by Kelly, Marie
He had frowned at her thoughtfully.
“I have no problem with that Sam........is that it?”
Samantha had felt the disgust fill her at his total lack of interest in their child, his child.
“No........one more thing”
She had raised her chin.
“Half of my father’s shares in the company will go into our child’s name and controlled by me until he is old enough.......I want to make sure that he gets his rightful inheritance”.
Dante had sat up straight at this demand.
“You expect me to sign over half of the shares to YOU” he had cried the anger in his voice evident.
“I don’t think so Sam; I don’t want you selling those shares to my competitors just so you can get some revenge on me for all of this”.
She had sat back in her seat, her expression determined.
“Those are my demands Dante............take them or I will marry one of my father’s options”.
He had sat watching the woman before him. She had taken him by surprise, his respect for her growing even higher than it already was. For a few seconds he had sat deep in thought before finally replying.
“OK Sam, but with one proviso..........you get the shares and control them. But if you want to sell them then I get first offer.......and at market value”.
Sam had looked back, before nodding slowly.
“Deal” she had said, suddenly feeling the fear fill her at what she had just agreed to, the whole situation seeming so surreal to her, suddenly so aware of how her hands were shaking jumping as he had leant forward his hand covering hers his fingers weaving into hers. As she had tried to pull her hand free he had held on, pulling it to his lips kissing each gently, sending shivers throughout her entire body, fire rising instantly within her.
“Do not be afraid Sam” he had said softly.
“I promise that I will be a good husband to you “.
With determination born from anger, Samantha had pulled her hand back giving a small sound of contempt.
“Please Dante, do not even go there. You don’t give a damn about me or this child we will be bringing into the world. Your only interest is in your company.....and my father’s company. I can’t even feel sorry for you.......because when you end up old and alone.......like my father, it will be your own fault. Just as it is his”.
His face had hardened, his mouth opening but the words stopped as the waiter had once more appeared with their food.
The rest of the meal had been spent in silence, Samantha not able to eat the delicious food, pushing it around the plate her fingers still shaking, drinking the bubbly champagne he had ordered quickly feeling as it had started to relax her.
As the meal was cleared away she had finally looked back at him.
“So how is this to work?”
He had sipped his wine placing his glass down.
“In two days we will fly out to New York and you will move into my home. We will be married in two weeks”.
Samantha had nodded softly, not surprised at the speed of his plans, her father basically laying out the same agenda. Feeling the need to have some control she had looked up at him her face serious.
“There will be no sex until we are married” she had stated prudishly as Dante had burst out laughing, Sam frowning. Her voice irritated.
“I am serious”.
Seeing as he had given her a small salute.
“Yes Ma’am” his look mocking, Sam feeling her mouth curl, just holding back the return laugh, the atmosphere between the two relaxing slightly.
Placing his hand over his heart he had grinned.
“I promise not to touch you princess until we are legally wed”.
By now Sam was struggling not to laugh out loud so aware of how absurd her last statement had been as she had taken another drink her look softening, her smile lighting up her whole features, Dante once more reminded of the young woman he had met so long ago in Greece. Aware as so many more memories had flooded through him, reminded of how she used to look at him, those eyes full of such adoration, a disquieting feeling filling him at how he had used her, how he was using her now.
He had looked quickly at his watch giving a small frown.
“If you have finished then we should get going” he had said softly, Sam frowning.
“Where are we going?”
Her voice showing surprise
“Well it makes sense for us to be seen together prior to the announcement of our engagement” he had grinned.
“And I remember how much you loved to dance......so I thought we would go to a night club I know”.
Sam now pleasantly warm from the wine had felt less inhibited her eyes flicking over Dante, giving a small unhumorous laugh.
“Yes. I used to love a lot of things” she had said softly before rising, not seeing the look of discomfort from him.
“Good job I wore this dress” her eyes warmer as she had looked over her shoulder at him, her hair brushing around her neck, Dante feeling another small groan rising in him. Looking at her, he had given a half smile, his body once more feeling the shock of awareness seeing as she had moved so sensually in front of him, her hips swaying so gracefully.
“Yes.....to not take that dress dancing would have been such a shame......”.
His eyes openly sliding over her, hearing the small sensual laugh from her
“And just for the record Samantha Trey” he had added moving in closer to her.
“...you look beautiful”.
As his hand had moved to the small of her back to guide her out of the door to the waiting limousine, Sam had jumped slightly, surprising herself with how pleasant his touch had felt as she had allowed him to move his arm around her waist as they had left the restaurant.
Speaking to the driver he had quickly given his instructions sitting back into the soft leather upholstery seeing as she had sat in the corner so relaxed, fighting the desire to move closer to her and kiss those lips, the memory of how she had felt from the previous day once more filling him with heat.
They had pulled up at the night club, Sam instantly recognising it, not somewhere she had ever been to, mainly due to its exclusivity. The doorman had greeted Dante, recognising him and instantly letting them in, avoiding the long line of people waiting outside. Inside a waitress had been called to personally take them to their table.
“It is good to be you” she had smiled at him seeing as he had nodded back.
“Get used to it Sam........as my wife it will be like this all the time”.
She had given him a harder look.
“Well I doubt I will have that long to get used to it Dante”.
He had frowned, confused by the many changes in her, firstly from cold negotiator to the sexual siren he had left the restaurant with, now to the cold woman of the previous day. Dante had not liked the feeling that he was no longer the one in control, watching her carefully seeing as so many men had looked at her, their eyes following as she had almost glided to their table, the unexpected sensation of jealousy filling him. She however, had seemed not to notice any of the looks as they had taken their seats, Dante finally responding.
“In that case you should most definitely make the best of it”.
After placing their drinks order, he had led her to the dance floor holding her within his arms, feeling as she had held herself more stiffly within his hold than she used to, her arm placed over his chest resting gently on his shoulder, ensuring that he could not pull her in too tightly to him.
“I was thinking about what you said”.
Sam had said softly, as he had looked down into her wonderful green eyes.
“Perhaps my moving in with you right away would be a bad idea, maybe I should find a place and wait till after the...”.
Her voice had faltered for a second.
“Wedding”.
She had seen the look of concentration on his face before he had spoken gently.
“I don’t think that
would be a good idea Sam” his voice soft.
“In two days time we will announce our engagement and next week your father makes me the CEO of his company”.
She had looked at him with confusion.
“What has that got to do...” she had began as he had continued.
“It means that my company will become the largest of its kind in the world.....and the press are going to be after a story.... I want you to move into my house for your protection Sam.....not for anything else”.
She had closed her mouth, the argument lost on her lips at the truth of his words.
“I see” she had whispered softly.
Dante had looked down at the woman in his arms. Sam had always impressed him. Where many women would have argued or thrown tantrums, she had always been able to logically and clearly think things through and he had missed that.
For the rest of the night the two had talked, neither really discussing anything of importance, Sam feeling more and more mellow as the night had progressed, the bubbly champagne no doubt being responsible for this. They had both bumped into many of their acquaintances, Sam knowing that this had been Dante’s plan, to have them seen together before the engagement was announced.
Finally the two had moved to the waiting limousine, the fresh air causing Sam’s head to spin, her hand moving to grip Dante’s arm, hearing as he had chuckled softly, moving his arm around her waist to steady her.
“You always were a light-weight Sam” he had muttered softly into her ear, the feel of his warm breath sending a shiver through her, as she had turned to face him, their eyes locking Dante seeing the fire within hers before she could drop her eyelids to hide the desire in them.
Giving a soft groan he had pulled her into him, his arms moving around her waist as he had dropped his mouth to kiss her so tenderly. Sam had shuddered with the gentleness of his touch, her own need rising so strongly as her hands had moved around his neck pulling his head harder to her. The passion had exploded between them, both caressing the other’s tongues his hands stroking her back as she had pushed harder against him, feeling the hardness of him against her.
Moving his mouth to her lobe she had gasped softly feeling his mouth suck one ear, her whole body tingling with the need for him.
“Come home with me Sam....we have some catching up to do” his words sending even more sensations through her. She had groaned gently, wanting so much more, remembering how much pleasure his body could give her, wanting once more to feel him within her as she had continued to kiss him. As he had pulled back slightly her eyes had fluttered open, before sense had come rushing back to her, Sam giving another gasp, her eyes haunted as she had pushed away from him.
“Take me home” she had finally managed, seeing the fire in her reflected in his eyes.
“You promised me” her voice accusing as he had closed his mouth, his head giving a short nod before moving to open the car door for her, hiding the way his hand had trembled, hiding the over powering need for this woman. He could wait two weeks; wait to have Sam in his bed again. He had to build up some trust within her, the realisation that this was important to him surprising him.
In the car, the two had sat at complete opposite ends of the car, both fighting the need to return to the others arms. As they had reached her apartment, he had given her a gentle smile.
“I will come around early tomorrow Sam and pick you up”.
She had looked at him in surprise.
“I am sure I can prepare to move without you” she had bitten out, seeing as he had smiled.
“I am sure you could.......but I do think that picking a ring might well be something we should do together”.
Sam had felt her cheeks glow, as the driver had opened her door, looking at Dante, so cool and collected wishing that she could be so calm.
“Yes...sorry....” she had stuttered, quickly getting out of the car needing to be as far away from him as possible.
The car had not moved off until she had disappeared into the building, Dante sitting back his finger against his lips as he had frowned in concentration, watching her disappear. He had not expected her to turn the tables on him, and was not sure why it bothered him that she would leave and take the child with her when Daniel’s grandson was born. After all with her deal he would get everything he wanted. He got the business, had no ties, and could continue to lead his play boy lifestyle. Frowning again he had not been sure why he found the whole thing unsettling.
The next morning Sam had risen early; having despite everything that had happened slept soundly, her sleep free from the disturbing dreams that had invaded her rest the previous evening. She had showered and allowed her hair to fall against her in the way that she knew he liked, telling herself that this was not for his benefit. A simple elegant sweater dress in a deep green had shown off her wonderful figure and complimented her eyes, and Samantha Trey had looked stunning.
As the door bell had rang, she had opened the door for Dante, seeing the fire that had instantly sprang to his eyes, his look sweeping down her as she had turned and so gracefully moved back into her kitchen to finish her tea.
“You are not going to make the next two weeks easy for me” she had heard him say, smiling with satisfaction as she had moved away from him.
“I have no idea what you mean” she had replied, her voice cool, hearing the soft chuckle from him.
“You always were a little torment Sam” he had crooned behind her, Sam unable to hold back a small chuckle herself.
She had made him a coffee, the two sitting across from each other on the small table, finally alone. Looking about himself, he had admired her apartment, which was beautifully decorated, not surprising he mused to himself, seeing as she had watched him.
“So perhaps you should explain to me the plans” Sam had said softly, Dante nodding somehow glad to be able to concentrate on other things than the woman before him.
“Well today we have a private viewing of jewellery for you to pick your engagement ring, and I have organised for my people to come by tomorrow to pick up anything you want to bring over with you”.
Sam had nodded, having had plenty of experience with professional packers in her line of work.
“What do you want done with your flat?” he had asked softly, seeing the small frown on Sam’s brow.
“I will keep it on” she had said with conviction.
“I am hoping that it will not take too long to.....” her voice had faltered, and for the first time since their meeting Dante had seen real sorrow fill her eyes as she had turned away from him, quickly rising to turn her back to him.
“This is wrong, so wrong. To bring a child into the world under these circumstances” her voice so low, so full of sadness.
He had stood stepping behind her, his hands moving to her shoulders, gently stroking down her arm, feeling uncomfortable at the truth of her words.
“Have you never missed having that child we talked about Sam?” he had spoken gently, taking her by surprise, not expecting softness from him after the way he had blackmailed her.
“Th...That was very different” she had stuttered her hands pulling at each other.
“But not like this Dante”.
Turning she had looked up at him, her lovely green eyes blurred with tears her lips quivering slightly.
“Not like this, this is wrong...so very wrong”.
She had seen the discomfort in his face, before his eyes had hardened, as he had stepped back from her.
“This is the way it has to be Sam, we both know that” he had bit out, his features stony.
She had turned once more from him, the tears sliding down her face as she had given a defeated nod of her head.
Needing to change the subject he had sat down once more, continuing to talk over the plans as she had slowly pulled herself together, flicking looks over at her feeling so uncomfortable.
“When we arrive in New York we will be attending a gala meal at which I will announce our engagement, an
d the following week your father will announce that our companies are to merge, with me as CEO. Within two weeks we will be married....and you know the rest”.
Sam had stood for a few seconds, letting the old anger against him fill her once more, helping her to regain her composure, hating his cold bloodedness. Wiping away the tears she had moved back to lift her cup, unable to meet his eyes.
“Do you have any preferences for the wedding” he had asked, as she had shaken her head.
“A quick civil ceremony I think would be best” she had managed, her eyes flying to him as he had replied firmly.
