The Billionaire's Blackmailed Heiress (4 page)

Looking over at the young woman still watching him with shocked eyes, he had finished.

“Your half-brother has forced a meeting of the board for a month’s time, at which he will demand the sale of the company to one of my main rivals. Now while the vote may go my way…I am not a man who likes to take chances Miss Lane. Your appearance means that you now have one third right to the company. It also means that when it goes to vote you will have the casting decision”.

Leaning forward he had held her eyes with his.

“I want you to come forward and to vote with me to ensure that my company is not sold from under me. The villa your mother is staying is not far from my own home, so I propose that you come and stay with me until the vote. Then you may move in with your mother and I will ensure that you are paid handsomely for your support”.

Shaking her head vehemenantly Mina had muttered.

“No, no, no…I can’t do that …I do not want to do that” her once sparkling eyes now full of hopelessness and pleading.

“Please Mr Dupris…do not ask that of me. Coming forward…I will be hounded by the press…you know that. Another scandal for the tabloids”.

She had seen as his lips had pressed together firmly, his brows frowning.

“That is why I ask that you come and stay with me. In my home I can offer you some protection…and it will mean that the press will leave your mother alone”.

Dropping her eyes once more to the perfect view of the water and the slowly sinking sun, the sky breaking into glorious colour, silence had descended on the two of them, Mina trying hard to pull herself together to allow the tranquil setting to bring some calm to her shocked body. After several minutes she had once more turned to him.

“And what if I refuse?” her voice almost inaudible, Nikos sighing softly.

“If you refuse, then at the end of the month, your mother will be asked to leave and no matter who else you might approach, you will find that the villa will no longer be an option for you to rent”.

Looking at the man before her with eyes full of such pain she had whispered “You would do that to a dying woman? A woman who just wants to spend the last of her days in the one place she was most happy?”

He had looked back holding her gaze steadily, his expression grim and firm.

“I would do whatever it takes to protect my company Miss Lane, whatever it takes”.

Once more looking away she had nodded her head softly, her shoulders slightly stooped, her voice defeated.

“It seems you have left me with little choice Mr Dupris, I will do what you want”.

While feeling relief that she had agreed, Nikos could not help but feel the discomfort of guilt which tugged so deeply at him his voice once more soft but businesslike.

“I have already contacted a medical crew who specialise in home support. They will be waiting to help your mother whenever her condition requires it”.

Still not looking at him, he had seen her nod softly in understanding.

“Tomorrow I will organise for your belongings to be brought from your hotel to my home, but I have also ensured that you receive an allowance so that you can update your wardrobe to meet the expectations of the board”.

At this she had frowned, her head flying around to look back at him.

“I don’t understand…what does it matter how I look?”

She had seen as he had flicked his eyes over the summer dress she wore, his look telling her more than she wanted to know.

“You will find yourself in many business situations Miss Lane, and there will be many social functions you will be required to attend. While you look lovely, you are not exactly dressed for these occasions and I suspect you did not pack for them either”.

With a scowl, she had felt her insides shrivel at his disdain, before giving a weary sigh, her hand pushing the hair from her face.

“No, I guess not Mr Dupris” her mouth clamping shut, her eyes falling to her clasped hands. His hand covering hers had made her jump in surprise, her look flying up to his, seeing as he had removed his glasses and was now looking intently at her.

“At any other time Mina, please believe that I would have done exactly what you asked. Your offer was very fair, and your reasons honourable”.

She had seen as his features had hardened, his lips forming a set line.

“Your half-brother is not a good person Mina, he is very like your father, and I will not lie to you and tell you that there was any love lost between us…there was not”.

His fingers had gently stroked hers, sending the strangest tingling through Mina, who had fought hard to hold back the small moan from her lips.

“You however, I do not think are like him. So I hope that you will understand my position. I hope that you will understand that I must protect my company and those people who work for me. The people that your brother would put out of work without a second thought”.

Nikos had watched as her eyes had grown softer, the realisation of just what he was facing filling her too as she had nodded softly.

“I guess that you are only protecting those you love too Mr Dupris”.

Her gentle words making his mouth curve into a smile.

“Yes…..I guess I am” an understanding look passing between them both.

Later as she had lain in the small hotel bed she had thought of the rest of the day. When he had found out that her intention was to visit her mother, he had organised for a taxi to be available for her use. This small thoughtful act had confused Mina even more. She wanted so much to dislike Nikos, this overbearing and domineering man who had pushed her into a situation she so obviously did not want to be in and yet he kept redeeming himself with small acts of kindness such as the taxi. As she had sighed, she had reminded herself of the way he had used her mother’s situation as blackmail to meet his own purposes. No, Nikos Dupris was manipulative and ruthless, Mina knowing that he would crush her or anybody else who dared stand in his way. However, as she had fallen asleep it was his eyes that had been her final thought, those sensual sexy eyes that had the power to send tremors through her even in a dream.

The next day as promised a large car had arrived to pick Mina up. The driver, a tall handsome man with a polite smile and warm eyes had insisted on carrying her small bag as he had held the door for her, Mina smiling at his thoughtfulness. As they had driven the small distance to Nikos’ villa, he had chatted happily to her in perfect English. She had discovered that his name was Yanis and that he and his family lived on Nikos’ estate. His father was the gardener and mother the housekeeper and he had happily answered her many questions about the estate, Mina finding herself liking him very much. She had been happy to discover that as well as driving he also did odd jobs around the grounds, glad to know that there would be a friendly face around she could talk to. Aware that he was speaking she had leant forward slightly to hear him.

“There are only really two great villas here” he had chuckled, as they had passed a small picturesque village, its houses almost seeming to organically rise from the ground itself.

“There is Nikos’ home…by far the most impressive, and the Villa Aqua, which is being rented”.

Mina had instantly recognised the name of the villa her mother was staying at.

“Are they close?” she had asked gently, closing her eyes softly as he had nodded “Only about ten miles apart”.

Something deep inside Mina had clenched at the knowledge of how her father had carried on his affair with her mother right under his wife’s nose. It seemed cold blooded, and she had grown silent, the other man sensing something wrong within her.

“Madam are you alright?” he had asked gently as she had pulled her unseeing eyes back from the window to give him a small smile.

“Yes…and please Yanis call me Mina”.

In the mirror she had seen as he had nodded, a smile lighting up his handsome features.

“How long are you staying at the villa Mina?”

She had given a small frown, not sure of the answer to that herself.

“I’m don’t really know. A few weeks, a month or so” she had responded vaguely.

Yanis had given her a quizzical look, but had not pursued the matter.

“My mother will enjoy having another woman about” he had said softly “Nikos is not big on having guests, and the women tend not to stay for long”.

Realising that he had gone too far, Yanis had given Mina an apologetic look.

“Forgive me, I should not have said that…Nikos is a good man, just likes his space”.

Mina could see the discomfort on his features, at what he obviously perceived as talking out of line about his employer, and had smiled softly. She imaged that many women spent the night at the villa, but it was interesting to find out that none of them stayed.

As they had rounded the next bend, the road had opened up into a large clearing and Mina had gasped.

The villa truly was breathtaking, and she had leant forward to stare at it. With her artistic eye, even Mina was stunned with how perfectly the villa sat near the edge of the cliff. The aqua of the sea in the background had silhouetted the white-washed walls and terracotta tiled roof with plants creeping up parts of the building itself. Around the estate gardens grew everywhere, the burst of colour vibrant in the setting of the green hillside. That it was large she could see from the many verandas which led from the long windows around the second floor of the home.

With a small gasp, she had appreciated all of this in an instant, hearing Yanis chuckle “Did I not say it was the most beautiful villa?”

Mina had only been able to nod as the car had swept up the long driveway to the grand entrance. As the car had come to a halt, an older woman had rushed from the inside of the house, talking animatedly in Greek to Yanis, who had smiled warmly back, the woman smiling also at Mina, her expression one of nervous respect.

“Good afternoon Madam” she had said softly, giving almost a small curtsy, as Yanis had chuckled, quickly throwing words full of humour at her as he had lifted out Mina’s bag moving forward with her to meet his mother.

“Mina, I should like you to meet my mother” he had said Mina holding back the soft laugh, as the other woman had thrown him a shocked look for his informality. Extending her hand she had taken the surprised looking woman’s, shaking it gently.

“Please call me Mina” she had smiled, her eyes full of warmth, seeing as the other woman had relaxed nodding and smiling back.

“Then you must call me Theresa” she had insisted, as Mina had nodded in return, her eyes once more flying to the villa, shining with wonder.

“It is truly a beautiful place Theresa” she had murmured softly, as the older woman had enthusiastically nodded.

“Wait till you see the inside Mina” she had chuckled, taking her arm and leading her inside. Surprised at this intimate act, she had looked back at Yanis, who was smiling, his eyes full of merriment as he had mouthed ‘she likes you’, Mina giving him a return grin.

Inside Mina had found herself being given the grand tour. Each room was more charming than the last, decorated simply yet elegantly with the understated stamp of wealth that so many homes failed to achieve. Each room led onto the large hallway, the marble tiles causing her small heels to make such a musical sound as she walked. Moving up the grand stairs, the railings made to mimic the outside marble balustrade, she had been only able to gasp at the large chandelier which hung down from the ceiling, natural light pouring in from the glass window which showed the blue of the sky above.

From the upper landing which circulated around all of the rooms, Theresa had moved to one corner room, pushing the door open with a flourish.

“I hope that you will find this to your liking Madam” she had said with pride, laughing as Mina had given her a mock hurt look “Mina ….” she had corrected, Theresa smiling, her eyes full of humour.

“I hope you like this room Mina…If not then for you I will change it”.

Mina had moved into the large bedroom, her hands flying to her mouth as she had gasped.

“Wow…this is so beautiful” her eyes drinking in the expensive furnishings, before she had moved to the large ornate French windows which lay open, the breeze catching the soft curtains and billowing them out. Mina had thought how the whole room looked like something she had seen in a movie, her lips giving a dazzling smile, before she had moved out onto the balcony, seeing as her room overlooked the sea.

“Oh Theresa…I have never seen anything so lovely” she had finally managed, the housekeeper nodding with approval.

“Good…then I will leave you to settle in…your bag is here for you if you wish me to unpack”.

Giving a surprised look, she had shaken her head.

“No…please, I can do that myself. Please don’t run after me”.

Theresa had given her a surprised look, nodding and moving back to the door.

“You are a nice girl Mina. Welcome to the Villa Dupris, I think that you will be happy here”.

Throwing the housekeeper a final smile, her gaze had once more returned to the view. Sighing with complete contentment her eyes had closed, allowing the sound of the birds and the smell of the salt water which lazily washed against the rocks below to fill her, the sea-breeze a welcome relief from the searing heat of the mid-day sun.

Hearing the door tentatively open, she had turned expecting the housekeeper to have forgotten something, only to see a small girl before her.

“Hello” she had smiled warmly, seeing as the little girl had warily looked back at her, Mina holding back the laugh as the child had battled her desire to run away against her need to know more of the stranger. Finally her curiosity getting the better of her as she had given a shy smile back, “Hello” she had responded as Mina had moved closer.

“My name is Mina, and who are you?” she had asked gently, as the small girl, no more than five or six had looked thoughtfully at her, in the way that children did, her face serious, her head angled slightly.

“Dina” had been her eventual response as she had continued to regard Mina.

“You’re pretty” she had finally stated, Mina holding back the laugh that sprang to her lips.