Blackmailed Merger

by Kelly, Marie

  Finally he had been able to move from her, his strong arms pulling her with him, holding her securely within his arms both silent as their hearts had taken time to slow down, the breeze from the large window blowing over their bodies cooling their skin. It had been Dante who had eventually kissed her head, his voice soft.

  “Now you really are my wife Samantha Durant”.

  Sam had felt the tears start to rise in her eyes, the emotions ripping through her, something so deep within tearing from her heart. Hearing the small sob escape her, he had moved to pull her harder against him.

  “Please don’t cry Cara” he had whispered, strange emotions swamping him, as he had cradled her in his arms.

  “We will be good together” Sam looking into his face, her eyes even larger as tears had magnified the greenness, her lips trembling. With a groan he had cupped her face, his mouth once more finding hers, his kiss so gentle against her mouth. The fires had once more risen within them both, as slowly much slower they had once more made love, both exploring the other, their touches re-familiarising themselves with the other.

  Chapter Seven

  Waking, Sam had moaned softly, her hand brushing the other side of the bed, frowning finding it empty as her eyes had flown open. With a sigh she had looked at the time, cursing softly. She never slept in this late, wondering why Dante had not woken her, while at the same time feeling tiredness tugging at her once more. Pushing the sheets away she had sat up, instantly regretting it as a wave of nausea had swept over her, Sam only just making it into the bathroom on time.

  Shakily returning to the bed, she had sat down, her mind in turmoil. In the past four weeks since their return from their honeymoon, she and Dante had slipped into a routine. An almost unspoken truce had descended on the two, as they had slipped into a version of their previous life.

  Both would get up early together and Sam usually the first home would cook dinner as she always had. However, whereas these times together where usually full of such laughter and hope for the future, Dante had felt the way she had held back from him, the always present spectre of knowledge that their marriage was transient and would end soon holding something back within her, and he had missed that. They had made love often, this being the one time that they had not been able to hold back anything from the other. Their lovemaking so intense, so full of the honest desire and need they had for the other, neither questioning the intensity.

  With a frown Sam had reached into the bedside cabinet beside her, pulling from it the small tester, her teeth savaging her lips, as she had felt the panic deep within. Swallowing hard and returning once more to the bathroom, she had told herself over and over that it was too soon, much too soon.

  Later that afternoon, she had sat before the doctor, seeing as he had smiled warmly at her.

  “Congratulations Mrs Durant” his booming voice had cried, as despite herself, she had smiled back looking down at her small stomach, tears filling her eyes. She had been surprised at the flood of love that had heralded the news, knowing that she already loved this child, her and Dante’s child, surprising herself with the intensity of her emotional response, not prepared to acknowledge the part of her suddenly so sad as her mind had moved to think of Dante.

  Returning home that evening, he had been surprised to not see her in the kitchen as she usually was. With a frown he had moved to their room looking for her, feeling concerned as she had not responded to his calls. Opening the bedroom door he had felt a surge of relief seeing her. She had sat on the side of the bed, her hands gently moving over her stomach. A gentle smile had filled her features, her skin almost glowing with happiness. Hearing the door open, she had looked up to see Dante smiling over at her.

  “Good day?” he had questioned, his eyes taking in how happy she looked.

  “You look like you had a good day” grinning as he had moved towards her.

  Standing quickly Sam had moved out of his reach, Dante frowning softly, his eyes questioning.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She had moved to the other side of the bed, sitting down on the soft mattress.

  “Sit down please” she had said gently, Dante feeling the prickling of unease as he had moved to do as she had asked, confused with her attitude while her eyes seemed to shine with such happiness.

  “Dante.........I’m pregnant” she had finally said, her mouth breaking out into that wonderful smile that had his heart flip flopping.

  He had stared at her, completely speechless, his eyes moving to her stomach, his hands moving to gently touch it.

  “You’re...........pregnant” he had repeated in dumbfound shock, feeling such strong emotions filling him, feeling such happiness.

  “H...how long?” had been all he could get out; as she had chuckled softly at the trouble he was having to process it .

  “About five weeks” she had replied.

  “Looks like we have a honeymoon baby” smiling at the stunned expression on his face.

  “Oh my God Sam” his voice almost a whisper, as he had looked at her, his face alight with joy.

  “We...........we’re going to be parents?” he had questioned in disbelief.

  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 forward 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.

  Chapter Eight

  Six weeks later Sam had sat drinking her coffee, staring unseeing down at the creamy latté, her mind lost in thoughts 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 Sa
m 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 Durant” 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 Durant, 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, scowling.

  “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 Durant 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, scolding herself knowing that she had insisted 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 Durant.... and you will still own the stocks in the business, which will only go higher”.

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

  “The choice is yours Mrs Durant, 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 coffee 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 seconds, before folding it in half and placing it inside her 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?

  Three days later Dante had sat in the restaurant, his mind trying to focus on the meeting taking place around him. His companions had looked at each other with confusion, seeing the normally focussed man swirling his drink absently, his thoughts so obviously elsewhere. He had frowned, his mind returning to his informer who had contacted him to report the meeting Sam had with a woman he knew. A woman who worked for a company hell bent on taking over his.

  Allowing Sam to keep the shares had been risky he knew, but the details of their arrangement had been top secret, only three people knowing of them, Sam, Daniel and himself, and despite everything he could not see Daniel revealing them and risking his own business. With a small sigh he had felt sickened to know that the only one who could have contacted his rival was Samantha, the knowledge twisting like a knife within him. He would of course ensure that she never be able to use the shares against him, but knowing that she had tried had hurt him more than he would have thought possible.

  Since her meeting with his competitor’s agent, Carlotta, things had gotten even worse between them. Giving a wry smile his mouth had tightened in mockery of himself having thought that they could not get any worse. However, she seemed to walk around the apartment in an almost dream-like state and every time he tried to touch her she would shrink back from him, her arms moving around herself in a protective posture, her eyes glaring at him full of a hurt he could not understand.

  With another frown he had thought of the only conversation she had had with him, in which she had told him of her friend and now almost partner Joseph’s marriage breakup. This news shaking him, as the only time he saw her smile was when she would take his calls, her demeanour softening as they both had joked and laughed together in the way she used to with him.

  Looking up absently his eyes had widened in shocked disbelief, Dante gasping, not even excusing himself from the others who had all stared at him with concern all looking wordlessly at each other as the tall man had strode quickly from the table. He had moved over to a booth, one almost hidden in the shadows, where Sam sat with Joseph, her hand holding his as she had looked deeply into his eyes, her‘s full of such softness . The jealousy within tearing painfully deep inside his belly as his legendary coolness had slipped Dante moving to stand before his wife, his whole body rigid his eyes blazing.

  Joseph had looked up in surprise to see his old friend stood by their table. Smiling warmly at him he had been further surprised to see the cold look on his face.

  “Dante, great to see you”.

  He had smiled, seeing as the tall man had frowned back, his eyes falling to his wife.

  “Samantha time to go home” he had bit out, Sam gasping at his rudeness, her eyes flying apologetically to Joseph.

  “Dante......Joe and I are in a meeting....I can’t...”.

  She had been given no time to finish as he had glared down on her.

  “I said NOW”.

  His whole body bristling with barely controlled rage. Joseph had looked in surprise at both, taking in Samantha’s discomfort and Dante’s fury.

  “Its fine Sam, we can finish this tomorrow” he had mumbled, his voice showing t
he confusion he felt, seeing as Dante’s jaw had clenched even tighter. Sam had looked over at him, her features full of mortification and apologies.

  “erm.......sure... thanks Joe” she had managed, seeing as Dante had moved away from the table, his whole body rigid screaming anger. Giving her friend a last apologetic look she had moved from the table following her husband out of the restaurant, his whole body stiff with a fury she did not understand.