The Greek's Green Card Bride - A Billionaire Romance Read online

  She heard Nikki close the driver’s-side door.

  Prison, she thought as she looked up at the courthouse. Am I going to spend my thirties in jail? Her knees felt weak.

  “Do you know where we have to go?” Nikki asked as she joined Eva on the sidewalk. Then she added, “Hey, you don’t look so good. You okay?”

  Eva gripped her friend for stability. “I just feel a little bit funny,” she said weakly. Facing jail time will do that to you, she thought. “My lawyer said I have to be in Courtroom C on the eighth street side of the building.”

  Nikki pointed to the left. “That’s eighth street over there,” she said. She looked down at her phone. “We’re an hour early, at least. We have plenty of time to find it.”

  They headed left and walked in silence. Eva kept her head down and her lips pressed together. She was afraid that if she started speaking about her fears for the future out loud, she would start crying. She didn’t want to cry. That would only make her eyes bloodshot and puffy. The tears would mess up the brown mascara and subtle eyeliner that she’d applied that morning.

  “Dress conservatively,” the lawyer she’d met with once, two days before, had told her. His office smelled of fried fish, and his hands were greasy when she shook them. “I’m talking a button-up blouse, a skirt that hits your knees, and close-toed shoes. Wear your hair down and put some makeup on. Nothing too dark. Go for sweet and feminine.”

  Eva had pointed to the pile of papers she’d brought with her, which now sat on the greasy-handed lawyer’s desk. “What about these bank statements—do you think these will help my case? I want to prove that I didn’t commit identity fraud for personal gain. I think my bank records will show my spending history, and…” Her voice had trailed off as the lawyer pulled a plastic bottle of antacids from the top drawer of his desk and started popping them like candy.

  “Sure, sure,” he said dismissively. “I’m going to look through them. Now back to your appearance. We’re going for feminine. I’ve found that most of my successes in court have happened when my client is dressed that way. Hair down, I’m telling you.”

  Nikki spoke, then, pulling Eva back to the present moment.

  “There’s an entrance,” she said, pointing to a set of double doors on the side of the building. “Gosh, this place is huge. Is your lawyer going to meet us in the courtroom?”

  “I think he said he’d be in the hallway,” Eva said flatly. She followed her friend up the walk toward the double doors. “I have to tell you, Nik, my meeting with him didn’t inspire confidence. He doesn’t have a great record, and I got the impression that his wins happen due to how his client is dressed, not his actual skill at presenting the case.”

  “Well, you can afford him,” Nikki said. She pulled open one of the heavy glass doors and then held it for Eva.

  “Barely,” Eva said.

  “I think if today doesn’t go well, there will be another chance to try again,” Nikki said. “This is just the initial hearing, right? Didn’t your lawyer go over it with you?”

  “He didn’t go over anything with me, except what color eyeshadow to wear.”

  They crossed the lobby that they’d stepped into. A second set of doors led to a wide hallway. On one side of the hall was a plaque with the list of room names. Courtrooms A, B, C, and all the way to L, were stretched out along the corridor.

  “We should be somewhere down here,” Nikki said.

  Eva peered down the hall. It was so big that it made her feel like an ant. It was lined with chairs. About a third of the way down the hallway, a section of the chairs were all occupied by professional-looking people. Several had their laptops open, while others leafed through stacks of manila envelopes, and a few others spoke to each other in low tones.

  “Looks like some big shot must be in Courtroom C along with us,” Nikki said as they neared the occupied seats.

  “Why do you think that?” Eva asked.

  “Look at all these lawyers,” Nikki said, her tone a whisper as they were nearer now and in hearing distance. “And they look like they’re all getting ready for one case.”

  As soon as she said this, her theory was confirmed. One of the lawyers, a man with deeply tanned, weathered skin, bright blue eyes and white hair, stood up. He spoke to the rest of the people who were sitting down. “Tamra and Klein, I need your notes for the opening statement. Alex—did you find the notes on Shale versus Connecticut that I asked for?” He said all of this with a warm smile on his face and an air of confidence about him.

  For a brief moment, Eva allowed herself to imagine what it would feel like to know that a man with so much composure was representing her. How different that would be, she thought glumly.

  Nikki whispered in Eva’s ear. “This must be some really big deal. Look at these guys work! They really do look like they’re going to be in Courtroom C, don’t they?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure there are several hearings this morning, all stacked together,” Eva said. “It’s probably a more efficient use of the judge’s time.”

  A doorway down the hall opened, and people fanned out into the hallway, talking among themselves. Eva and Nikki moved toward the wall so that they were out of the way.

  Twenty minutes passed, and Eva felt more and more nervous by the minute. Though her knees still felt weak, she was too anxious to sit. She pulled at the hemline of the pale pink blouse that she’d picked out of her closet. She remembered buying it for her job interview at The Red Door Grille.

  “Where is my lawyer?” she said as she checked the time on her phone. A half hour had passed since she and Nikki arrived.

  Nikki excused herself to go use the bathroom. Eva pulled a water bottle from her purse and was taking a sip when she saw a woman approaching. The woman looked as if she was in her early twenties. Her hair formed a frizzy halo around her head, and she had a coffee stain on her rumpled blazer.

  “Eva?” she said, in a faint whisper, once she was just a few feet away. “Are you Eva?”

  “That’s me,” Eva said.

  “I’m Melissa Karp. I work for Herschman and Johnson.”

  It took a moment for Eva to realize that was the law firm of the lawyer she’d hired.

  “They sent me to represent you today,” the woman continued. She pulled out a thin file folder from her bag and peered at it for a moment. “You’re here on identity fraud charges, is that right?”

  Eva swallowed dryly. A sinking feeling welled up in her body.

  The woman rubbed her hands against the thighs of her khakis, which bunched up at the waist. “Oh dear,” she said. “Sweaty palms… this always happens to me before public speaking.”

  “You have been to court before, haven’t you?” Eva asked.

  The woman grinned awkwardly. “This will be a first.”

  “Great,” Eva whispered to herself.

  Just then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a figure walking with a familiar stride—head held high, shoulders back, as if he owned the place. She got an impression of a dark head of hair, bronzed skin, and a designer suit.

  No.

  It couldn’t be Dimitris.

  She hadn’t heard from him since he’d dropped her off at her apartment, and she had assumed that was deliberate.

  I caused so many problems for him, she thought. I can’t blame him for dropping me like a hot potato.

  She resigned herself to the fact that the figure she’d seen surely wasn’t Dimitris, but chanced a direct look in his direction anyway.

  Her heart fluttered when she saw that it was Dimitris, and he was walking toward her with a smile on his face. He neared, and she saw that his eyes were twinkling, in the very same playful, self-aware way that they had before he showed her the penthouse he’d purchased.

  Like life is a wonderful game, she thought, her heart swelling with hope.

  “Good, you’re early,” he said as he neared. “I have a surprise for you.”

  “You do?” she asked.

  The
frizzy-haired woman began pulling at her curls. “Oh dear, I forgot to brush. If you’ll excuse me…” She murmured something unintelligible, and then darted off down the hallway.

  Dimitris continued without missing a beat. “I think you’re going to like it,” he said. “I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch for the past few days, but there was so much work to be done. I also worried that you might refuse the help.” He gave her a wink.

  “The help?” she said, confused. Her breath became shallower as she took this in, and her heart beat faster in her chest.

  Dimitris is here! she thought with excitement. He hasn’t called because he’s been busy with a surprise for me—not because he wants nothing to do with me!

  She felt as though her world had just suddenly been flipped upside down. Where once there was a gloomy sense of aloneness and loss, she now sensed the presence of hope and light.

  Maybe there’s a chance that we can get through this! she thought, and her heart swelled with excitement.

  Dimitris spoke up. “Eva, meet Stavros Pappas, one of the best lawyers in the world. The best, in my humble opinion.”

  Eva was breathless as she watched the man with the snow-white hair, tanned skin, and kind smile stand up. He swiveled around and laughed.

  “Oh! So you’re Eva! Wonderful. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.” He walked forward and extended his palm. His handshake was firm and warm, and he held her gaze the entire time.

  “My team and I are looking forward to representing you,” he said. “The prosecutor won’t know what hit him. We’ll have this mess cleared up in no time. You’ve done nothing wrong.” He gave her a wink, and Eva suddenly knew where Dimitris got his fondness for winking from.

  Dimitris looped an arm over Stavros’s broad shoulders and then patted him on the chest. “This guy knows what he’s talking about,” Dimitris told Eva. “If he says it, you can believe it. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that he has a whole team working with him.”

  Stavros laughed. “There’s no such thing as being over-prepared! We’ve examined every angle of this thing. I feel like a boxer, getting ready to go into the ring.” He truly looked excited.

  Eva felt dazed and slightly giddy. If this magnificent, talented, experienced team was representing her, maybe she had hope after all!

  Just then the double doors to her left opened, and a bailiff stepped out. He called out instructions, including the fact that Eva was to enter and sit at a specific table. She followed the orders and found herself seated at the front of the room, with Stavros and a lawyer from his team.

  Beneath the table, her foot tapped with nervous energy. Even with a team of the best lawyers money could buy, she had to accept the fact that her fate was uncertain. There was still a chance that the judge could sentence her to jail.

  Her table faced a long podium that had little stands on either side of it, and several microphones attached to the surface. Behind her, a dozen rows of seating curved around the room in a horseshoe shape. She could sense Dimitris, seated in the front row next to Nikki. His presence comforted her.

  He’s here, she thought as the judge took his seat. He came here for me. I’m not alone.

  For the next two hours, Eva listened as her lawyers presented her story. For each argument that the prosecution brought up, they had a counterpoint. It was clear that they’d done their research.

  As the hearing progressed, Eva felt more and more optimistic. Stavros was a master of his craft. When he spoke, she sensed everyone in the room relax slightly, and begin to see the world through his eyes. His arguments were convincing, and Eva even found herself becoming more aware of her innocence.

  The words that Stavros had spoken out in the hallway began to ring true for her. I’ve done nothing really wrong, she thought to herself with certainty. Nothing worthy of being sent to prison for, anyway. I’m not a criminal. I don’t need to be removed from society!

  Finally, the judge gave his ruling: Eva was found guilty of using falsified documents and ordered to pay a fine of a thousand dollars, plus court costs.

  “A fine,” Eva repeated in a whisper, then she reached her trembling hands up and held them over her mouth. “That’s all—a fine…” Tears sprang up in her eyes.

  I don’t have to go to jail! she thought.

  All around her, people sprang into motion. Stavros patted her back and congratulated her warmly. Conversation buzzed in the courtroom as the audience reacted to the ruling, and Stavros heartily congratulated his team.

  Eva felt as though she was floating as she stood up. Nikki ran to her, laughing and hugging her tightly. Eva hugged her back and thanked her best friend for being there for her.

  Finally, Nikki released her. “I think there’s someone else that wants to congratulate you,” she said after looking over her shoulder, and then stepped aside.

  Eva smiled at the man who’d come to her rescue.

  “Thank you,” she said, as Dimitris walked up to her with open arms. She accepted the hug he offered, and she felt his hand on the back of her head. He stroked her hair and held her tight.

  “You’re free!” he said as they parted.

  “Free,” she repeated. A layer of tears blurred her vision. “I can’t believe it. This morning I was so sure that I was going to go to prison.”

  “We couldn’t have that,” he said. He looked into her eyes. “Of course, I would have visited you there, but I much prefer to visit you at your apartment. I’m hoping you’re going to bake more of those blueberry muffins.”

  “You are?” she said. She knew then that they were talking about more than just friendly visits for the sake of eating baked goods. Dimitris was talking about their relationship. Not the one that they’d developed on paper, but the real one—the one that had blossomed the moment they met.

  He nodded. “Yes,” he said sincerely. “And I’m hoping maybe you’ll come see my home in Greece, too. I think you’ll love it. It’s by the ocean, you know.”

  “I love the ocean,” she said dreamily.

  “I know you do.”

  He stepped in closer and reached for her hand, his eyes burning into her as he said, “I’m sorry for everything I did wrong… all the mistakes I’ve made. Eva, the truth is, I knew how I felt about you when I first met you, when you were buying lemonade on the wharf. I was so used to caring only about my work—used to putting it first. And I let that cloud my instincts. I’m sorry for how messy everything got.”

  Eva swallowed. “You… you knew how you felt about me?” she said.

  Dimitris grinned and nodded. “I knew that I loved you,” he said. “I knew in an instant.”

  Eva felt a smile unfold on her lips. She responded to his words without hesitation. “I knew, too,” she said with a nod. “I actually knew before I saw you at the drink stand. I was walking down an alley with Nikki, and we saw you changing into a T-shirt.”

  He laughed. “You saw that?”

  Eva laughed, too. It was strange, crying with relief and laughing at the same time.

  She nodded. “Yeah, we did,” she said. “And I had this feeling in that moment when I looked at you. I remember it so clearly—like something good was about to happen in my life. Something amazing. I’d never felt like that before.” Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked at Dimitris.

  “And I think something amazing has happened,” Dimitris said. “We fell in love.”

  “We did,” Eva said with a quiet laugh. It didn’t matter that they were in a stuffy courtroom with so many people around. She felt as though she and Dimitris were the only two people in the room. She searched his eyes. “But what about the sale you were working on with the government?” she asked. “Did it fall through?”

  He nodded.

  “I’m so sorry,” Eva said.

  Dimitris stepped in closer and ran his thumb gently down the side of her cheek. “You want to know what? It doesn’t even matter to me. I don’t care about that sale. All this time, I was so blind to what was right in front of me.
The real treasure… see?”

  She loved his accent. His gentle, deep, quiet tone made her melt with pleasure. His touch was soft as he caressed her skin.

  He went on. “Eva, your love is worth so much more to me than any business contract.” Then he leaned down, slowly.

  Eva closed her eyes and felt his warm lips against hers. She could taste the salt of her tears mingling with the flavor of his kiss.

  He pulled away, just enough to whisper words that only she could hear. “I love you, Eva,” he said.

  “I love you,” she responded, before their lips met again.

  When they parted, she spoke. “My whole life, I’ve felt so unsettled and alone. I felt like I was waiting for something… like my life was on hold and hadn’t really started yet. But when I met you, that feeling went away. I think… I think all that time, I was waiting for you.”

  “I’m here,” he said. “I’m right here.”

  He kissed her again. Eva’s heart felt so full, as though she finally had everything she’d ever wanted. She knew that there were still details to work out, with regard to her identity and her relationship to her father. She’d lost her gallery in New York City, and she still wasn’t sure how to go about opening a new one. But at that moment, none of that mattered.

  With Dimitris at my side, I can handle anything, she thought, as he took her hand and together, they left the courtroom.

  Epilogue

  A Year Later: Eva

  “Are you ready?” Nikki asked as she and Eva hovered at the edge of the gathering on the beach. The sand was pale, almost white, and aquamarine waves lapped at the shore.

  “So ready,” Eva said confidently. The breeze pulled at her white gown. She lifted the gown’s skirt to keep it from trailing in the sand as she peered at the figures in the crowd, searching for the woman who had helped her and Dimitris plan their vow renewal ceremony. Leena was going to give Eva a signal when she was supposed to approach and walk down the sandy aisle. Eva couldn’t see her, so she kept scanning.