A Cinderella For The Greek. Julia James

      Fairy tale for just one night?

      Cruelly mistreated by her stepfamily, Ellen Mountford retreated to the shadows of her father’s home, feeling unworthy and unloved. But when powerful tycoon Max Vasilikos wants to buy the glorious English country estate, Ellen can hide no longer…

      Under the scrutiny of the Greek’s arrogant stare, Ellen fights the urge to retreat further and stands up to him, yet Max is relentless. He tempts her out to a glamorous charity gala, where Ellen is transformed from dowdy recluse to belle of the ball. Now there is a new glint in Max’s eye that is even more devastating…seduction!

      ‘Take a look, Ellen,’ Max instructed softly.

      Ellen looked.

      And made no response.

      She could have made no response even if someone had held a gun to her head, or shouted ‘Fire!’ She could only do what she was doing—which was staring. Staring, frozen, at the couple reflected in the mirror. At the tall, superbly elegant and dashing figure of Max Vasilikos...

      And the tall, superbly elegant and stunning female at his side.

      Dark ruby-red gown in lush moiré silk, wasp-waisted, flaring over her hips to flow in a waterfall of colour the full length of her legs and out into a sweeping train, its body-hugging bodice boned and darted to lift her breasts and reveal a full, generous décolletage, before fanning out over each shoulder in a splay of feathers. Curling tendrils played around her face—a face whose eyes were huge, thickly lashed and fathoms deep, whose cheeks were sculpted as if from marble, whose mouth was as lush and richly hued as damsons...

      Emotion swept through Ellen. She couldn’t give a name to it—didn’t need to. She needed only to feel it rush through her, like a tide, like a river sweeping her upstream, unstoppable, irreversible, pushing everything that had been inside her head simply...out.

      Because how could everything she’d thought about herself...everything that had been ground into her painful, mortified consciousness with sneering jibes and contemptuous looks...how could any of that stay now?

      He turned her back to her reflection. ‘That is who you are, Ellen Mountford—you are beautiful.’

      JULIA JAMES lives in England and adores the peaceful verdant countryside and the wild shores of Cornwall. She also loves the Mediterranean—so rich in myth and history, with its sunbaked landscapes and olive groves, ancient ruins and azure seas. ‘The perfect setting for romance!’ she says. ‘Rivaled only by the lush tropical heat of the Caribbean—palms swaying by a silver sand beach lapped by turquoise waters...what more could lovers want?’

      Books by Julia James

      Mills & Boon Modern Romance

      A Tycoon to Be Reckoned With

      Captivated by the Greek The Forbidden Touch of Sanguardo Securing the Greek’s Legacy Painted the Other Woman The Dark Side of Desire From Dirt to Diamonds Forbidden or For Bedding? Penniless and Purchased The Greek’s Million-Dollar Baby Bargain Greek Tycoon, Waitress Wife The Italian’s Rags-to-Riches Wife Bedded, or Wedded?

      Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.

      A Cinderella for the Greek

      Julia James

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      To my younger self.

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Introduction

       About the Author

       Title Page

       Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

       CHAPTER FOUR

       CHAPTER FIVE

       CHAPTER SIX

       CHAPTER SEVEN

       CHAPTER EIGHT

       CHAPTER NINE

       CHAPTER TEN

       CHAPTER ELEVEN

       CHAPTER TWELVE

       EPILOGUE

       Extract

       Copyright

       CHAPTER ONE

      MAX VASILIKOS LOWERED his tall frame into the leather chair by the desk and relaxed back into it, his long legs stretching out in front of him.

      ‘OK, what have you got for me?’

      His UK agent handed him a set of glossy brochures. ‘I think there are some good contenders here, Mr Vasilikos,’ he said hopefully to this most demanding of clients.

      Max’s dark eyes glanced briefly, and then he found his gaze lingering on only one of the properties.

      An English country house, in warm honey-coloured stone, with wisteria tumbling over the porch, surrounded by verdant gardens and sheltering woodland, with a glimpse of a lake beyond the lawn. Bathed in sunshine, the whole place had an appeal that held his gaze, making him want to see the real thing.

      He picked up the brochure and shifted his gaze to his agent.

      ‘This one,’ he said decisively.

      * * *

      Ellen paused in the hallway. She could hear her stepmother’s sharp voice coming