Thena had looked around the pool area, the crystal waters shimmering in the heat of the Grecian summer. Sighing, she had once more wondered what she was doing there, why she was amongst the ‘chosen five’. Flicking her look to the man seated amongst the other ‘four’ she had grimaced. Tall, with stunning good looks and a body that any woman could dream of forever, Richard Mackenzie enjoyed the giggling flirtatious attention of the women, his eyes hidden behind dark glasses, an almost bored smile sitting his handsome face.
“Thena” the word hissed out as she had turned her head to look at the older woman beside her.
“Would it have killed you to put on a bikini……just for this once?”
Scowling, she had looked into the distance, her voice a mask of indifference hiding the irritation of her mother’s words.
“Please mother…do you really think that he is going to take one inch of interest in me? Look at him - he is enjoying his harem over there”
With a cluck of her tongue the woman had glared down at her daughter “You are every bit as lovely as they are”
Thena made a ‘humph’ sound as she had once more regarded them. When they had arrived the previous day, she had tried to make conversation with a few of the other women, quickly realising that there was not much by way of thoughts in their heads, they solely interested in shopping and how their hair looked, the kind of women Thena had been made to endure at finishing school as they had worked so hard to turn her into one of them. With a small smile playing on her lips she had remembered telling her eloqution teacher that she had little desire to be another Stepford wife, the comment seeing her in detention for a week.
Once more looking up at Richard, she had found herself eye to eye with the Greek playboy billionaire, his glasses which he had pulled off swinging from his hand as he had chewed on one leg. The electric shock that had passed through her as their eyes had met had been unexpected, a long shiver running through her body, as she had held his look, her large hazel eyes holding his dark almost black ones, Thena feeling the heat filling her as a slow smile had touched his wide lips. Inexplicably she had felt like a bug under the magnifying glass, burning heat filling her and rising to her cheeks as she had dropped her eyes from his, the need to not feel those enquiring eyes burning deeply into her swamping her.
Surprised by her own reaction she had held down the curse, knowing that his look was amused as he too was wondering why such a plain Jane would have been selected to his magnificent gathering. Thena stood out so vividly from the other women, all stunning, tall and perfectly turned out and all she noted, with a disdainful look, so eager to please him. She on the other hand was small, 5.4 in stocking feet with what had often been described as an angel’s face, her long wavy blonde hair pulled back primly in a pony tail which fell halfway down her back.
“Could you not at least let your hair down…it really suits you that way” again the woman beside her had hissed out the words, the frustration at her daughter so clear on her voice.
With annoyance now she had once more turned her attention back to the other woman, relieved to have something else to focus on as she had desperately tried not to stare back at the man responsible for her presence there, still feeling the sizzling burning of his stare on her skin.
“It is too hot” she had murmured absently before rising to her feet, the need to move filling her.
“I am going for a swim” causing the other woman to groan softly.
“Thena…please” her mother had pled “You will look a sight wet. How can you compete with the others if you don’t try?”
Giving her mother an amused smile she had shuffled off the bright wrap she had earlier pulled on as protection from the sun.
“Oh mother, you really don’t think that I am competition for those women?” her look scathing as her mother had sighed wearily.
“You have a better fortune than they do” she had offered lamely as Thena had looked pityingly back.
“The man is wealthier than everybody here put together…like he cares”
With a softer voice, the hint of fear so evident her mother had seemed nervous “Thena…if your father thinks that you haven’t tried…you know how angry he will be”
The smile had left the young woman’s lips, her small head nodding, and her eyes hard. “Yes…I know…and it is the ONLY reason I am here at all mother” as turning she had moved to the pool, deftly diving perfectly into the water.
The sudden cold had made her give a small gasp, before she had felt the relief from the midday-heat envelop her. When the invite had arrived for her to attend the weekend retreat at the island of Richard Mackenzie, her father normally so cold and stern had smiled, his eyes falling on his daughter.
“Finally, you are good for something” his cruel words reminding her of how worthless she was in his eyes. “Richard would be a good husband for you. He is looking for a wife. You will be it”
Her head had whipped up at his words, shock on her lovely features “But…I don’t want to be his wife” She had retorted, her father’s expression becoming black with rage.
“You will do as you are told. If this man deems you fit to marry then you will thank your lucky stars that such a man would look twice at the likes of you”
Normally his disdainful look would have reduced her to silence, her bullying father’s violent outbursts terrifying to see, however, she had other plans, important plans.
“But papa…I want to go to university”
His derisory laugh had made her flinch “You are heiress to my Company” the words spat out in disgust.
Thena was used to this, knowing that her father had never forgiven her for not being the son he had longed for.
“As such you are only good for one thing. That is marriage…and a good marriage, and hopefully producing sons” his cold eyes had looked over briefly at her mother “Hopefully you will do better than your mother did” Thena having had to watch as her mother had flinched. “You will marry one who will strengthen this company…it is your sole job in life…so forget university. I will hear no more of this”.
Moving smoothly through the water, her strokes perfect hardly making a splash she had given a small humourless smile. Initially the idea of being called to some remote island with her mother as chaperone had terrified Thena, but her best friend Daryle had laughed as she had explained the situation.
“Oh my God Thena, he has those parties every month, and every time there are at least five women, all summoned to see if they meet the great Richard’ standards”
Daryle was Thena’s best friend. He was four years older than she, and a workaholic accountant who had excelled in his chosen profession. The two had become firm friends in the year she had volunteered at the animal shelter, Thena only allowed to work there as it looked good for the company that she was involved with the local community.
Frowning at him she had been surprised “Why?” Her voice questioning as he had grinned back
“Well…his dad is desperate for him to settle down and produce grandkids…so he makes him. Not one woman has met his requirements yet”
His eyes had twinkled mischievously “Although if the stories are to be believed many of them have tried REAL hard if you know what I mean”; Thena had chuckled at the way his eyebrows had wriggled with innuendo.
“So…I really shouldn’t be worried then?” she had mused, as Daryle had shaken his head
“Nope…not that you’re not hot as hell…but you’re not exactly the rich bitch type”
Turning onto her back she had felt the small laugh leave her lips reminded of his choice of phrase, knowing that the other four women all fawning and batting their overly made up eyes were exactly the ‘rich bitch’ types, sighing as she had wished them all well in their quest.
