by Kelly, Marie
“Dante” she had breathed in disbelief, her features showing her shock.
“Hello Samantha” he had replied, his voice calm, his body relaxed. She however could feel her legs start to buckle with the emotions which slammed so painfully and so unexpectedly into her, biting her lip she had willed herself to remain calm, allowing the anger to give her strength.
“Get out of my office” she had bitten, Dante seeing the way her lovely green eyes had shone so brightly in her small face.
He however had smiled causing her to have to hold back the caustic remark that sat on the tip of her tongue.
“Sit down Samantha........we need to talk”.
She had stood erect, her whole being wanting to go over and smack his arrogant face and pull him from her chair, wanted to make him feel a fraction of the pain he had put her through, her face showing the myriad of emotions as he so calmly watched her.
“We have nothing to talk about Mr Durant” she had finally managed, her tone clipped.
“Now get the hell out or I will call the police”.
He had tutted softly, making the hairs on the back of her neck bristle, as he had shaken his head softly.
“I think that would be an incredibly bad idea”.
She had glared back at him, feeling as her hands had trembled .
“And why is that?”
A strange uneasiness starting to creep over her
“How is business?” he had asked. The sudden change of tact taking Sam by surprise as with a frown she had raised her chin defiantly
“Booming” she had bit back really feeling uneasy as his smile had spread wider, recognising that look.
“How is your new accountant working out” his question filling her with panic as with dread she had moved over to the chair opposite him slowly sinking into it.
“What do you know about my accountant?”
Dante had held her eyes.
“That he is very good at his job..........in fact one of my best men”.
She could feel the sickening sensation in the pit of her stomach, the fear now showing in her eyes.
“What have you done?”
Was all she could manage, as Dante had finally risen moving around the desk to lean against it close to where she sat.
“Like I said Samantha, we need to talk”.
With a shaky sigh she had nodded softly.
“Then talk”.
Dante had looked at the woman in front of him. She was even more beautiful now than she had been four years ago and he could not help but let his eyes skim down her perfection, seeing the look of contempt on her face as she had caught the familiar look of lust in his eyes. Moving away he had started to examine the pictures on the wall, seeming to pay attention to each one as he talked, his voice calm and strong.
“John has over the past 2 months been doing some............work for me..........some creative book keeping shall we call it”.
He had paused, but continued as she had remained silent.
“Now we have two sets of books, and yes Sam I must congratulate you on your business, it is as you say......booming”.
He had moved to the next picture.
“Get to the point Dante” she had bitten out through clenched teeth, as he had smiled and turned once more to her, a triumphant look on his face.
“Your father and I have been talking, seems he wishes to retire”.
Sam had grasped her hands to stop them shaking so visibly.
“But he wants an heir, a grandson”.
With a frown she had looked back at him.
“What has that got to do with this...with YOU?”
Her lovely eyes narrowing seeing as he had once more allowed his eyes to flick down her
“My father will just have to learn to live with disappointment. I am no brood mare to produce for him MALE heirs”.
Dante had chuckled at her vehement tone.
“Yes, he did say that you were not keen on the idea. Gritting her teeth once more she had stared at him.
“So you are now working for my father.........let me guess the two of you concocted this little blackmail and if I play ball and find some good little boy who will knock me up with his beloved grandchild, you don’t produce the other set of books”.
Her voice dripping with disdain
“You are half right” he had replied softly
“But you know fine well I would never work for your father.........this was all my idea”.
She had glared back at him.
“What is it you want Dante?”
“Your father has persuaded me of the benefits of our companies merging.........with me at the head of course. He proposes that our families combine through marriage............yours and mine...and of course from there producing for him his... how did you put it... his beloved grandchild”.
Samantha had leapt to her feet, her fists clenched by her side.
“Never” she had cried.
“I will fight you every inch”.
He had stood silently as she had paced the room, her body stiff and tense, anger emanating from her.
“My father would never let me go to jail Dante..........so this is a bluff” she had finally thrown at him, stopping with a note of triumph in her eyes.
“Now get out and on your way past explain to John why he is fired”.
Dante however, had given another smile her new found bravado leaving her just as quickly as it had arrived.
“I did not think he would” he had said softly.
“But you are not seeing the big picture”.
Seeing as Samantha had looked at him with confusion on her lovely face, her brows knitted together.
“What big picture?”
Dante had held her eyes once more.
“When the charges are laid against you the first thing they will do is freeze your accounts, and believe me I can drag it out for months.....years even”.
“I don’t care........I will manage ............ I would rather clean floors than marry you or let you anywhere near me”.
Her tone full of hate
“I’m sure you would “he had said softly.
“But I understand that your grandmother has been ill, some kind of operation. I also understand that she has a fear of hospitals...that and her weak heart...I have to wonder how you plan on paying the nurses that you have living with her”.
Pausing a second, his eyes bright and triumphant before continuing.
“Although I’m sure that the government will provide quality care for her”.
Samantha had felt the shock slamming into her, paling instantly as her legs had buckled her hands gripping the side of her desk as she had fallen heavily back into the chair.
She had stared back at the man who had almost ruined her life, looking for any sign that he did not mean what he said, knowing that he was too ruthless to be bluffing.
“You bastard” she had whispered, seeing as he had smiled unpleasantly back at her.
“As I recall your exact words to me four years ago were that she was the only person who had ever cared about you...it must be so wonderful to be able to afford to provide the care she needs”.
Dante watched the fight leave her, seeing the vulnerability within her, her mask falling revealing once more the young woman he had met in Greece, her expression completely stricken tears rising to her eyelids as she had looked away from him.
He had stepped towards her removing a business card from his pocket as he moved, before placing it on the table beside her. She had seen words written on it, unable to make them out through the blur of her tears.
“Think about it Samantha, then be here tomorrow night. We have a lot to talk about”.
Samantha had remained silent her eyes still dropped from him the numbness invading every part of her. She had felt him pause, felt his eyes on her, feeling some of her old bravado returning as she had clenched her fists together raising her head to look into his eyes, those beautiful black eyes that once upon
a time had looked at her so differently. Quelling the tears as her face had grown once more so serious she had whispered to him.
“I will find a way to beat you Dante. I will not let you use me again”.
She had seen as his mouth had curled into an almost amused smile.
“There is one thing that I would really like to know” he had said softly and before she had time to react his hands had reached out, pulling her to her feet and into his arms.
“Does that new icy exterior of yours go all the way to the centre” he had finished, as his mouth had dropped to take hers, his arms encircling her, holding her to him as she had fought and struggled to get away. Panic had filled her as she had pushed her hands against him desperately trying to release herself his mouth unrelenting as he had continued to hold her tightly to him. As she had felt his tongue slide against hers she had groaned, the fight leaving her as she had shuddered, her tongue caressing his back as her body had fallen against him, her hands flattening out against his chest.
She had felt as his kiss had become softer, his hands moving around her waist to pull her in harder, feeling the hardness of his arousal against her, his mouth moving to kiss down her cheek her head falling to the side allowing his tongue to slide down her throat. As her fingers had moved to trail under his suit jacket following his waist she had felt him shiver some sense bubbling up into her head as with a cry she had pushed herself from him, the suddenness of her actions catching him by surprise as he had released her, Samantha moving around to the other side of her desk. Both had watched the other for seconds, fire blazing in his eyes before they had once more become cold.
“Well I guess not right to the core then Sam” he had murmured breaking the silence between them.
“G...get out” she had cried, her lips red from his kiss, her eyes wide with anger and shock.
Dante had smiled knowingly.
She had been unable to move, feeling contempt at herself with her reaction to him. Straightening up his expression had become more severe as he had moved towards the door before turning once more to look at her.
“Don’t be late”, opening the door and finally leaving her office.
Samantha had sank into her chair, closing her eyes with pain her senses bombarded by the smell of his aftershave which still clung to the chair he had been sitting on. The tears had then filled her eyes, the memories of the past overwhelming her as sobs had racked her whole body.
For over an hour she had let herself be lost in what had happened, before she had sat upright, her body stiffening determination settling on her distraught features. Leaning forward she had grabbed the telephone, dialling the one number she had thought she would never use again.
Dante had sat in the restaurant, his eyes once more flicking to the clock, she still had five minutes, completely sure that she would be there. With a frown he had once more played back the events of the previous day. He had meant to shake her up, to make sure that she knew who was in control, but things had gotten out of hand, her reaction taking him by surprise as she had fallen against him, kissing him back. For four years he had not allowed himself to think about her, not allowed himself to remember how good she had felt. How much he had missed her in bed. Well not only did he get to take over her father’s company but he also got her back into his bed, all in all one of his better take-overs, Dante feeling a smug sensation filling him.
Samantha had moved into the exclusive building, her mouth curling in disgust seeing him sat so calmly at the best table in the room. He was always so sure of himself, she had thought, it would never even cross his mind that she would not come. Lifting her chin defiantly she had moved forward towards where he sat grim determination on her beautiful face. Well things were not going to be quite as smooth as he had expected, she had made sure of that.
As she had arrived at his table, Dante had stood, his eyes flicking over her with admiration. Wearing a short silver green cocktail dress, her hair swept up loosely, small curls teasing down her cheeks she had looked stunning, and he had held back the small groan with the way his body reacted seeing her.
“You look wonderful” he had spoke softly seeing with surprise as she had sat so calmly and serenely, frowning slightly.
“Thank you” had been her only response as she had given her drink order to the attentive waiter who had appeared instantly at their table. Once more alone she had turned her attention to him, surprising him with the look of assuredness on her features.
“Have you had time to think of my offer?”
Dante had raised his glass going straight into business, not sure why there seemed something so wrong about her reactions today. He had expected anger or resentment, but she was calm almost expectant, knowing that of all people he had never been able to read Sam. Four years ago he was sure she would have wanted to get past his revenge plan with her father and this knowledge had suddenly made him feel uneasy.
“I did...........and I have a counter offer” she had finally responded, Dante raising his eyebrows in surprise.
“I hardly think that you are in any position to be expecting to negotiate Sam” he had smiled as she had held his look steadily.
“Do not be so sure of that Dante”.
The waiter returning with her drink had once more stopped the conversation as they both placed the order for their meal.
“Well if there is something you want to add.............then please enlighten me” he had finally replied softly seeing the light in her eyes, as she had ran her finger around the stem of her glass, a small smile on her face, a disquiet filling him.
“After you left yesterday, I phoned my father”.
He had not reacted, hiding the surprise he felt.
“Turns out that you were not really my father’s preferred choice, he wants a grandson that is true, but he would rather retire but still maintain most of the control. From what he told me you were not really keen on that”.
He had remained silent, sipping his drink watching her carefully.
“He informed me that if I wanted to choose another husband he had a line of them ready”.
Feeling the anger filling him he had held her eyes.
“Hard to do from jail Sam” he had said softly, seeing as she had laughed.
“Yes and believe me my father has graciously decided” she had spat out the word with contempt “that if I choose one of his optional studs that he will make sure that your set-up is blown out of the water, and my grandmother well looked after”.
Looking over at him she had added.
“In fact I got the impression that it was by far his preferred option”.
Dante had given her an approving smile.
“Well played Sam” he had said gently, his expression hard.
“But you said you had a counter offer”.
“My father also made it very clear that if I failed to comply and produce his grandson then he would quite happily see me thrown into prison...and my grandmother .........” she had not been able to finish as the thought of what might happen had for the first time since she got there brought emotions to the surface, causing her voice to falter, Dante watching as she had visibly pulled herself together.
“So my offer is this”.
She had sat forward.
“My father has no interest in us being together any longer than it takes to produce a grandchild within the sanctity of marriage” her voice bitter at this thought.
“So once I am pregnant you will never touch me again”.
Dante had frowned.
“You seriously expect me to become celibate until our child is born” he had managed with disbelief, seeing the cold look in her eyes.
“I truly do not care what you do Dante, I am sure that you can find some willing mistress to look after your.............needs” she had finished, seeing the flash of anger in his eyes before he had seemed to take control of himself, nodding at her.
“So long as we understand each other” he had bitten out.
“
Anything else?”
“Once our child is born then the marriage is over............and most importantly, I bring up the baby myself and I have full custody”.
