by Faye Avalon
She’d barely wanted Mitch to know about her relationship with Costas, let alone what was on that video. And even if she did tell him, it in no way justified her actions. Saving her own skin, but sacrificing his?
That wasn’t love…
Love?
Her steps faltered as she walked. Did she love him?
Yes, her heart screamed in response. Oh God. Yes. She’d likely fallen back in college, and these last few days had rekindled every pulsing emotion she’d felt for him back then. She’d pushed those feelings so far down deep inside that she hadn’t even known they were there.
Now it was too late. He hated her and he didn’t even yet know the video existed. She didn’t want to imagine what he’d think when he found out.
She all but stumbled into the studio and met Lucy’s surprised look as her assistant came through into reception. “You’re back early. I didn’t expect you until… What’s wrong? What happened?”
Gina shook her head and walked behind the reception desk. “It didn’t work out.”
“You had a row?”
“I don’t really want to talk about it. Not yet, anyway.”
“Okay.” Lucy came and stood next to her as she leafed unseeing through the bookings diary. When Lucy’s arm came around her shoulder, she edged away. Her throat felt tight and unshed tears stung behind her eyes. The last thing she wanted was sympathy and understanding from a friend. She was barely holding on to her emotions as it was.
“Studio two is free,” she said to Lucy, as if her assistant wouldn’t already know. “I’m going to take the opportunity to rearrange the workout mats and give the storage area a clean while I’m at it.”
“Okay,” Lucy said again, her tone soft and compassionate. “Do you fancy coffee? And maybe a brownie to go with it?”
Gina drew in a steadying breath as she met Lucy’s concerned gaze. “That’d be good, thanks.” She walked to the hallway, but glanced back to Lucy before she headed for her office to store away her bag. “Make it the biggest brownie you can find.”
Lucy’s smile was full of understanding. “You’ve got it.”
For the next two hours, Gina busied herself cleaning and sorting. It was way past lunchtime when she returned to her office. She grabbed her bag from the locked drawer, and couldn’t help checking her phone. Her heart leapt when she saw eight missed calls.
Mitch.
As she scrolled through the messages, her heart beat double time. Maybe he was trying to contact her to give her the chance to explain.
Her body chilled. Every missed call was from Costas.
Blood ran cold in her veins as she stared down at the screen. She had to face him. There was no escaping what needed to be done, and putting off the inevitable by cleaning workout rooms wasn’t going to make it go away.
Thirty minutes later, on unsteady legs, she walked into Costas’s office. In front of his desk, she stood and faced him. His eyes bored into hers. She hadn’t realized just how dark they were before. Black. Soulless.
Her stomach twisted as she gripped the strap of her shoulder bag and tried to remember the speech she’d prepared on the way over. Now she couldn’t remember a single word.
He leaned back in his chair. “Where’s my photo?”
“There isn’t one.” Gina swallowed through a rapidly tightening throat, but raised her chin. “And there isn’t going to be one.”
Costas swiveled slowly from side to side and those black eyes narrowed. “I’m growing fucking tired of your games, baby doll. You think I won’t go through with what I warned you would happen?”
Oh, she knew he would, but she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging the fact. “You’re crazy if you think Mitch will ever stand being blackmailed. I won’t have any part in it.”
Dark eyebrows drew together and his expression grew menacing. “Then in the next couple of hours, the whole fucking world will see your spread legs and your sweet little cunt enjoying the ministrations of an anonymous lover. I hope people have the audio turned up while they watch because your enthusiastic response is worth a listen. You’ll soon be a media star for a whole different reason, baby…and so will your mama.”
Her legs turned hollow and she groped for the back of the chair as the room began to spin. “You’ve got nothing to gain by doing this.” Her breath hitched. “It’s over. Mitch won’t play your games, and neither will I. Just give me the video and I’ll be on my way.”
His low laugh echoed ominously. “You know better than that.” He raised his hand to his face and stroked along his chin. “However, I might be willing to negotiate.”
She didn’t need the gleam that burned in his gaze to know what format those negotiations would take, and the thought of having him touch her again was so unpalatable it made nausea swim in her stomach. “I’d never let you near me again.”
With casual ease, he opened his drawer and took out a dark red pen drive. “As I said, I could be persuaded to negotiate.” He gave a feral smile. “You know what you have to do.”
Her whole body began to shake from the inside out, and Gina found it hard to think straight. But one thing was abundantly clear: no way in heaven would she ever allow Costas to lay his hands on her again. The thought made her feel physically sick. After being with Mitch, it was hard to contemplate any other man touching her.
Tiny spears of pain spiked at her heart as memories of how it had felt being in Mitch’s arms, but she couldn’t afford to go there. Not when she needed all her wits about her dealing with Costas.
With sudden clarity, she knew there was no way he would ever have given her the pen drive, no way he would have let her off the hook. He would have kept her forever at his mercy. As for Mitch, Costas would go after him until he got what he wanted. She had to warn him. Make him listen. He had to realize the depths to which Costas would stoop to get what he wanted. At least then he would be forewarned and could protect himself.
As far as her own predicament? She squeezed her eyes shut. There was only one outcome for her and she would have to face the consequences.
When Costas’s low laugh broke into her despair, she opened her eyes. “I see you finally understand the futility of your position.” His tone was flat, hard. “Now get over there and lock the door. We’ll start negotiations as soon as you’re on your back.”
She sucked in a breath, swallowed down nausea. Saying nothing, she turned and walked to the door. All she could think of was getting to Mitch. When Costas realized she had no intention of giving into his demands, he would release the video, and he’d put into effect whatever alternative plan he had for Mitch. She had no doubt he had one.
About to reach for the handle, she stumbled back as the door burst open. Mitch stormed into the room. He strode to Costas’s desk and slammed his hands on the mahogany top. “You’ve got a damn nerve, Zarikas.”
Costas stared up at Mitch and waved away his personal assistant, who had followed Mitch into the office all the while protesting that she’d tried to stop the intrusion. Costas waited until the door closed behind her, before leaning back in his chair with the smug expression of a man who knew he not only had all the cards, but was fully enjoying the game. “Mitchell Coleman What an unexpected surprise.”
Frozen to the spot, Gina stared at Mitch’s back. He’d stormed in so focused on Costas, she was sure he hadn’t seen her behind the door. Now, he leaned farther across the desk and she could almost feel the anger emanating from his tense body. “You’ve taken on the wrong man. Let’s see how clever you think you are when I slam a fucking blackmail charge on you.”
Costas raised his eyebrows. “Blackmail? I’m insulted. How do you figure that?”
Gina hadn’t dared move, but imagined she could hear Mitch grinding his teeth.
“Know this,” Mitch grated, ignoring his adversary’s feigned offence. “You try something like th
is again, you’ll be a whole lot more than insulted.”
Indolently, Costas raised his hand and made a show of checking his fingernails. “Now that sounds dangerously like a threat to me.”
Mitch straightened. “Fucking right it is.” He jabbed a finger at Costas’s chest. “You made a mistake coming at me.”
“Come on, don’t try and tell me you didn’t enjoy my little offering. I know firsthand that she doesn’t disappoint.”
Costas had hardly got the words out before Mitch stormed around his desk and, grabbing a fistful of Costas’s shirt, hauled him from his chair. Although Costas put his hands out in a gesture of surrender, he grinned. “I see I’ve touched a nerve. Interesting. Your—or should I say our—little bedmate over there will be happy to see you’re so ready to defend her honor.”
As Mitch’s head snapped around, Gina felt the punch of his enraged gaze. He stared at her for long moments, during which her heart seemed to stop. Then he let Costas go with an abruptness that had the man stumbling backwards into his chair.
From the look in Mitch’s eyes, it seemed he’d taken the inference and believed she remained Costas’s lover. Perhaps even complicit in the man’s despicable plan. She wanted to scream her denial, but wasn’t sure anything could escape her tight throat. The cold look Mitch threw her chilled her blood.
Costas broke the interminable silence with a deep laugh. “Well, well. Could it be you’ve fallen for my partner in crime? How inconvenient for you. And very bad luck seeing as she’s agreed to return to my bed.”
“No. That’s not true.” Gina’s shrill denial filled the room as she finally found her voice. She made herself look at Mitch even though the contempt in his eyes broke her heart. Regardless that they were over, he needed to know she would never stoop so low as to get back with the bastard who had tried to destroy him.
But he was already walking to the door.
Instinctively, Gina reached out to him, but he ignored her and stormed ahead.
“Maybe you’d like a private showing of the video before you go,” Costas said as Mitch reached the door. “A premiere, if you like, before it hits the airwaves.”
Gina froze as Mitch turned slowly around.
“What video?” The question was aimed at Costas, but he looked at her with barely leashed fury.
Fiery heat burned her cheeks as ice ran through her veins. She willed Mitch to just keep walking away, but knew he wouldn’t. Just as she knew Costas would show him the video. She squeezed her eyes shut for an instant, as if the action could obliterate what would come. She couldn’t bear Mitch seeing it. It was bad enough he despised her for what she’d done to him, but for him to see her in that video…
“Maybe we can get some feedback, baby doll. Mitchell might even be willing to give a rating or review for us, confirming that it’s for real and you really do react as shown when a man goes down on you.”
Her legs felt like jelly and she placed one hand on her stomach as nausea swam. Over and over she swallowed, trying to alleviate the urge to throw up. She reached out blindly, trying to find something to hold on to. Mitch’s hand came roughly around her elbow, and the next thing she knew, she was sitting in a chair opposite Costas’s desk with a glass shoved against her lips.
“Drink,” Mitch ordered.
Her head swam, but she sipped slowly, letting the chilled water cool her burning throat. Beside her, Mitch stood unmoving, while Costas remained seated at his desk.
“She’s a little squeamish,” Costas said conversationally. “It’s her first time on camera, so perhaps it’s understandable.”
“What the hell’s going on?” Mitch’s deep, uncompromising tone made Gina’s already unsteady stomach churn viciously. “And don’t give me any bullshit.”
“A simple video,” Costas offered. “Of what we’ll call adult pursuits.”
Mitch moved away from her. She’d taken comfort in the fact he’d come to her aid, maybe in the depths of her psyche even hoping that he still felt something for her other than contempt, but the few inches of distance he placed between them felt like miles.
His vicious glare sliced her heart. “You filmed us?”
Oh God. He thought the video was of him, of them. And that she’d taken it.
“Alas, you don’t appear,” Costas intervened. “But I’m sure you’ll enjoy watching.”
Costas picked up the pen drive and Gina looked across the desk at him. “Why are you doing this?” she asked weakly. “You’ve nothing to gain now.”
“Ah, but maybe I have.” He pushed the pen drive into the computer. “Indications are that Mitchell may be inclined to save your virtue. Maybe not. Either way, I’ve nothing to lose.”
Lightning fast, Mitch reached out and snatched the pen drive from the computer. He shoved it into his pocket. “Nobody’s watching or doing anything until someone tells me what the fuck is going on.”
“It’s of me,” Gina blurted, unable to stand it any longer. “Costas filmed it. It’s when he and I were…”
Her throat snapped closed. She couldn’t look at Mitch. She held her breath as she waited for his reaction. Would he simply walk out the door and not look back? Would he lay into her? Call her the names she’d tried not to call herself?
“Did you know?” Mitch demanded. “Did you know he was filming?”
When she shook her head, Mitch whirled on Costas. “You fucking lowlife scum.”
Costas shrugged, but his face paled. “I needed leverage. You’re a businessman. You know how it works.”
Silence filled the air, but Gina swore that every muscle in Mitch’s body tensed. She could barely hear him when he finally spoke. “You used this video to make her do your bidding.”
“You use what you have.”
“I don’t use women,” Mitch growled, taking a step toward Costas. For one awful moment as Costas grinned, Gina feared she may have been right when she’d thought his intention had been to provoke Mitch into a physical confrontation. If Mitch did respond that way, he could be brought up on criminal charges.
She started to stand, intending to step between them if required, when Mitch turned his attention on her. His eyebrows came together in an ominous frown. “Did he threaten to expose this if you didn’t get the dirty on me?”
“I made a mistake,” she said, holding Mitch’s steady glare. “I got myself into a…situation, and now I’m going to face the consequences. You can leave. This is nothing to do with you anymore.”
She prayed that he’d go before Costas forced him to retaliate, or watch the video. But he didn’t seem inclined to go anywhere right then. “You made it my business when you dragged me into it.”
“I deleted the photo,” she reminded him. “He has nothing on you. There’s no need for you to stay.”
He looked at her long and hard, as if he were trying to work it all through in his head. Then he whirled on Costas. “This is how it’s going to work. I’m going to make a deal with you.”
“No, Mitch—”
“Quiet.”
His terse command made her stiffen, but she understood she really wasn’t in a position to challenge him. She hated the thought of him making deals with the devil. The last thing she wanted was for him to do something against his better judgment, like lend Costas money for some dodgy deal or investment. Knowing that, she couldn’t keep quiet.
“You don’t need to do anything. He’s making these threats because he’s panicking. You can leave now, just walk out. This is my mistake and I’ll deal with it.”
“You didn’t know this lowlife was going to blackmail you.” He turned to Costas. “Like I said, we make a deal.”
“What kind of deal?”
Mitch moved leisurely toward the empty chair beside Gina, a deceptive action because she could still feel the tension emanating from him in waves. He sat back in the same manner Gina suspecte
d he used in all his business negotiations. The difference being that in business he likely had the upper hand, whereas now he was firefighting.
“The kind that keeps you out of jail.”
Costas visibly paled. “You’ve got nothing on me.”
“Ah, now that’s where you’re wrong.” Mitch popped his ankle on the opposite knee. “Two words, asshole. Jetpole Development.”
Gina thought Costas might pass out, he looked so ashen. Jetpole was a modern development of shops, offices and apartments near the London docklands. Ritzy and highly desirable.
“There were rumors of, shall we say, less salubrious goings on with one of the smaller developers who’d quoted for work on part of the site,” Mitch told Gina. “Apparently, they’d quoted low, and had been able to do this because they were planning to use substandard materials. Their quote was turned down.”
“That was all fucking rumor,” Costas spluttered, leaning forward across his desk. “You can’t prove it.”
“Maybe not. At least not for Jetpole.” Mitch stroked his chin. “But this latest venture of yours, the one you’re going all out to get funding for, now that’s a different matter.”
Costas fiddled with his tie. “What about it?”
Mitch shrugged. “At first, I thought you sending your goons to put pressure on me to invest was just the way you do business now. Hardly surprising, I thought. Seeing as how you’re basically scum in a suit, trying to compete with the professionals. But now I see what lengths you’re prepared to sink to in order to get that funding, I understand the reason behind their strong arm tactics. ‘You’ll be sorry,’ I think were the parting words of one of your boys as I booted him out the door. Very original, if perhaps prophetic.”
“You can’t blame a man for playing hardball in business. There’s no law against it. Shit. You’re not exactly known for the softly-softly approach yourself.”
