Blackmailed Merger (30 page)

She had stood up
nodding before
looking suddenly wary, as she had turned to face him
, her expression more serious
.

“I think it would be better if I got my own room now” she had said softly, seeing the way the smile had fallen from his lips, as slowly he had risen too.

“There is no need for that...”

He had began, as she had moved further from him, her voice pleading
.

“It was our agreement Dante, and I would feel better if we did”
.

His eyes had become colder as he had stiffened
.

“You are my wife Sam, this is our child, and we stay together”
.

She had looked sadly over at him
.

“I don’t think you remember our agreement Dante.  I am only your wife until such times as we have a son.  Then you agreed that we go
our separate ways
and you get to keep your
and my
father’s
business”
.

He had scowled, his hand rubbing his forehead
.

“Yes, but that was then Sam.........before”
.

He had moved for
ward taking her gently into his arms, feeling as she had for the first time that he had ever known her stiffened, the surprise showing on his face
.

“No.....you chose your company over me and this baby
Dante
and you will stick to our agreement just as I have done”
.

Stepping back from her, Sam had seen the hurt deep within his eyes, as she had hardened her heart, sticking resolutely to her course of action.  After a long silence he had looked away, nodding
.

“OK, but you should stay here.  This is your room”
.

Seeing her open her mouth to protest, he had continued moving towards the door
.

“I will get another room” moving quickly from the room they had shared, Sam suddenly feeling so sad, as she had sat back down on the bed, feeling the tears streaming down her face as she had reminded herself that it had to be this way, her hand once more gently moving to stroke her belly.

Six
weeks later Sam
had
sat
drinking her coffee,
staring
unseeing down at the creamy
latté
, her mind lost in thought
s
once more
full of
Dante.  Since her decision to have him move out of the room they had shared, things had grown
more difficult, the two growing further apart as his attempts to draw her back in, to move back into their bed had failed. 
She had shut him out completely, knowing that he was confused with the way she had insisted on their having no further sex,
frowning each time she would freeze if he tried to pull her towards him.  Dante
had began working longer hours, Sam also working long hours with the two of them only passing each other as they had come or gone to work. 

At the week-ends she had found excuses to spend as little time with him as possible, needing to back away from him knowing that their time together was coming to an end.  She had known how destroyed she had been when they had originally broken up, but this time it was going to be different, and Sam was going to make sure that it was.  One thing that she had not been able to change was his insistence that they spend Sunday together for lunch, where he had been patient and interested in her work and health.  Sam had told herself that this was just his attempt to keep some control of her, but she had found the lunches unsettling, her desire for him not diminishing despite the way she had tried so hard to move back from him.

Giving a small sigh she had pushed the thought from her mind, smiling at the thought of the small life growing inside her, signs of it still not showing.  She had decided to keep the fact of her pregnancy quiet until she had reached the 12 week period, though she was still wary of making it public.  However, she had felt so well, everybody commenting how
healthy
she looked
that she was really getting excited about this new life inside her, this little baby she would love no matter
its
reasons for coming into the world
.

As the woman had slid into the seat opposite, she had looked up in surprise, seeing the professional attractive woman now sat across from her
.

“
Mrs Dura
nt” the woman had said politely, as Sam had given a small frown
.

“Can I help you” she had asked warily seeing as the other woman had smiled back, not a pleasant smile, one which was practiced not reaching her cold eyes
.

“
Actually Mrs Dura
nt, it is perhaps I that can help you”
.

Raising her eyebrow she had replied coldly
.

“I was not aware I needed help”
.

Seeing as the other woman had held her gaze
.

“I represent
a consortium who is
interested in the stock options on your husband
’s
company
that
you control”
.

Sam had gasped in surprise, scow
ling
.

“I do not think I would like to discuss this with you” she had bit out making to stand up, as the other woman had pulled out a document
.

“Please, just look this over”
.

Seeing as Sam had pushed it away
.

“I don’t think so”
.

“Mrs
Durant
we are aware of the deal you and your husband
and your father
made that made him the CEO of your father
’
s company”
.

Looking back in shock she had felt herself drop back into her seat, her eyes narrowing
.

“What do you mean by that
?
” she had questioned, her voice unsure as the other woman had continued
.

“That your marriage is one of convenience and that after you give birth to a male child that you and Mr D
urant
will separate with you bringing up the child yourself. 
That your child through you
controls 25% of your
husband’s
company
”

Sam had felt her mouth drop as she had looked at the woman, her voice
an
almost
inaudible
.

“How do you know that?”

Seeing as the woman had smiled again
.

“From your
husband’s
mistress
...she works for us
”
.

Pulling out a picture she had slid it across the table, Sam seeing Dante smiling down at the woman she had seen
him with at
the wedding, her insides growing cold at the realisation that he had never ended his relationship with the beautiful woman.  Her mind reminded of the deal in which she had told him that she cared little if he continued having a mistress, feeling betrayed
and hurt
in
spite of what she had said, s
colding herself knowing that she had insis
ted on her terms
being met,
so why should
he not.
  She had told him that she did not care if he had some mistress taking care of his needs, the needs she had been so unwilling to
provide him with, her eyes closing slowly with hurt that pervaded every part of her.

“What do you want
?
” she had asked stonily as the woman had again pushed the paper towards her
.

“Soon there will be a
bid to take over your
husband’s
company.  It cannot move forward unless 30% of stock holders vote for it.  We have nearly 10% and you hold 25%”
.

Sam had felt her eyes narrowing further
.

“We are prepared to pay you three million dollars if you vote our way.   That is all........just vote our way.  This piece of paper is
our guarantee that we will pay
you.  It is a good deal Mrs Dura
nt....
and you will still own the stocks
in the business, which will only go higher
”
.

Sam had made to push the paper
s
back, as the woman had stopped her
.

“The choice is yours Mrs Dura
nt, but three million dollars will be a good start for you and your child I think
.  We will be in touch with a date
”
.

Before rising quickly and moving back out of the coffe
e
shop
, leaving the document and picture behind
.  Sam had lifted the
papers
her hands making to tear it in half, before the woman’s last words had stopped her. 
Savaging her lip she had stared at it for several second
s
, before f
olding it in half
and placing it
inside he
r purse
.  Her eye had caught the picture
also
left,
lifting the picture of her husband with the other woman,
trying hard to push down the image of
her
in his arms, in his bed
, feeling the heat of tears at the back of her eyes
.
  She had told him that she did not care if he had mistresses, so why was it tearing her insides apart
?