Blackmailed Merger (13 page)

Giggling she had looked back, growing quieter seeing the determination on his face
.

“You’re serious?”

She had managed seeing as he had nodded softly
.

“I don’t want the big wedding with people I hardly know.....I just want it to be us...you and me”
.

Pausing he had added more warily
.

“Unless there are people you want to be there.  Your mother, father maybe”
.

Biting her lip she had looked back at him, her sweet face so open as she had shaken her head.

“I never talk about them Dante...for good reason.  I know that you wonder, and I really appreciate that you have never pushed me” smiling lovingly at him

“But the truth is that my father has little or no time for me.  He has never really got over the disappointment of my not being a boy”
.

Weaving his fingers into her
s
, he had chuckled
.

“Well I have to say that I am VERY glad that you
were
not a boy”
.

Still holding his hand she had flipped over onto her stomach to look into his eyes.

“My father is very rich Dante,
perhaps even richer than you,
very rich and very cruel.  I have not spoken to him since I was sixteen...since he and my mother split up”
.

She had seen the wary look rise into his eyes
.

“You told me that we came from different worlds, as I recall you were quite nervous about my having money”
.

He had said softly
, seeing
as she had nodded
.

“That is true,
but
I have not lived with either of my parents since I was ten
, and I have not taken a penny from them either”
.

Her voice had been proud of
this fact
.

“
I lived with my grandmother.  S
he is the only person who has ever really cared for me Dante, and I would do anything for her”
.

Frowning in concentration she had continued
.

“
Sadly
it
has
been my experience that rich men have little time for people or their feelings.  They use
them
to further their own agenda” her eyes once more glassing over with love
.

“
That is...until I met you
” she had whispered softly, bending her head to kiss his fingers, missing the look that had crossed his eyes
.

“You are the kindest, most wonderful man I have ever met...I love you
so much
”
.

With that she had moved further up the bed, to lie half over him kissing him again, the fires once more igniting between the two.

The next morning, she had awoken to him leaning over her, his hand flicking a piece of her hair playfully across her nose to wake her.

“Good morning sleepyhead” he had drawled sensually, as she had grinned up at him, happiness stamped over her features
.

“Good morning yourself” she had chuckled, seeing as his mouth had curved into a soft grin
.

“I thought that we could go shopping”
.

Sam raising an eyebrow in surprise
.

“You...
” she had chuckled in disbelief “
you want to go shopping with me
?
” seeing as he had laughed, Samantha being the first woman he had met who had not expected him to spend his free time trailing around clothes stores with him, preferring to spend their little time together in more pleasant
pursuits
.

“Well” he had whispered huskily, lifting her hand and kissing her finger
.

“This kind of
shopping is more sparkly and definitely more pleasant”
.

Understanding had fallen on Sam, who had smiled widely, her eyes sparkling with such happiness
.

“I know I said that I didn’t want a long engagement Sam...but I still think that you should have a ring”
, seeing as she has nodded softly, her eyes once more growing larger with tears, as she had moved her hands to gently hold his cheeks
.

“Have I told you how much I love you today” she had whispered softly, her expression suddenly so serious
.

“How happy you make me every single day”
.

Dante had felt the guilt gnawing at his belly, but there was something else, something so warm that he had leant in to her, his mouth finding hers
.

“We will be very happy together you and I Miss Trey.  Very very happy”
.

Much later that morning they had found themselves at one of New
York’s
most exclusive
jewellers
, the couple led into a private room where they had been served refreshments by the owner himself.  He had congratulated them, so happy to see the way the future bride seemed to glow with happiness, the kind that could not be faked.  Dante had insisted that no expense be spared for her ring, much to the owner
’
s delight and they had been seated on large comfortable chairs.

For over an hour they had sat in the large opulent
room
, as tray upon tray of rings had been brought to them.  Sam had considered each and every one, trying on the expensive and exquisite pieces of jewellery with those she had liked being placed to the side for further consideration
, smiling up at Dante constantly.
  However, when they had produced one of the last trays she had given a gasp, her eyes lighting up with wonder
seeing the perfect emerald set
within diamonds
, the stone almost the same colour as her eyes
.

“It’s beautiful” she had whispered, her hand outstretched admiring the piece of jewellery.

Dante had moved forward taking her hand and smiling
.

“Yes, it looks wonderful on you” he had said, his eyes warm seeing her
radiant smile
.

The ring had seemed almost to be made for her, not
even
needing to be resized as she had kept it on, the other pieces of jewellery quickly being removed.

Together they had then left, Sam finding herself constantly sneaking a look at her finger, watching as the light had caught the facets of the wonderful jewel,
feeling
the excitement of wearing it
and what it signified, her eyes once more looking so lovingly at Dante
.
  He had taken her to her favourite restaurant for lunch, Sam enjoying the wonderful food, laughing as he had looked pointedly at her, as once more she had lifted her hand to admire the ring
,
Sam scrunching up her nose at him as she had noticed that he seemed suddenly nervous, uncomfortable, her look becoming concerned
.

“What is it ...what’s
wrong?
”
.

Dante had pulled the neatly folded sheets of paper from his pocket, slowly opening them as he had flicked a
n uncomfortable
look at her
.

“There is something I need to ask of you Sam” He had said
.

“Something that
my board insist on...for the sake of my company”

Frowning she had looked at him in confusion, as he had held the paper out to her
.

“They insist that there is a
pre-nup
”
.

His other hand had moved to hold hers
.

“I would never ask this of you if it was not for them...
and I have ensured that it is a fair contract, even though I know that I have found the right woman
”
.

Samantha had smiled lovingly at him.

“Oh Dante...I understand.  Of course you have to protect your company
” adding
softly “and I know that we are going to be forever
too
”
.

Plucking the piece of paper from his hand she had looked through her bag for a pen, not even bothering to read the
contents
as she had signed it
without hesitation.
  Taking her fingers in his he had kissed her
knuckles
looking so deeply into her adoring eyes again feeling the strange heat in his stomach.
  The final step of his plan being so easily achieved not giving him the sense of satisfaction that he had expected.

From
another
booth in the expensive restaurant
Daniel
Trey
had
sat sipping his fine wine.  He was not really a lover of the drink, but enjoyed being able to afford such luxuries with waiters fawning over him.
  He had smiled
watching his latest mistress as she had pouted perfectly her lovely face trying not to look bored as
he and his PA had talked business, the other man trying unsuccessfully not to stare
lecherously
at her lovely body
, as he had risen to move to the bathroom
.

He had allowed his eyes to travel down her perfection knowing how much pleasure she gave him in bed looking forward to later that night knowing that she would ensure that he was not left unsatisfied.  She was a cold hearted gold digger, but she knew exactly how to look after a man.  Daniel Trey had smiled
again;
yes life was good for him
.

Briefly he had looked up in surprise as
his PA David
had returned
, his whole being buzzing with excitement as
his voice
had become
a conspiratorial wh
isper
.