CHAPTER FIVE
TAKEN aback by what seemed to be Lang’s volte-face, she gaped at him. ‘But why? I don’t understand… From what you’ve been saying I felt sure you didn’t want me to tell him…’
But even as she spoke she realized she’d read it wrongly; that wasn’t what he had been aiming for. ‘You don’t want me to marry Alan at all!’ she burst out.
When Lang made no attempt to deny the charge, she demanded, ‘Why? What possible difference can it make to you?’
‘Apart from the fact that I think you’d be making a big mistake, you might be pregnant.’
‘Pregnant?’ Every drop of colour drained from her face, leaving her ashen.
‘Unless you were protected?’
She shook her head mutely.
With brutal honesty he told her, ‘Believing you to be experienced, I didn’t take any precautions…’
Then he said decidedly, ‘The last thing I want is another man bringing up my child. Not, I imagine, that Brent would care overmuch for the idea…’
He certainly wouldn’t, she thought distractedly. After some discussion Alan had suggested that to give both their careers a chance they should wait at least five years before they even considered starting a family. Seeing she was reluctant to agree, he had said firmly that for the time being at least he would take all responsibility for family planning.
‘So if you are pregnant…’ Lang pressed.
A quick calculation told her she couldn’t rule it out, and unless they postponed the wedding—and what earthly reason could she give for doing that?—she wouldn’t be sure until it was too late.
Then what would she do if she was?
Her stomach churning sickeningly, she finally admitted what perhaps she’d known all along, that last night’s madness had made marrying Alan out of the question.
Having given her a moment to think about it, Lang went on, ‘It seems to me that if you really do love him it would be kinder to say nothing about what’s happened and simply end the engagement. At least he’d have his career left.’
‘But what reason can I give for breaking things off? The wedding’s less than a week away. All the arrangements have been made…’
‘Don’t worry about arrangements; they can be cancelled. Just tell him you’ve changed your mind. You’ve realized in the nick of time that you’re not suited and it would be a mistake.’
Miserably, she said, ‘He’ll be so hurt.’
‘It’s my belief he’ll soon get over it.’
‘You’re a callous devil,’ she muttered.
Lang’s smile was mocking. ‘Last night at one point you seemed to think I was altruistic.’
‘Obviously I was mistaken,’ she cried furiously, jumping to her feet. ‘You don’t give a damn that you’ve helped to wreck Alan’s life.’ She choked back a sob. ‘I wouldn’t put it past you to change your mind about his promised promotion…’
The strong jaw tightened. ‘I don’t recall promising him anything. If the promotion goes through is the way I phrased it.’
Suddenly afraid of this man, of the power he wielded, she muttered, ‘Yes, I—I’m sorry…’
‘As a matter of fact I had already decided not to give Brent the West Coast job.’
Lang studied her stricken face for a moment or two, before adding, ‘Would you feel any happier if I told you that I might be prepared to make him the overall head of European Finances?
‘He would be based in Switzerland, which I gather he likes. When he first came to work for me he spent a year there, and transferred to London with some reluctance.’
Yes, Alan had once told her how much he’d enjoyed living in Switzerland. ‘That would be wonderful—’ A sudden realization made her break off abruptly. ‘You said might…’
The dark blue eyes met and held hers. ‘It all depends on you… If you agree to what I want, the post’s his.’
‘And if I don’t?’
Lang said wryly, ‘Let’s presume you will.’
Her mouth desert-dry, she asked, ‘What do you want?’
Leaning back in his chair, he smiled a little, while his leisurely gaze travelled over her slender body. ‘Surely you know?’
‘I won’t be your mistress, if that’s what you mean.’
He surprised her by saying, ‘It isn’t.’
‘Then what…?’
‘Please sit down…’ Though politely phrased it was clearly an order.
When she sank back on to the chair, he went on calmly, ‘Bearing in mind that you might possibly be pregnant, I think we should get married.’
‘Married? No… No! I couldn’t possibly marry you.’ Panic-stricken, she sought for convincing reasons. ‘We’ve only just met… I—I hardly know you…’
‘In one way at least you know me a great deal better than you know Brent,’ he pointed out with cool logic.
Watching him pick up a velvety peach and begin to quarter it, she protested wildly, ‘But I don’t love you.’
‘I don’t see that as a problem,’ he said, unmoved. ‘You know I can keep you satisfied in bed, and I’m a wealthy man; I can give you a great deal more than Brent ever could.’
‘Do you think I give a damn for you or your money?’ Her voice broke. ‘I wish I’d never set eyes on you. I could have been happy with Alan.’
His smile crooked, Lang murmured, ‘I must beg leave to doubt it. Does your heart beat faster when he looks at you? Do you tremble when he touches you?
‘At the best your lovemaking would be tepid. You’d never burn for him like you burnt for me. Once he’s out of your life and we’re married you may even get to love me.’
‘I won’t marry you, and I’ll never love you. I love Alan. He’s all I care about…’
‘I’m beginning to doubt it. If that were true you’d want to make it up to him, to see him get to the top of the tree.’
‘I do.’
She watched Lang’s white, healthy teeth bite through a segment of peach before, taking her by surprise, he leaned forward to pop the remaining piece in her mouth. ‘Then it’s up to you.’
Peach juice dribbled down her chin and she wiped it away with her napkin. ‘I won’t be forced to marry someone I hate the sight of just to get Alan a promotion!’
‘There’s rather more to it than that.’
A silken noose tightening around her slender throat, she breathed, ‘You mean you’ll get rid of him if I don’t?’
Lang looked at her through thick, dark blond lashes. ‘He certainly won’t be working for me any longer.’
‘Well, he’s good at his job. He’s bound to get other chances.’
‘Believe me, there’ll be no other chances. He’ll be finished.’
‘How can you know that?’
‘I’ll make certain of it.’ There was a cold finality about the words that, despite the hot sun, caused a shiver to run through her.
Spiritedly, she said, ‘I can’t imagine even you have the power to stop Alan succeeding with some other firm.’
‘There aren’t too many firms willing to give a man who’s been jailed for embezzling a top post in their finance department.’
Failing to understand, she protested, ‘But he hasn’t been jailed for embezzling.’
‘Not yet.’ It was a threat. ‘But fraudulently diverting money to one’s own use is a serious crime.’
Aghast, she cried, ‘I don’t believe he’s done any such thing.’
‘No, he hasn’t,’ Lang agreed pleasantly. ‘But I’ve contrived to make it appear that he has.
‘If the London accounts that Brent’s responsible for are carefully scrutinized they will show that quite a lot of money is missing.’
Cassandra pressed slim fingers against her temples. To set up something like that, Lang would have needed not only an accountant, but someone he could trust, someone who wouldn’t give away his secret…
‘I don’t believe it,’ she cried hoarsely. ‘You’re just bluffing.’
Not a whit
disturbed, he invited, ‘If you think that, call my bluff and see…’
She was wondering if she dared, when all at once she remembered Rob saying ‘John was once a brilliant accountant…’ And obviously John owed Lang a big debt of gratitude.
‘If the accounts are examined and I’m forced to press charges,’ Lang went on, ‘when Brent gets out of prison—’
Desperately she broke in, ‘I don’t believe he could be convicted of something he didn’t do.’
The broad shoulders moved in a slight shrug. ‘Even if he was fortunate enough to get off, you know how mud sticks. After the media got hold of it, and I’d make sure they did, he’d be lucky to be offered a job as an office boy.’
White to the lips, she whispered, ‘No! You can’t do that to him. He’s done nothing to deserve it.’
‘Oh, I agree. And I hope it won’t be necessary. But if you force my hand…’
‘I could tell everyone what you’ve just told me,’ she threatened wildly.
He laughed softly, derisively. ‘Do you think anyone would believe you? Apart from the fact that you’re Brent’s fiancée, doesn’t it sound just a tad too far-fetched and melodramatic?’
Of course it did, she acknowledged bleakly. Who would credit that a man like Lang Dalton would need to go to those lengths to force a woman to marry him?
In fact it just didn’t make sense…
‘And suppose you are pregnant,’ he pursued. ‘If you don’t marry me what will you do? Have an abortion?’
Startled, she said, ‘No, I’d never do that.’
‘It wouldn’t be easy bringing up a child alone.’
‘Plenty of other women do it.’
‘Have you considered that as it would be my baby as well I’d have some say in the matter? If you refused to marry me I might decide to take it from you.’
Startled, she asked, ‘Would you want a child?’
His face curiously tight, he said, ‘I’ve always wanted a family.’
Feeling as though she was sinking into quicksand, she said, ‘But there’s a good chance that I’m not pregnant.’
‘Well, I’ve no intention of waiting to see. Either way I want my ring on your finger without delay.’
Reaching across the table, he took her hand. ‘So what’s your answer? Are you going to marry me?’
After his first marriage had ended so tragically, why on earth would he want to risk any chance of future happiness by marrying a woman he didn’t love, and who didn’t love him?
She snatched her hand away. ‘I don’t understand why you want to marry me… And don’t mention sex…’
Blue eyes laughing, he said, ‘I wouldn’t dare.’
Ignoring his amusement, she battled on, ‘I’m sure there are dozens of women who would be prepared to keep you happy in bed…’
‘Oh, I’m sure you’re right,’ he agreed with mock gravity. ‘But I don’t happen to want a succession of bed-partners. I want a wife.’
‘There must be plenty who would be only too pleased to marry you.’
‘But not you?’
‘No,’ she said tightly.
He sighed. ‘Pity. From the moment I set eyes on you it was—’
‘Don’t tell me it was love at first sight!’ she scoffed.
‘You don’t believe in such a thing?’
‘No, I do not! Love is something that has to grow.’
‘Then we’ll just have to give it some other name.’
‘Try calling it lust,’ she said sharply. That she was forced to believe in.
‘Whatever you call it, no other woman will do. It’s you I want and I’m prepared to go to any lengths to get you.’
‘Even to the extent of framing an innocent man?’
‘Do you doubt it?’ His smile was as glittering and dangerous as a knife blade.
She had no doubt that he could be ruthless…
But if she said no and simply walked away, would he really go through with it? Deep down what kind of man was he? When she’d asked him if he was a gambler, he’d answered ‘I have been known to play for high stakes, but only when the odds are stacked in my favour.’
Well, he’d made certain that the odds were stacked in his favour. So what if the gamble still failed? Somehow she couldn’t see him being either petty or vindictive…
But for Alan’s sake she dared not risk it…
Yet how could she tie herself to a man she didn’t love?
With a kind of desperation, she said, ‘Suppose I agree to be your mistress for as long as you want me?’ It would be the lesser of two evils.
‘Much as I appreciate the offer,’ he said with smooth mockery, ‘I’m afraid it won’t do. As I’ve already made clear, I want you for my wife, and I’ve gone to a great deal of trouble to achieve that end.’
I’ve gone to a great deal of trouble to achieve that end…
The knowledge, the realization, that had been hovering on the periphery of her mind finally registered and crystallized into certainty.
Carefully, she said, ‘A moment or two ago you mentioned seeing me for the first time—’
‘And you refused to believe that what I felt was anything but lust.’
‘Whatever you call it—’ she echoed his earlier words ‘—is irrelevant. You threatened what would happen to Alan if I didn’t marry you…’
Lang sat quite still, his blue eyes wary.
Triumphantly, she went on, ‘But it won’t work. You saw me for the first time just two days ago. There’s no way you could have set up that plot you described.’
‘I’m afraid you’re wrong.’
‘I don’t—’
‘Not about the latter,’ he broke in calmly. ‘As you rightly surmise that took time and care to put into place. You’re wrong in presuming I hadn’t seen you until two days ago.’
While she stared at him, green eyes widening, he went on, ‘I first saw you about a year and a half ago, when I was over in London—’
‘But I didn’t work for Dalton International then…’
Completely ignoring the interruption, he went on, ‘During that trip I happened to be crossing Regent College campus and I caught sight of you.’
Feeling as though she was suffocating, she began to shake her head. ‘I don’t believe you. You’re making it up.’
Feeling in a back pocket for his wallet, he produced a snapshot and handed it to her.
Her heart beating in slow, heavy thuds, she stared down at a close-up of two girls emerging from a building she recognized as one of the lecture halls at the college.
It was obviously winter and snow lay on the ground. Both figures were muffled in duffle-coats and scarves, but were clearly identifiable as Penny and herself.
‘Satisfied?’ Taking the snapshot from her, he put it back in his wallet.
Hoarsely, she said, ‘I don’t understand what prompted you to take a photograph of two unknown girls.’
After a brief hesitation, he shrugged. ‘When I’m in London I tend to behave like a tourist. I happened to have a camera with me, and it was a spur of the moment thing…’
She found his explanation, though glib, difficult to believe.
‘Later I made a few enquiries and discovered who you were.’
There was a pause while she steadied herself and thought about what she’d learnt, before she said slowly, ‘Then it wasn’t just chance that when I graduated I was offered a job with Dalton International?’
‘No, it wasn’t just chance,’ he admitted. ‘Though at that point I had no particular plans, I couldn’t get you out of my mind, and I didn’t want to lose sight of you…’
That, to all intents and purposes, was the truth. Only later, when he was free, had he decided exactly what he was going to do.
‘You’d been working for me about six months when you were offered a job interview with another company…’
How on earth had he known that?
‘It occurred to me that you might move on. You’d done very well at college
, and I thought you were ambitious…’
‘So you told Alan to make me his PA.’
‘Exactly. Though I could have cheerfully broken his neck when he made you his fiancée as well…’
Feeling dazed, she wondered, Was it possible for a man who was supposedly happily married to lust after another woman?
‘I knew I’d have to do something about it,’ Lang went on, ‘but the time wasn’t right, so I was forced to leave things for a while.’
‘But why did you leave it until a bare week before the wedding?’
He made a grimace. ‘A slip-up, I’m afraid. Brent told me you were planning to get married next spring. If my information source hadn’t mentioned the change of plan it might have been too late.’
‘I wish to God it had been,’ she muttered.
‘It would have made the whole thing a great deal more difficult if he’d been your husband rather than your fiancé, but I would still have found some way to take you from him.’
Though the words were spoken lightly, she could sense the steely purpose behind them, and despite the heat a shiver ran up and down her spine.
‘When I discovered the wedding had been brought forward, I knew I couldn’t afford to wait a day longer. My main fear was that you might be pregnant. If you had been having a baby it would have posed real problems…’
That was an understatement. It would have meant the end of all his plans. Bitter as he was, there was no way he could have gone ahead if she’d been carrying Brent’s child.
‘It was a great relief when you assured me you weren’t, and an added and unexpected bonus to find you hadn’t even slept with him.’
She swallowed hard, feeling cold and panicky and slightly sick. The strange premonition that had made her feel both scared and threatened, that had made her so reluctant to meet Lang Dalton, had proved to be only too accurate.
Yet it was still difficult to believe so much had been simmering beneath the surface without her ever suspecting. Almost impossible to believe that in this modern world a free, independent woman could be coerced into marrying a man she didn’t love and didn’t want to marry.
The Marriage Takeover Page 8
