She sighed deeply. ‘If it means that we can end this whole charade then I suppose I shall have to. So, Jacob, what is the one thing you still want to complete your life?’
‘You.’
The single word seemed to fill the silence, growing bigger and bigger with each second until she could feel it beating against her, inside her, drumming and throbbing like something live. As though from a great distance she saw the glass drop from her hand, watched the wine spread like blood across the damask tablecloth, heard the shattering tinkle of breaking glass, yet she couldn’t seem to move.
She had come tonight to hurt him, to make him pay for everything he had done, but she had been a fool to imagine she could achieve that. Jacob Hunt was invulnerable. He had proved that time and again as he had ruthlessly clawed his way to the top. He was a predator without mercy and she had just made the biggest mistake of her life to forget that.
She had entered the lion’s den meaning to wound him and by doing so allowed herself to get trapped!
CHAPTER TWO
THERE was a soft tapping on the door. Helen heard it only vaguely. Her head was reeling, her whole body consumed by shock. When Jacob crossed the room to answer it she stared almost blankly at Baxter, who stood uncertainly in the doorway.
‘Is everything all right, Mr Hunt?’
‘Fine, think you, Baxter. Miss Sinclair just had a slight accident and broke a glass. See that it is cleared up immediately, please.’ Jacob glanced back over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing as they fell on Helen’s still figure. ‘And bring the first-aid box to the study. Miss Sinclair appears to have cut her hand.’
Helen glanced down at her hand, only then becoming aware of the long gash on her finger. She hadn’t noticed it before and now she could feel it starting to throb as blood oozed from the cut. She picked up her bag to find a handkerchief to wrap around it, but suddenly Jacob was there beside her, his fingers firm as he lifted the bag from her hands.
‘Leave it. I’ll put a dressing on it when I have the first-aid box. Come into the study, then Baxter can get this mess cleared up.’
He slid his hand under her elbow but Helen pulled away from his hold at once. ‘I’m not going anywhere with you. I want to leave.’
He smiled thinly, his blue eyes lingering on the stark pallor of her face, the line of white circling her lips. ‘I don’t think you are in a fit state to go anywhere just yet, Helen. I have no intention of allowing you to go rushing off to have an accident.’
‘You won’t allow it? Damn you, Jacob, just who do you think you are to issue your orders? You don’t own me!’
‘No?’ His face filled with mockery, his eyes glittering coldly into hers. ‘I thought that was why you had come tonight, Helen? Because you had suddenly found out that I do own you. I own everything you have from the flat you live in to the clothes on your back.’ His gaze dropped to the black silk dress and the curves of her body beneath. ‘You have been the most beautiful investment I’ve ever made and now I hope to reap some rewards from it.’
‘Damn you, Jacob! You are totally despicable! You forced my father into a corner so that he couldn’t refuse your offers to help!’ She tossed the heavy, silky weight of her hair back, glaring up at him with pure hatred in her eyes.
‘Is that what he told you? Is that how he explained why he was so eager to accept the offer of a place to live rent-free, enough money to meet his bills?’ His laughter was harsh and cutting. It made Helen take a step back but Jacob caught her arm and forced her to meet his angry gaze. ‘Your father almost snapped my hand off when I told him what I was prepared to do. Perhaps you should take a leaf out of his book, Helen, and forget your pride. It is a luxury I doubt you can afford now.’
She wasn’t aware of raising her hand. It was only when she heard the sickening sound of it striking his lean cheek that she realised what she had done. For one long moment Helen stared at her handiwork then turned and fled along the hall, but she wasn’t fast enough to evade him.
When Jacob caught her around the waist and half dragged, half lifted her towards the study, she struggled wildly, her hand raising once more.
‘Don’t!’ His voice was black ice as he uttered the single word, his eyes glittering with an anger that made her shrink away from him. When he hustled her into the room then closed the door as he let her go, she backed away from him at once and saw him smile in a way which sent a shiver down her spine.
‘That’s right, Helen. Opt for caution this time. Don’t ever forget that I am not one of your milk-and-water men-friends.’
‘I loathe you, Jacob Hunt,’ she hissed out from between tight-drawn lips. ‘I hate you more than ever now that I’ve found out what you have been up to!’
‘If your father had been any sort of a man then you would have found out about it sooner, sweetheart. In fact, if he had been any sort of a man at all he would never have accepted my offer in the first place.’
‘And why did you make it?’ She laughed bitterly. ‘I know how you feel about me and my family so I can’t believe it was the result of some sudden rush of conscience! There had to be something else behind it all.’
‘There was. Haven’t you worked that out yet, Helen? Come, come. It’s not like you to be so slow.’ He walked over to the drinks table and poured himself some brandy, then stood warming it between his hands as he watched her.
‘I’m afraid I find it difficult to understand how a mind like yours works, Jacob.’ She shrugged dismissively but it was merely an attempt to hide her fear. She’d been shocked and horrified when her father had told her the truth last night. She’d spent hours going over it all, trying to understand why Jacob had done such a thing, but even now she couldn’t fully understand his motives. Bit by bit he had whittled away at the very fabric of her life, taking the business, the house, even Richard.
She had been stunned when Richard had told her a few weeks ago that he had accepted an offer from Hunt Electronics and would be flying out to New York for training before taking on a management post with the company. He knew nothing about the long-running feud with Jacob so had seen nothing strange about the wonderful opportunity. Helen had known differently at once. Jacob had offered Richard the position because of her. She and Richard had been seeing each other for almost a year, but although recently Richard had started talking tentatively about marriage Helen had hesitated about making such a commitment. Richard was pleasant company and she was fond of him, but marriage was a step she didn’t feel ready for.
However, when Richard had told her with more than a touch of pride that he had been head-hunted by the prestigious firm, Helen hadn’t had the heart to tell him her suspicions. Jacob Hunt was deliberately removing Richard from her life to ruin her chances of happiness. Then when she had discovered those cheques signed by Jacob in the desk drawer last night and her father had finally told her the truth, it had been the final straw. But anger had clouded her reasoning and that was a dangerous mistake to make around Jacob!
‘Why do I get the feeling that wasn’t a compliment?’
‘Probably because you know it would be a cold day in hell before I ever paid you a compliment! Let’s cut out the verbal fencing, Jacob. It isn’t like you to be so reticent about your aims.’
‘All right then, Helen. If you want the plain unvarnished truth then you can have it. Everything I have done has had but one purpose and that was to get you. I told you earlier that you were the one thing I still want, so it can’t come as a total surprise.’
‘And do you really imagine that I feel beholden to you for paying our bills and giving us somewhere to live?’ She laughed out loud then bit her lip when she heard it starting to get out of control. ‘I suppose you must have done, but I’m afraid you’ve wasted your money. You made a bad investment, Jacob, because nothing would ever induce me to have any kind of relationship with you!’
‘Not even if I threaten to have you and your father evicted immediately?’ He shrugged as he watched her face. ‘You live there rent-f
ree so I would be within my rights.’
He had thought of everything, of course. Right down to the finest detail. It just served to prove exactly what he was like. Helen smiled with chilling sweetness, her face filled with contempt. ‘I would tell you to go straight ahead. If you throw us out then we shall find somewhere else to go, but just think of all the bad publicity it could create for you, Jacob. Imagine what the papers would make of your actions if I told, or rather sold, my story to them.’ She laughed with faint triumph. ‘I’m sure I would need the money, wouldn’t I? Because your next threat just has to be to stop paying our living expenses. Am I right?’
He smiled slowly, his teeth gleaming against his tanned skin, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. He raised the brandy glass and drank, then set it down calmly on the desk. ‘I wonder if I have underestimated you, sweet Helen? You seem to have a counter-move for everything I do.’
Elation was so sweet she felt drunk on it. She smoothed the black silk dress over her hips then re-fastened the top button. ‘You win some, you lose some, Jacob. You must know that?’
‘I do. What is that saying about even the best laid schemes....?’ He gave a faint, dismissive shrug of his wide shoulders, his eyes never leaving her face. Helen shifted uncomfortably, something about the situation making her uneasy. It wasn’t like Jacob to give in so easily, yet what could he do now that she had made it plain she wouldn’t be blackmailed into anything? It was laughable really; he had truly believed that she would meekly fall in with his plans just to keep a roof over her head and a few pounds in the bank! It was like something out of a story, the dutiful daughter sacrificing herself for the good of her family. Well, it was going to be tough, but somehow she and her father would manage!
She turned to leave the room and put an end to the whole ridiculous situation, then slowed to a halt when Jacob spoke. ‘You never asked me what sort of a “relationship” with you I had in mind, Helen. Doesn’t it interest you at all?’
The feeling of unease was growing stronger. It slid coldly down her spine, made her legs feel weak and shaky. It was an effort to turn back to look at him but she made herself do it, afraid to let him see her fear. ‘Not much, but I suppose good manners dictate that I at least make some pretence of interest. So, Jacob, what did you have in mind?’
His smile was slow and dangerous, so sensual as it travelled the length of her body that Helen could feel it. Heat shimmered along each vein, following the slow stroke of those incredibly blue eyes so that she felt breathless when they finally stopped on her face.
‘Marriage, Helen. How could I offer you anything less?’
She couldn’t seem to find anything to say. The words seemed to be lost somewhere in the depths of her mind as she stared into his face and saw the truth.
‘I—no!’ She drew in a sharp breath but it didn’t help to ease the tightness in her chest. ‘I would never marry you in a million years, Jacob Hunt. No matter what kind of threats you made!’
He laughed softly. ‘Then why are you getting so upset, Helen? You have just told me in no uncertain terms that you won’t be coerced or blackmailed, so what are you so afraid of?’ He leaned back in the chair, studying her calmly. ‘The prospect of being out on the street and penniless doesn’t bother you. You are prepared to suffer for your principles and even allow your father to suffer also.’ He steepled his fingers, watching her over the top of them.
‘Don’t forget that I am quite prepared to go to the papers, Jacob.’
‘Mmm, very brave of you. I’m sure I wouldn’t do such a thing in your position.’
‘What do you mean, “my position”? I am not the one making threats!’
‘Oh, yes, you are, Helen. You are threatening to expose me as some sort of ruthless, uncaring monster, yet look at the facts, my sweet. I have allowed you and your father to occupy that flat all these weeks without paying a penny’s rent and I’ve paid all your living expenses into the bargain.’ He shrugged. ‘It was only ever meant to be a temporary arrangement, of course. I’m sure your father must have told you that. After all, he did sign an undertaking to that effect.’
‘What undertaking?’ She was shaking now, tiny ripples spreading through her whole body. She had a feeling that everything was slipping out of her control to move in a direction Jacob had planned for it, but that was ridiculous. He was in the wrong, not her!
‘Oh, just a small formality. I’ve always had it in mind to use that flat myself—it’s in such a prime position, isn’t it, Helen? Naturally, I felt it wise to safeguard my options so had your father sign to say that he would vacate the flat at the end of three months. There’s just over a week to go before our contract ends. But I’m sure the papers you contact will bear that in mind when I put the facts to them. Actually, going to them could be beneficial to me. There can’t be many people who would take such a philanthropic stance, can there, Helen?’
‘There is a word to describe you, Jacob, but it isn’t that one! You are a bast—!’
He cut her off, his face hard although his voice betrayed little of his emotions. ‘Save your breath, Helen. I’ve had that description hurled at me more times than I can count over the years and in every shade of its meaning.’
She flushed, suddenly deeply ashamed. Rumours had been rife in the village when Jacob and his mother moved in to the small rented cottage. The story was that Mrs Hunt was a widow, but few had believed it. Jacob had never spoken about his father and cut dead any attempts to question him. She didn’t doubt that he had suffered because of it.
He must have seen her discomfort because he laughed. ‘So maybe there is hope after all, Helen?’ When she frowned he continued softly, his voice very deep in the silence. ‘It upsets you to realise you might have scored too deep a blow?’
She drew herself up, staring back at him, not wanting him to think he had discovered any hint of weakness. Jacob was too cunning an adversary not to act upon it. ‘Don’t kid yourself, Jacob. I don’t give a damn about your feelings!’
‘Then you have a strange way of showing it. Still, never mind that now. I’m sure we shall have many future opportunities to discuss that.’
‘There won’t be any future opportunities. Your plan won’t work, Jacob, because I don’t care what you threaten me with. Now, if you will excuse me, I think I would prefer to leave. The air in here is starting to get foul.’
She left without another word, brushing past a startled Baxter who was just crossing the hall with the first-aid box in his hands. All she wanted was to get out of the house and away from this whole ridiculous situation. That Jacob should actually believe that he had put her in a position whereby she would be forced to marry him was incredible!
It was only later, alone in her room that night, that the fear started to grow. Whatever Jacob Hunt had set out to achieve, he had achieved it. And now it appeared he had set his sights on her!
* * *
‘So you will try to be here, Father, won’t you? The man from the removal firm said that he’ll call at eleven to look around and give us an estimate.’ Helen sighed as she looked round the elegant room. ‘Not that it will take him long. Most of the furniture belongs here, so we shall have to try to find somewhere furnished to move to as we can’t afford to buy much. What do you think?’
‘It’s up to you, Helen. I shall leave you to make the decisions.’ Edward Sinclair got up slowly. ‘I think I’ll just go out for my paper now, dear.’
Helen watched him go, her heart aching. He seemed to have aged ten years since she’d arrived back that night almost a week ago and told him she had been to see Jacob. He had listened without uttering a word as she had explained that there was no way they could remain in the flat, although she hadn’t explained what had gone on. She had no intention of discussing what Jacob had told her with anyone, not even her father!
Now, as she heard the front door close behind him, she sank down on a chair. There was so much to do, so many obstacles to overcome, from finding somewhere to live to findin
g some sort of a job to support them both. She’d been scouring the papers for weeks now but the plain fact was she had no experience. When her mother had been taken ill she had devoted herself to looking after her and her father and running the house rather than to a career. Now she wished she hadn’t been so shortsighted. The trouble was that the Sinclairs had always had money. It had come as a shock to learn that they had lost it all after Jacob had driven the business into bankruptcy.
She had believed her father when he had told her that they’d been lent the flat by an old friend and that there was just enough money left to pay their bills. He had been trying to protect her from the truth, of course, but Helen wished he hadn’t. Allowing Jacob to subsidise them had been a grave mistake!
Her mouth thinned at the thought of Jacob Hunt, and she got up to walk briskly into her bedroom to collect her coat. They would manage somehow. She wouldn’t accept another penny of that man’s money! She had an interview at a temping agency that morning so maybe this could be the break she needed.
When the doorbell rang Helen was in the hall. Thinking that it was her father coming back without his key, she opened the doors then turned her attention back to buttoning her elegant navy wool coat, tucking a jade-green silk scarf into the neckline to ward off the morning chill. It was September and the mornings were cool enough now to demand a coat.
‘I won’t be long, Father. Now don’t forget about the removal firm, will you? Otherwise—’
‘Otherwise you will have to rely on my hospitality a while longer, Helen?’
Jacob closed the door behind him as he stepped into the hall, his mouth curled in a lazy smile as he saw the shock which crossed her face at his unexpected appearance.
She collected herself almost immediately, her green eyes blazing at him. ‘What do you want?’
He raised a dark, quizzical brow, his tone silky with menace as he walked past her into the huge sitting-room. ‘What do you think I want, my sweet? Naturally I am interested to see that my property is being cared for.’
Lovestorm (Harlequin Treasury 1990's) Page 2