Blackmailed Merger (25 page)

“OK bridzilla”
.

She had
chuckled;
let’s
get down to it, as she ha
d opened the large book.

Sam had found herself enjoying looking at the many different designs and colours,
Bella
so helpful with her slant on what would work best in the church and hall.  Sam had been astonished when she had learnt that he had been able to secure a date in one of the best churches in the city, but angry when she had found out that he had booked it 3 months ago, so sure that his plan would work
.

Bella’s
ringing phone had pulled her back to the present, as her friend had answered, her soft voice friendly before becoming irritated
.

“Yes Philippe this is the correct number”
.

Sam looking at her in surprise

“No...
There
has not been any cancellation
in the last 15 minutes since you were
here;
now please do not call again
...
I said I would phone if there were any”

Bella calling off, looking at Sam with a disbelieving look

“The cheek of the man”

Sam had stopped herself from saying anything, instead feigning interest in the book
.

As her phone had rang again Bella had mumbled angrily seeing the same number ending the call and putting her phone on mute.  However, less than a minute later it had once more
beeped
this time heralding a text.
 
Bella
reading it her lips pursed
.

“What did he say” Sam had chuckled softly, Bella throwing her a do not laugh look
.

“He said he forgot to give me his number so how can
I
call him
?
”

Sam had nodded holding back the laugh
.

“
Well
he does have a point” losing the fight as her friend had thrown her a caustic look
.

For the next two hours the two friends had made plans, Bella meticulous in her attention to detail as she had written down instructions and notes on what required to be followed up the next day.  Every half hour she had received a text from Philippe checking if she had any cancellations, the last one making her scream
loudly
with frustration
.

“Why will he not give up
?
” she had cried, Sam smiling at her before cautiously suggesting
.

“Perhaps you should meet him, he is the best man after all.....and if you get it over and done with.....he will have nothing to chase you for”
.

Bella had given her a thoughtful look, before picking up her phone and texting a message to him
.

“Fine...I told him that I will meet him at 12.30 tomorrow before lunch.  He gets 30 mins
“she
had said with finality, Sam saying nothing as she had smiled
.

At that
Sam’s
phone had rang, laughing at hearing Philippe
’s voice
.

“Hi Sam, I think that there is a problem with
Bella’s
phone, could I talk to her please”
.

Sam
has passed
the phone over to a speechless Bella, who had listened to the man on the other side, her eyes opening wider and wider
with
incredulity;
unable to get a word in
sideways
as she had blustered
“
no
”
several times before the call had ended.  Bella had wordlessly ha
n
ded the phone back
a stupefied look on her face
.

“He is unbelievable” was all she could finally blurt out
.

“He agreed, but thought it better that we just have a longer lunch, so eat while we talk”
.

Looking over at Sam her eyes so wide

“He says he
will book
the table. 
I...
I never said I was having lunch with HIM”
.

At this Sam had broken down into hysterical laughter, tears streaming down her face
.

“Oh my god Bella, you wanted him to try harder.......well you just got your wish”
.

Bella had scowled
.

“No...
No
second chances”
.

But Sam had noticed as she had turned away a small smile had touched her lovely lips.

T
he next ten
days had been a blur to Sam.  Between meetings with Bella to discuss the wedding plans, meetings with designers to purchase the right kind of clothes for the many eve
nts they had to attend and the
g
alas and
f
und
-
raising events that Dante had scheduled them for so that they would be visibly seen as a couple together, she had no time of her own to even draw breath.  He had been attentive
at all the events, ensuring that they remained together,
introducing her to his friends and protecting her from the many paparazzi who had just learnt of the merger of the Trey and Durant corporations.

Sam had not cared about her wedding dress, having little enthusiasm for picking the perfect accessory for his wedding show.  However, Bella had vetoed her first choice, declaring it to be ugly and frumpy, and spending a day with her moving from bridal boutique to boutique.  When she had tried on the ivory satin dress in one of the final shops, Sam had seen as her friends eyes had filled up, her hands flying to her mouth
.

“Oh Sam...” she had cried
.

“You look so beautiful”
.

Sam looking in the mirror
had not been
able to hold back her own smile.  The dress was stunning.  The fitted bodice showed off her slim frame
, the cut
-
away neckline
revealing
her milky skin
,
a small strap on her upper arm of embroidered lace, so delicate in its design.  The
long skirt
had fallen out from her waist and a
s she had moved, the long train had followed her and for the first time Sam really had felt like a bride, feeling the tears coming to her own eyes
, Bella rushing forward to hug her
.

“It is perfect......it is you” she had declared as Sam had been only able to nod, her eyes unable to move from the dress she wore.  Bella had quickly found the owner, organising for the minor alterations to be done that day and matching the
dress with shoes and a veil
, Sam
not wanting a tiara, but instead settling for a headdress which floated over her long hair.  She was so glad to have Bella there, knowing that she was the closest thing to a sister she had ever had, happy to have her there to share in the whole experience with her, and giving her an unexpected hug she had made the other girl laugh.

The night before the wedding Dante had declared that as was customary, he would not be staying at the
apartment
, but would stay at a hotel, flashing a grin at Bella.

“Also I believe that it is customary for the groom to spend time with the best man, doing best
man’y
things”
.

While Bella had giggled, Sam had looked down at her feet, not wanting to seem interested in where he was going, knowing that she had made it very clear to him on their
second meeting that as far as she was concerned he could do what he wanted, but feeling the tightening of her gut at the thought of it
.  Since their lunch together at the beginning of the week, Sam had noticed that whenever
Philippe’s
name was mentioned her friends would go quiet, often blushing slightly, fobbing her off as to how the lunch had gone.

That
morning Bella, who had been staying with her that n
ight had burst into the room, h
er eyes shining
nearly as brightly as her smile

“Wakey wakey....it’s wedding day” she had laughed parading comically around the room humming the wedding theme as she had mimicked a royal bride, waving delicately to Sam, who had laughed back flinging a pillow at her.  To her surprise she
had slept well that night with no dreams to disturb her much
-
needed rest.  With a sigh she had pushed back the covers of
Dante’s
bed, having moved into his bed the previous night so as not to make Bella suspicious of the fact that the two till that n
ight had slept in separate beds.  W
ith a frown
she had wondered
if being in his bed had given her
the
first good
night’s
sleep since she had arrived, chiding herself that it was more likely his non presence in the apartment.

True to his word he had not even attempted to persuade her into sleeping with him “to catch up” as he had put it only a few weeks previously, and Sam had told herself that she was pleased with this, not prepared to admit to the many times she had kicked herself for her lustful thoughts.  He had ensured that they were not alone for long, moving straight into his room after returning from the events they had attended every night since they had announced their engagement.  As he had predicted the press had indeed bayed for a story, and she had been glad that she was able
to hide
inside his well protected apartment.  While he had been aloof, but polite, there had been times when she had caught him watching her with a look which had sent tremors through her body.  Sam once more reminding herself that this was Dante, the man who had so nearly destroyed her life, the memories of the past pulling her through keeping the anger warm in her belly.

Bella
had grabbed her hand, pulling
her into the kitchen, where
Sam
had smiled warmly seeing the assortment of breakfast dishes
, sinking
down into the comfortable chair and eaten some delicious
eggs and salmon.  While she felt nervous and sick at what was to come, she had known that without eating
something
she might actually be sick
, Bella laughing telling her horror stories of brides not so wise, Sam finding herself in hysterics really enjoying their time together
.  As the two women had eaten, Bella had pulled out a
large envelope
handing it to Sam
.