Blackmailed Merger (19 page)

Samantha had pulled the door of her office open, her mind full of the many things that had to be done that day. 
She had looked at the letters on the door, giving a small satisfied smile.  Over the past four years she had turned her talents as an interior designer into a successful business.  Now employing twenty people with one of the best reputations in the city, her clients
list boasted
some of the
wealthiest and
best known names
in the country
. 
One of her biggest skills was her ability to manage her time and adjust her schedule instantly
, her mind already full of all that had to be done that day
.  Stepping into the office which she had designed herself sh
e
had stopped in her tracks, her bag slipping from her fingers to the floor at the shock of
seeing
the man now sitting in her chair.

“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 Du
r
ant
” 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 s
eeing 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 concoct
ed
this little blackmail and if I play ball and find some good little boy who will kno
ck me up with his beloved grand
child, 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 gr
and
child”
.

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 h
ave living with her
”
.

Pausing a second, his eyes bright a
nd
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
.