Charlotte's POV

As soon as Alexis and I walked into the living room, an elegant woman greeted us warmly. Alexis told me his mother was in his early fifties, but she looked younger. She was beautiful and sophisticated, and when she smiled, it reminded me of Alexis' smile. However, as an appearance he looked like his father: his eye colour, his penetrating gaze, hair colour and other features.

"Mom, let me introduce Charlotte to you." Alexis said firmly, resting his hand on my lower back. "And this is my mother, Anastasia."

"Nice to meet you, honey." She gave me a brilliant smile as she approached me and hugged me.

"Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Sta...."

"Just call me Anastasia." She cut me off and gave me a friendly look. I smiled, nodding. "I looked forward to meeting you. You are so pretty."

"Thank you so much." I gave her a shy smile.

Afterwards, she approached Alexis and hugged him, saying something in Greek. He smiled, hugging her back, and looked at me tenderly.

I was listening to Anastasia while she was telling me about Alexis' childhood adventures. I guessed Alexis was a real troublemaker when he was a child after hearing about his childhood.

"That is enough, Mom!" He stood up abruptly as his mother wanted to tell me what he did in school when he was a teenager. "Charlotte must be tired. It will be better if we rest." He added firmly, grabbing my hand, and pulled me, making me stand up.

"Oh, I am sorry, honey. I kept you late." She gave me an apologetic look.

"No, don't worry. I had a good time. And it was fun to hear about Alexis' adventures." I smiled warmly and gave Alexis a mischievous smirk. He rolled his eyes.

"The maid prepared your room." His mother informed politely.

"Which guest room?" Alexis asked, still holding my hand.

"Guest room? No, I ordered the maid to prepare your room, of course."

"We will stay in the same room?!" Alexis and I exclaimed in unison. I gulped nervously and looked at Alexis.

Staying in the same room with this Devil?

No! Definitely no!

Alexis cleared his throat and suggested uneasily. "Mom, she can use the guest room near my room. It is spacious and has a beautiful view."

"My boy, even your grandpa would guess you two share the same bed. Do you think I am that  much naive? We know very well that the youths prefer to stay in the same room as much as possible nowadays." She said in amusement. "Sweet dreams." She added warmly.

"Sweet dreams." Alexis and I said in unison, making her chuckle.

Alexis released my hand as we walked into his room. I looked around nervously while he closed the door behind him.

I tried to ignore my pounding heart and focused on the interior design of the room. It was decorated in dark gray and cream tones. There were a few abstract paintings on the walls.

"You may sleep on the bed. I will take the couch. But we have to be careful that no one understands it." Alexis commented, placing his hand in his pocket.

"Are you sure? Won't you be uncomfortable on the couch?" I asked, concerned.

"Yes, most probably it will be. Do you have another suggestion?" He asked huskily and ran his tongue over his lower lip.

"No. I was just being polite." I commented cockily.

He burst out laughing. "Don't worry, koukla mou."

I frowned and asked. "What does it mean? You called me like this before as well."

He gave me a devilish grin and approached me. I bit my lower lip nervously as he closed the distance between us; there were a few inches between our lips. He leaned towards my ear while my nostrils filled his masculine scent.

"Find yourself." He whispered in my ear arrogantly and pulled back, giving me a sly smirk.

"Asshole!" I narrowed my eyes and folded my arms over my chest.

"Watch your pretty mouth, koukla mou!" He said mischievously, emphasizing the words 'koukla mou'.

"If I don't?" I asked cockily and rolled my eyes.

"I should punish you then." He replied huskily and looked at the bed, smirking as his blue eyes darkened.

"No, the bed is mine till I stay here. I won't sleep on the couch." I protested hotly.

He chuckled in amusement. "You can be sure it never occurred to my mind." He said hoarsely.

"What did you mean then?" I frowned.

He cupped my chin and looked into my eyes. "I will leave it to your imagination." Alexis replied seductively, his gaze intense.

I gulped nervously while my heart started beating faster as I understood what he implied. He grinned mischievously and walked towards the bathroom, leaving me in astonishment.

***

I was playing with the hem of my dress nervously while Alexis and I were waiting for his grandfather at his luxurious mansion. It had been fifteen minutes since we arrived, but Alexis' grandpa hadn't come. The maid informed us that Mr. Stavros was talking on the phone right now, and he asked us to wait for him in the living room.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm down, and decided to look at the paintings and statues. The mansion looked like a museum.

"Welcome." Alexis and I stood up instantly as we heard an authoritative voice coming from behind.

I gulped nervously and stood closer to Alexis as we faced his grandfather, greeting him politely. Despite the fact he was in his early seventies, he was in good shape and looked younger than his age. Alexis resembled his grandfather closely.

Alexis cleared his throat and rested his hand on my lower back as his grandfather approached us.

"I would like you to meet my girlfriend, Charlotte Wright, Grandpa." Alexis stated firmly, looking at his grandfather. Then he turned his gaze from him to me and added. "And this is Elias Stavros."

His grandfather looked at me with an intimidating look, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Nice to meet you, sir." I gave him a polite smile.

He nodded, still looking at me, making me uncomfortable under his gaze, and gestured to us to sit down.

"So how long have you been dating?" He asked firmly, looking at me.

"A month, sir." I replied softly.

"How did you two meet?" He asked, leaning back against the couch.

"We met in the meeting at the agency when we found out that we were co-partners." I replied politely.

"Actually, I saw Charlotte a few years ago when I was in Mykonos." Alexis intervened, entwining our hands. "She took my breath away as soon as my eyes laid on her." He added huskily, looking into my eyes, and placed a soft kiss on top of my hand. "However, I couldn't talk to her because I had to leave urgently. Fortunately, I saw her again, but this time, I wouldn't let her go." He confessed and gave me his charming smile, full of love and affection in his eyes.

I looked at him, surprised. If I didn't know he told this lie to add romanticism into our lie to convince his grandfather, I would believe him. He looked so sincere.

"Hmm... interesting. It seems you are destined. Huh?" Elias commented, interrupting my thoughts.

I turned my gaze from Alexis to him and smiled shyly.

"You are a model, aren't you?" He asked with a stoic expression, changing the subjects.

"Yes, sir."

"Does Alex intervene in your photoshoots? What campaign should you accept or not?" He asked in curiosity.

"No, he doesn't intervene." I replied softly and looked at Alexis lovingly, giving him a bright smile.

"Hmm... It seems he changed. My grandson is possessive and jealous; so hearing he doesn't intervene in your campaigns made me surprised." Elias commented, giving Alexis a sly smile.

I cleared my throat and stated confidently, squeezing Alexis's hand. "We trust each other."

"I can see." He nodded, giving us a knowing smirk.

"Grandpa, if you don't mind, I would like to show Charlotte the green house." Alexis said and stood up abruptly.

"Sure. Just be here at dinner time. It will be ready in thirty minutes." His grandfather replied firmly.

Alexis nodded, grabbing my hand, and dragged me with him towards the sliding door.

"Thank you. If he asked a few more questions, I would faint, and his gaze..." I shook my head and heaved a loud sigh as we left the mansion. "It felt like he already knew the answers for his questions." I added, puzzled while we were walking towards the green house, still holding each other's hands.

"Because he really knows." Alexis confirmed nonchalantly.

I furrowed my eyebrows in astonishment, stooping walking, and pulled his hand, stopping him. "Did he investigate me?" I asked, irritated.

He grinned, nodding. I frowned in annoyance and rolled my eyes.

"He is Elias Stavros, koukla mou. He knows everything." Alexis stated arrogantly and winked at me. "So we have to careful." He added firmly as he cupped my cheeks and brushed his lips against mine, catching me off guard.