --- " - Simon forced himself to stop when Yuri shook his head.

" If Kristina Rewis had wanted her grandmother in the care of medical professionals, " - Yuri said quietly.

" That would have happened years ago. " - Yuri, added.

Simon swallowed his disappointment as he realized that there was nothing else he could do.

" I understand. " - Simon, hesitated.

" Perhaps, I may call on you or Ms. Rewis from time to time, just to ensure she is not suffering from post-traumatic shock caused by her grandmother's death. " - Simon, added.

Yuri frowned. There was something about the doctor he didn't quite trust. Then again, this might only be because such timidity was scarce among the Alcolytes Triad.

" You may call me. " - Yuri said finally.

And that meant Simon was only to direct his calls to Yuri Daniel Athanas but not Kathryn Ice Rewis herself. The unspoken words were made evident by the way Yuri gazed at him, the pleasant smile on the boy's face sending an unwanted shiver down the doctor's spine.

Simon Corba had left over half an hour ago by the time Yuri heard footsteps descending from the grand staircase. He turned around and was treated to his third major shock in recent days.

Kathryn Ice Rewis stood at the foot of the stairs, fresh magnolia pinned on her ebony hair, her body draped in a long dark violet cotton dress and her feet strapped in bronze-colored Valentino sandals. Flanking each side of her was an extra-large monogrammed Louis Vuitton suitcase.

" I will go with you now. " - Kathy said in her usual calm voice.

" I see. " - Yuri said.

He would have laughed ot loud if he weren't so stunned at how fast things were moving. 'Just like that', Yuri thought incredulously. They hadn't seen each other for four years. They barely knew each other, and just like that, she wanted to go with him.

" Where do you want us to go? " - Yuri asked softly.

" To your home in America, of course. " - Kathy's head cocked to the side, and her tone was faintly quizzical when she answered.

" Of course. " - Yuri heard himself answered even though inside he knew there was no 'Of course' about what she wanted.

When he reached her luggage, she shook her head and placed her hand in his instead. Then she made Yuri take the handle of one trolley with his other hand while she took hold of the second one.

" This is how we should walk, shouldn't we? " - Kathy looked up to Yuri, asking gravely.

" According to?.. " - Yuri was half amused and half exasperated.

" The Internet. " - Kathy answered simply.

" Ah. " - Yuri

He remembered Kristina telling him how Kathy believed everything on the internet to be true, leading the matriarch to implement parental controls on all the computers, gadgets and TV's in their home.

One of these days, he needed to have a talk with Kathy about the internet. But for now, Yuri decided he should go along. It would be less tiring for both of them.

" We should do whatever we feels right. " - Yuri, said finally.

" This feels right. " - Kathy softly answered.

Yuri's heart clenched, knowing that from someone who had suffered as much Kathy had, the words were more than a stranger like him deserved.

" Then we'll hold hands. " - Yuri said quietly.

And so they did. When they were inside the limousine, Kathy choosing to sit beside him.

" You're not afraid? " - Yuri asked.

She shook her head.

" Why? " - Yuri, added.

He felt he had to ask, if only to make sure that he would keep doing whatever it was that had taken away her fear. A quizzical expression touched Kathy's exquisite face, and her tone was suprised as she replied.

" Because you said you love me. " - Kathy

Whenever tabloids feautured officers of the Alcolytes, the headlines typically varied but the gist of them remained the same. Helios Jake Andreadis was the hotheaded sun god. Kellion Mico Argyros the charmingly wicked playboy. Leandro Paul Christopoulos a college university owner, hot smart guy. And Andreus Fin Economou the mysterious and dangerous bad boy. Each had his own vice, which the media love to exaggerate for the club's adoring, obsessed fans.

But with Yuri Daniel Athanas, if was different. The paparazzi had long given up on trying to dig out any dirt on the club's current vice president and instead delighted in speculating what kind of girl would eventually capture the Greek bachelor's heart.

Some thought that no lesr than a princess would do for the club's lone angel, who was also known for his old-fashioned and conservative ways. Others believed that Yuri Daniel Athanas would remain elusive until he was as old as George Clooney and, also like the actor, find someone who had both brains and beauty. The more cynical, however, believed Yuri was just like any other rich young man and would eventually fall for a trashy sex symbol. Naturally none of their conjectures was close to the truth.

" Is that your girlfriend, Mr. Athanas? " - reporter 1

" Give us a smile, beautiful! " - reporter 2

" Where you guys going?!!! " - reporter 3

All the shouting and rapid fire questioning would have disturbed Kathy if not for the way Yuri's hand tightened around hers. It gave her a sense of peace and safety. She relaxed immediately when Yuri murmured to her.

" Don't mind them, I'll protect you. " - Yuri

If Yuri said so, she thought, it must be true. Although Yuri had taken steps to mislead the paparazzi, a small number had still decided to leave nothing to chance by camping out in Athen's airpos, and they had gotten their reward when, for the first time since Yuri had risen to fame, the Alcolytes scandal-free vice president stepped out of the limousine with a girl in tow.

In minutes, their numbers swelled by the dozens, and Yuri's jaw clenched. It was a rare display of temper, and the sight whipped the crowd into an excited frenzy.

" Give us a kiss, Yuri! " - fangirl 1

" Look at the camera, you guys! " - fangirl 2

Even with airport security helping his bodyguards to ensure their privacy, the aggressive jostling amongst the reporters and their cameraman forced Yuri to pull Kathy closer towards him.

" Keep your head down. " Yuri ordered under his breath.

Kathy obeyed the command automatically. Her grandmother had warned her this would happen once the world found out she was Yuri's beloved girl. Many people are fascinated with Yuri Daniel Athanas because he's part of a very famous group. Kristina Rewis had explained to her. Many of them will lie to you about Yuri, but you mustn't believed them. You mustn't trust them, mustn't even listen to them. The only thing that matters, Kristina had said gravely, was what the people you love is telling you.

Even as the furor around them made Kathy's chest tighten, she sought to calm herself, not wishing to worry the man beside her. They walked with both their heads down, Kathy pressing close to Yuri, her innocent mind completely unaware that doing so had triggered a completely unexpected reaction. What the hell was happening to him?

Yuri's teeth clenched at the way his body suddenly stirred in hyper awareness of Kathy's soft curves. While he hadn't played the field as much as his friends had, he was far from being inexperienced. Control over his sexual needs had never been a problem or atleast it hadn't been until Kathy suddenly looked up to him.

" Yuri? " - Kathy's furrowed in concern.

" It's nothing. " - Yuri's fighting to keep his face blank and shook his head.

The noise from paparazzi faded as they went past immigration, replaced by the low, steady burr coming from the jets parked at the Hangar's private section. With no one to bother them from this point, Yuri carefully set Kathy away from him, needing to put as much distance between them.

'He must have been celibate far too long', Yuri told himself. God knew when was the last time he had even jerked himself off...

" Yuri? " - Kathy asked.

" Yes? " - Yuri glancing back to Kathy. And he was surprised at the faintly troubled expression on her face.

" Did I do something to displease you? " - Kathy had sensed his withdrawal from her.

Yuri realized with sudden insight. It was beginning to be clear to him that he had a lot more to understand about Kathy, things that hadn't found its way on his detectives report. Resolving to be more careful in the way he reacted around Kathy, he only had a moments hesitation before slowly taking hold of her hand.

" There's little you can do or say that will displease me, Kathy. " - Yuri kept his gaze on her so she would see that he wasn't lying.

" I was worried. " - Kathy troubled expression dissappeared from her face. Her fingers twined with his as she spoke.

Too sweet, he thought. He had to be careful with Kathryn Ice Rewis. He had to make sure she never realized that the man who had promised to love her didn't have a heart.

The plane had been airborne for almost an hour by the time Yuri went back to the lobby, where Kathy was supposed to be but wasn't. He raised a brow at the stewardess.

" Where she always is. " - Brendalyn (the stewardess), she answered with a fond smile.

" The kitchen? " - Yuri, asked

" As always, Mr. Athanas " - Brendalyn smile turned into a grin.

And the rest of cabin crew, all employed by the Rewis' law firm-grinned too. He realized then that the staff was inordinately fond of his fianceé, a rarity among those in the employ of most heiresses he knew of.

" How long have you been serving the Rewis family, Brenda? " - Yuri asked to her

Brenda flushed with pleasure at Yuri's use of her name. She knew that he had only known it because of her name plate, but even so most other wealthy people she knew wouldn't have bothered to do the same.

It only shows that the late Mrs. Rewis had made the right choice. Brenda thought. This young man was indeed the right one to take care Katherine Ice. Wishing to be as much help to her new employer.

" I've been with the family since I completed my training so about... Ten years. Practically everyone here has been employed by the Rewis' for just as long. " - Brenda, answered politely.

" I see. " - Yuri paused and studied the faces around him.

" Then I'm assuming that you are all sufficiently cognizant of Kathryn's special circumtances? " - Yuri added.

" We were there when she was rescued. " - Brenda smile dimmed.

Even now, she had to repress a shudder at the memories, and she hurriedly changed the subject.

" If there's anything we can do to help you... " - Brenda, added.

" You have nothing to worry about. I don't consider your offer of help presumptuous. My first priority is Ms. Rewis' wellbeing, and as such I'd appreciate anything that could help me understand her better. " - Yuri said gently, correctly guessing the reason for her hesitation.

" You have nothing to worry about us, Sir. Although we've also had to sign a non-disclosure before working for the Rewis' all of us are greatly fond of Ms. Kathryn Ice. It would be our greatest joy to help her in any way. " - Brenda's eyes relief shone.

" I'm glad to hear that since you all no doubt know my fianceé better than I do at the moment." - Yuri's smile was wry.

" Well, she loves food a lot, " - Brenda paused, murmured thoughtfully.

" She loves to prepare those cute lunchboxes for people she likes. " - Brenda, added.

" And for the people she don't like? " - Yuri, asked. While Brenda frowned.

" I don't think we've ever seen Ms. Kathryn Ice dislike anyone, " - Ned Luis Cervañes (the bartender) volunteered answer.

" But she gets extremely upset when she sees leftovers on people's plates. " - Ned, added.