Blackmailed Merger

by Kelly, Marie

  “Thank you Philippe, but I promised I would dance with somebody else” quickly standing to move to a young man who had looked delighted to have her beside him.

  Philippe had looked stunned, his eyes following her with complete confusion. Turning to Dante the two men had spoken in Greek for a few seconds, before he had grabbed the jacket from the back of his chair.

  “Excuse me Sam” he had said.

  “I should check up with my manager, deal with some business” and with a final look at the lovely blonde on the floor he had moved from the main dance room, his back stiff. Sam had however, watched Bella, seeing as she had flicked a look over to the man now retreating, a sad pained expression crossing her lovely face.

  “What is wrong with Bella?” Dante had asked gently beside her, as shaking herself she had shrugged her shoulders.

  “I don’t know, guess she had promised a dance to somebody else” looking back over at her friend, seeing how she had looked so very miserable, not prepared to explain the situation to him.

  Turning to face him once more, she had given one of those broad smiles, making Dante’s insides flip.

  “I didn’t know you were coming back today” she had said, seeing as he had smiled back.

  “We reached an agreement this afternoon, and I wanted to see you, so Philippe and I jumped on the first ferry over and then spent another hour hunting you down “.

  She had given him a hurt look.

  “You could have just phoned.......I would have met you” she had cried, her hand moving to gently caress his face seeing how tired he looked.

  He had trapped her fingers in his, gently kissing each one seeing the fire once more rise within her.

  “No Cara, I wanted to surprise you......and I think Philippe wanted to surprise Bella too” his eyes seeing how Sam had refused to comment, but seeing as she had once more flicked her eyes to where Bella still danced with the sandy haired boy.

  As the song had ended Bella had once more moved back to the table. Sitting she had given a soft smile to Dante, Sam seeing the sadness still deep in her eyes.

  “It is good to see you again Dante” the sincerity in her voice making him smile back warmly at her.

  “And you too Bella, Philippe is in the back rooms if you want......” he had not finished as she had shaken her head with determination.

  “I don’t think so Dante....I am sure that he has plenty to keep him busy”, her eyes looking down at her watch.

  “I have a headache coming on” she had had bitten out, Sam seeing how hard she was trying to keep a smile on her face.

  “I think I will just go back to the villa.......get an early night for a change” giving a small half laugh.

  “OK that ship sailed” she had joked, noticing the time.

  Sam had risen quickly, looking over at Dante.

  “You can’t walk home alone” she had declared insistently, I will come with you, seeing as he had nodded.

  “I will walk you both back to your villa” he had said softly, Bella looking upset to be ruining their reunion, her eyes moving to Kate.

  “No...really...perhaps Kate” her sentence trailing off as she had seen how Kate was now in a corner with the German, the two kissing, the man’s hands all over her.

  With a sigh the two had known that Kate would not be returning to the villa that night, Bella giving a shaky smile as she had nodded.

  “Thank you” the three moving towards the door. As they had reached the exit, Philippe had reappeared, his eyes solely on Bella, catching her off guard as she had looked at him a haunted expression on her face.

  “We will wait for you outside” Sam had said as she and Dante had discreetly moved out of the building. Less than five minutes later Bella had appeared Sam noting that Philippe was nowhere to be seen. As she had opened her mouth to speak her friend had thrown her a ‘don’t ask’ look, moving forward towards the villa.

  Dante and Sam had given each other surprised looks following her. As his phone had gone off Dante had fallen back slightly, Sam moving closer to Bella.

  “You OK?” she had asked softly, seeing as her friend had looked at her miserably.

  “No...But I will be”. Looking over at Dante she had surprised Sam.

  “I’m sorry that I have ruined your plans” her voice full of that regret.

  “Maybe you should ask him if he wants to stay at the villa”.

  Sam had looked at her in surprise, knowing that the three girls had an agreement that no men stayed over, mainly put in place for Kate’s benefit. Bella had given her a quick grin.

  “I think that we can trust him” she had chuckled.

  “What happened Bella?” she had asked gently, seeing as the lovely girl had suddenly seemed to be struggling to hold back tears.

  “He wanted another chance” she had said softly, Sam looking at her with concern.

  “And you said no?” seeing as she had nodded, looking back at her miserably.

  “We leave here in four days....what is the point. I just think that it is a bad idea”.

  Sam had given a soft sigh.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?” seeing as Bella’s expression had become more sure.

  “Yes” her voice not as believable as it should have been.

  As they had reached the villa Bella had wished them both a good night, moving quickly inside, Sam sighing softly seeing the tears perched on her friends lids.

  “I guess Philippe screwed up big time” Dante’s soft voice had wafted over her shoulder, as turning around she had smiled sadly up at him.

  “Yea...he did” her arms moving loosely around his neck.

  “Bella is not somebody who plays games Dante, and well ........she liked him. Too many people look at her and see a dumb blonde, but she is one of the most loyal and smart people I know. I think that she is hurt that he thought so little of her”.

  Dante had frowned.

  “I really don’t think he...”

  Stopping as her finger had gently rested on his lips.

  “She has watched for four days as you have texted and phoned me. She gave him her number and not once did he use it......and yet tonight he appears and expects her to leap into his arms when he had not given her a second thought. No Dante, I like Philippe, but he truly is not deserving of her”.

  Dante had grown silent, once more thinking how smart both girls were, so different from most of the tourists that visited the island, women like Kate. With a sigh he had nodded his head softly, as Sam had looked shyly up at him.

  “Would you like to stay the night? I don’t want to leave her alone”.

  She had seen the surprise in his eyes, before he had given a frustrated sigh.

  “As much as I would Cara, It has been a LONG week and I am tired, but as tired as I am, if I had to lie beside you tonight I would be unable to keep my hands off you.”

  Sam had given a chuckle.

  “Nothing wrong with that” she had replied seductively seeing the return smile on his lips.

  “But...I did not bring protection, and so we would both lie awake all night frustrated”.

  She had given another small laugh, nodding.

  “Well I cannot help you there” before feeling as he had pulled her in closer, his mouth finding hers in a gentle kiss.

  “Good night Samantha Trey” he had whispered gently.

  “Perhaps tomorrow I can talk you into a moonlight boat ride........perhaps even one for the full evening” Sam had felt as her smile had spread over her face, so happy.

  “I think that you very well might be able to” she had grinned, seeing the glow in his eyes. With that she had moved into the villa waving at him.

  The next four days had been the happiest of her life; Dante had lavished attention on her, starting with the moonlight cruise where they had made love under the stars the only sound being the lapping of water against the boat. During the day he had worked in his villa while she had enjoyed the holiday with Bella and Kate. He would meet her aro
und 5 and would spend the rest of the evening with her, Sam falling more and more under the enigmatic man’s spell.

  For their final evening together he had driven them both down to a secluded beach, laying out a delicious picnic over a large rug, Sam marvelling at how beautiful the setting was, looking sadly over at him a small smile on her lips.

  “This has been the best time ever Dante” she had whispered softly, her large green eyes full of such honesty. She had seen as he had frowned down at his drink, looking so indecisive, Sam once more looking back out over the sea, lazily watching as seabirds had swooped into the clear water. She had felt as he had taken her hand in his, turning back round to face him, seeing the look on his handsome features.

  “Does it have to end Sam?”

  His question taking her by surprise as she had gave a sad half laugh.

  “Unless you have a time machine to take us back two weeks” she had responded trying to make a joke, though her heart was not in it.

  He had moved closer to her, his face full of resolve.

  “I have to return to New York in two days” he had said as she had looked sadly back.

  “Well I have to return to the UK tomorrow, beat you” her voice not reaching the levity she was aiming for, looking down sadly.

  “Come with me Sam, I want you to be with me” her eyes rising in surprise.

  “You...you want me to come with you?” she had stuttered, seeing as he had nodded softly.

  “We have something good together Sam... I know you feel it too, and for the first time in my life...I actually want to see where it goes”.

  Sam had looked at him indecision in her eyes, Dante kissing her fingers.

  “If you don’t feel the same way.....I will understand” he had said, his eyes full of sadness, seeing her pause.

  “Oh Dante” she had cried throwing herself into his arms and kissing him, before finally pulling back laughing so happily, feeling as his arms had moved around her, pulling her in tighter to him giving her a kiss full of passion knowing that when he returned to New York it would not be alone.

  Kate and Bella had been surprised when she had given them the news later that night, Dante dropping her off to spend the last evening with her friends and to pack to move into his house ready for their journey the following day.

  Both girls had looked at her with surprise and concern.

  “Are you sure Sam?...men like Dante...” Bella had not finished but her look had said more, Sam moving to hug her friends.

  “It is a chance I have to take” she had grinned “because if I don’t then I will always wonder what might have been” her eyes looking so seriously at the other two girls, so full of depth.

  “He makes me happy”.

  The three girls had hugged and cried, knowing that for the first time since primary school they would not be together, each clinging to the other knowing that things would never be the same.

  The next day, Dante had collected the three of them, insisting on transporting the other two girls to the airport in style, Kate chuckling as she had playfully pushed Sam seeing the car.

  “Remember if you change your mind about him, I’ll take him” Sam giving her a ‘you’re hopeless’ look, hugging her tightly

  As the plane had taken off, Dante had wrapped his arms around her shoulders, his cheek against hers as he had leant in kissing her softly.

  “In case I forget to say this later Cara” his voice velvety.

  “Thank you, you have no idea what this means to me”.

  She had moved her arms to wrap them around his waist, pushing her bottom harder against him as she had nuzzled his cheek like a cat, smiling happily.

  That night their lovemaking had been even more intense, Dante playing with her, taking her to the very edge of reason time and time again before finally allowing her to climax below him. Sam had gasped panting and crying out his name as the blackness had momentarily taken her, not even aware as he had released deep with her pulsating body his reaction every bit as violent, once more amazed at the way she made him feel. As they had lain together the two fighting to fill their lungs, she had looked up at him with complete devotion in her eyes, her wonderful smile making his stomach flip. Her fingers had trailed over his sweat slicked back.

  “You make me so happy” she had breathed softly “I can’t believe that I was so lucky to meet you”.

  Dante had groaned softly, his mouth dropping to lick the small tear that had appeared in the corner of her eye.

  “Oh Sam” his voice a whisper, his insides feeling so uncomfortable at the knowledge of what he was doing to her and what he had planned for the future.

  Chapter Three

  The following day they had boarded the plane together taking them to New York, Sam chuckling as they were shown to first class.

  “You should see the way I flew here” she had laughed at him, remembering economy class, the three girls all crushed together, but all so excited about their unexpected holiday. Here the seats were luxurious and spacious, with a bar for guests to sit at and enjoy the company of their fellow passengers. He had grinned back at her.

  “You mean there are other types of seats” laughing seeing the look on her face, before she had given one of her wide smiles at him. Thoughtfully he had looked over.

  “What would you like to do when we get to New York? I could try and pull some strings if you want to carry on at University” he had offered softly seeing the way she had grimaced.

  “Noooo, I am thinking that it is time that I tried to actually put some of my plans into practice...see if I can get a job with a stagers perhaps”.

  He had nodded, giving another thoughtful look at her.

  “Well I could try and see if I can get you a green card” his eyes watching her carefully.

  Sam had smiled back at him, shaking her head.

  “That’s OK ...I have dual nationality” she had replied breezily, Dante feigning surprise.

  “Oh? How is that?”

  Seeing a strange look cross her eyes

  “My father is American and my mother British” she had replied, looking away quickly.

  “Do your parents stay in the UK?” he had continued delving, as she had given a soft frown.

  “No...My parents divorced, my father still lives in America”.

  Before he could ask more she had continued.

  “What about you? Where are your parents?”

  She had seen the strange look cross his features as gently he had replied.

  “They are both dead”.

  Sam’s face dropping as she had reached her hand over to cover his.

  “I’m so sorry Dante...I didn’t mean to upset you”.

  He had given her a small smile. “It is OK, it happened a long time ago”, quickly changing the subject, neither of them wanting to elaborate further on their families.

  “You do not have to work Sam”.

  He had offered softly, seeing as she had flashed him a ‘yes I do’ look.

  “Now, I think that you are a bit of a workaholic...am I right”.

  Seeing the way he had chuckled, nodding.

  “So sitting around your house all day just waiting for you to return” she had made dramatic swooning gestures.

  “Being a kept woman...would make me bored within a day” flicking him a loving look.

  “No...I need to be doing something”.

  Dante had nodded once again thinking of how so many women would love nothing more than to be as she had put it “a kept woman”, once more admiring Samantha Trey, again feeling the discomfort at what he planned.

  “Well in that case, perhaps I might be able to introduce you to my designer, Joseph. He did the villa on the island”.

  Sam had looked at him hopefully.

  “Really...you would do that for me?”

  Seeing as he had laughed again, raising his hands to calm her.

  “Introduction my love, I know Joseph, if he doesn’t feel you are up to the job, he will not take
you on. So you have to prove yourself”

  Sam had grinned widely, partly at knowing that he was so willing to help her, but more at his use of the phrase “my love” which had inexplicably sent a small tremor of happiness coursing through her.