Just Surviving (BWWM)

Chapter 16: Family

Ugh tell me why the country of Greece goes broke when I'm getting around writing the Greece chapters 😓😩😴. Smh but I hope they get things fixed there. I wish them the best of luck. Enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 16: Family

Greece was beyond beautiful this time of year. The fresh air, the warm climate, the exuberant sun, the mystifying blue sea, and the rich colored neighborhoods were a welcome distraction from my everyday chaos. Going to the country and places like this often had me wondering why did I bother living in the city. The reason hits me fast every time I remember two main staples-Starbucks and Micky D's-were a good couple hours away. Still, I enjoyed this style of living while it lasted.

I admired Magnesia from my window as we drove through a path passing enormous green trees and steadily rising nude houses. People were just hanging around the shore getting a tan and having a wonderful time. As we traveled deeper within the city we caught others walking, talking, and carrying out daily duties while children were playing on some of the empty cobble stone streets. If you strained your eyes further you could see the high rising hills marking the end of the city and, pass it, the beginning of its vast forest.

I smiled as I felt a cool breeze hit my face and blow through my hair. "When was the last time you came here?" I asked Kostas.

Kostas leaned back as he attempted to dig through his memory. He blew out a breath. "I would have to say six months ago, but that was due to business matters. Apparently, Loukas failed to secure a deal with Seoul for the start of our Korean hotel chain and I had to take care of it." He shrugged his shoulders tiredly revealing an emotion I knew to be disappointment.

I nodded my head in understanding, not expecting a different reason other than work. I always knew that Kostas was a work-a-holic, plus it's not like he hates his job either. The only thing I felt he resented was his sibling's lack of sedulity. Anyone can tell that out of all the Sarantos children Kostas was the most gifted in business, like he was born for it. Negotiations went his way about 87% of the time. Workers revered him and practically did anything he asked without question or any lack of enthusiasm since he almost always gets results.

There was a time Loukas used to be co-CEO of the family corporation with Kostas. However eventually their father, Haemon, decided to entrust full responsibility of the company to Kostas since Loukas was inadvertently holding the company back with his mistakes. Last I remembered he was working with the hotel chain of the company, handling the meager deals and some big ones here and there. Gaia, their sister, worked in advertisement. Sethi and Xanthos—the twins—were still in high school and unready to join the family business.

Thus, out of all his siblings, Kostas was the most hardworking and equipped for the job, that could never be argued. He rarely had time to spend with his family. And now that I thought about it...he must truly feel guilty about that. Kostas doesn't frequent in visiting them, this time we're doing it for his nana and it may be the last time he'll ever get to see her again. All the chances he had to come to Greece and he probably thought he took time for granted.

I shuffle in my seat. "I'm guessing your visits are usually short then?"

"They are."

"Then let's make this one last! Extend our vacation time here, Kostas, it will be nice for you to spend more time with your family instead of work." As that's said I nimbly move my fingers and successfully snatch the iPad from his hands.

His eyes narrow on me. "Mía," he groans out.

I laugh. "You'll always have time for work," I say before placing his device in his suitcase. He sighs and little by little I can feel his work mode dwindling down. I know it has been a while, but easygoing Kostas is somewhere in there, deep down inside of him and he needs to be set free. I am positive Mrs. Sarantos and his nana would want to be welcomed with the chilled side of him. "Have some fun, come on! Don't be so uptight!"