A Passionate Revenge

by Sara Wood

  He’d work at the relationship. And if there was no child… His teeth clenched. Then he and Anna would be free to leave one another whenever they wished.

  CHAPTER NINE

  VIDO seemed almost tender towards her that evening and she adored every moment. They fed one another like proper lovers, sipped one another’s wine, and kissed often.

  Curled up with him on her sofa and watching a late-night film—in case, he said with a twinkle in his eyes, there was an interesting technique they might learn—she felt her heart softening as every golden hour went by.

  And later they went to bed and made slow and gentle love, which was sweeter and more tantalising than anything she’d ever known.

  Only one thing nagged at her. This time he’d used a contraceptive. It had been something she hadn’t thought of before. She felt a little sick at the thought that she might have conceived. She’d been stupid. It wouldn’t happen again.

  But…a baby…And instead of feeling horrified, she found her heart lurching with crazy delight at the wonderful thought of carrying Vido’s child.

  She smiled wryly. It was too late to turn back the clock. It was doubtful that she’d conceive so easily. Some people took years to do so. She put it from her mind, vowing that she would take what happiness she could. Enjoy life for once.

  The next morning they walked to Stratford along the path they’d often traced when they were at school together. The years seemed to fly away. As they walked they talked, and it all came back to her; how easily they’d fallen into an immediate rapport, how comfortable she’d felt with him when she’d been ugly and undesirable and he’d been the most handsome guy in school.

  It reminded her of her role in his life then and now. As a young girl she’d only had her inheritance. This time she had nothing to offer but her body.

  Sadly she reflected that this was all he wanted. Not her, not her mind and inner self. Just her physical shell, where once it had been her money. He was flawed, and as shallow as ever, and she’d better remember that.

  This relationship was going nowhere. Better that she kept her feelings under wraps and stayed aloof than she abandoned herself to him and ended up sobbing her heart out one day.

  ‘Great weekend,’ he said casually.

  That was all it was to him. A bit of fun.

  She looked towards Holy Trinity, where Shakespeare was buried. The church was romantically positioned on the river bank amidst the weeping willows. Shakespeare knew a thing or two about treachery, she thought. And love and life. If only she were more worldly, she might cope better with her contradictory feelings.

  ‘Great,’ she agreed calmly.

  He put his arm around her and kissed her hard, then and there. She found herself melting into him. Body, mind, heart, soul. Desperately she tried to stop herself from thinking she was in a dream.

  Because you always woke from them.

  ‘Hello, you two. Have a good weekend break?’ Camilla burst into the kitchen on the Monday morning, followed by a cheerful-looking Joe.

  Anna went pink as she lifted cinnamon bread from the oven but fortunately Vido spoke for her.

  ‘Excellent. Paid our respects to Shakespeare and his family in the church. Had lunch in The Dirty Duck surrounded by actors being actorish, and the afternoon we’ll draw a veil over. You?’

  Camilla grinned. ‘Similar.’ She hugged Anna. ‘So pleased. Look after him. He’s worth his weight in gold.’

  Anna gave a faltering smile. She wished that could be true. Because she had loved every minute in Vido’s company. Because they could be companionably silent, or laugh themselves silly. He could be deeply romantic and tender, or hot and passionate and demanding.

  And yet his heart wasn’t engaged at all. Whereas she knew that, despite all her efforts, she had fallen irrevocably in love with him.

  Emotion clogged her throat. She had to get a grip on herself. Vido was just a bit of fun. Time she cooled things down and tucked her heart away where it couldn’t get hurt.

  Gradually the breakfast table filled up. Everyone talked at once, describing their weekend activities. Vido amiably wandered back and forth, providing coffee for his staff as if he were a tea boy.

  ‘Smells wonderful. When’s it ready?’

  She felt her knees go weak to find Vido so close beside her but she managed to put a chill in her voice. ‘Just about now.’ Pointedly she moved away.

  ‘You OK?’ Following, he gazed down at her, his eyes narrowed in sharp assessment.

  ‘Of course. I’m concentrating,’ she answered coolly and pushed past without looking at him.

  Aware, however, of Vido’s frowning gaze on her, she dished up the Spanish omelettes, receiving a hug from Joe on the way.

  ‘Marry me!’ Joe declared expansively. ‘Or, at least, chain yourself to my kitchen table and cook for me forever!’

  Vido’s head snapped up. ‘You can make do with what you get during work hours!’

  ‘Sense of humour failure, darling,’ Camilla said with a laugh.

  He swept a chilling glance over her. ‘Time we got down to business,’ he muttered. ‘We have eight key workers from Lucas and Duke coming here tomorrow. For those who don’t know, they’re one of the top advertising agencies in the country. I think I’ve identified where their problems lie but I’d be glad of your input as usual.’

  ‘How many do I cater for?’ Anna asked, matching his cool tone.

  He turned his hard gaze to her. ‘Twenty for lunch and dinner for the next three days,’ he informed her abruptly. ‘You’ll have two agency cooks to help you and we’ll all chip in with the fetching and carrying. It’ll be interesting to see if any of their key workers help. I want everyone to listen, observe and to get involved.’

  ‘What about you moving to the flat here, Anna?’ queried Steve. ‘Need any strong arms?’

  ‘Good idea. I suggest you and Joe supply her with boxes and whatever she needs,’ Vido directed. ‘Anna, you’ll be free after lunch to pack. Steve and Joe will move your stuff in the van. But we’d better discuss menus when you’ve finished your breakfast. I’ll be available after coffee for anyone who wants to talk over my report on Lucas and Duke.’ He rose, his meal virtually untouched.

  ‘Lost your appetite?’ frowned Camilla, eyeing him warily.

  He gave her a cold stare. ‘Trying to curb it,’ he replied and strode out.

  For a moment there was a tense silence and then the others all started talking at once. Anna managed to answer remarks addressed to her but she couldn’t eat either. Eventually they all drifted away and she began to stack the dishwasher.

  ‘Menus.’

  Her stomach flipped as he strode in like a whirlwind and dragged out a chair by the table. But she gritted her teeth and turned to the furious-looking Vido.

  ‘Menus.’ She brought her cookery books to the table and placed her notebook in front of her before sitting down opposite him.

  ‘What the hell are you playing at, Anna?’ he asked grimly.

  ‘Menus,’ she muttered.

  His thumb and forefinger turned her chin so that she was forced to look at him.

  ‘We were perfectly civilised yesterday. And yet today you’re as icy as the North Pole,’ he growled. ‘You’re worse than a weathervane.’

  ‘We’re at work.’

  ‘It’s more than that,’ he pursued. ‘Isn’t it?’

  She managed to push his hand away. ‘If you must know, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea.’

  ‘About?’ he asked, his eyes as dark as a thundercloud.

  ‘I like the sex,’ she said frankly. ‘Very much. But I think it was a mistake to spend the weekend together.’

  ‘You didn’t enjoy it?’

  ‘I didn’t say that. Just that we ought to remember this isn’t a normal relationship.’

  ‘How very modern of you,’ he drawled. ‘I hadn’t realised you wanted wham, bam, thank you ma’am.’

  He wanted to shake her. But instead he’d go all out to
change her mind. His eyes gleamed. It would be a battle between them. Anna and her cold heart, versus him and his determination to make her want him in every way imaginable.

  ‘Is that agreed?’ she asked.

  He reached out a finger and traced it down the side of her face. She quivered. He left his seat and kissed her neck. With a groan, she wound her arms around him and pulled his face around so that she could kiss him.

  ‘Sex. Nothing else,’ he murmured, looking into her startled eyes.

  ‘Uhuh.’ She could barely speak.

  ‘Better get on with those menus,’ he drawled, unsure if he’d won a victory or not. But he’d work on her. Every hour of the day.

  He regained his seat and she started turning pages haphazardly. Then she looked up. ‘I’ve decided to keep my cottage and rent it out,’ she said. ‘I’ll need it when the six months are up.’

  His mouth tightened. So she was planning on leaving then. It felt as if she’d stabbed him in the heart. ‘Wise move.’

  She felt disappointed. What had she expected? That he’d get down on one knee and declare that he didn’t want her to leave then because he loved her? Which she wouldn’t have accepted—or believed—anyway. It baffled her why she was so stupid where Vido was concerned. Hadn’t she been hurt enough?

  They planned the meals in a series of frosty monosyllables and then he left her, his retreating back taut with tension, saying it all. Although Steve and Joe kept her in stitches with their banter while she was packing, she missed Vido dreadfully.

  During dinner that evening she kept catching his eye. Every time she did, curls of pleasure rippled through her. It dawned on her that she was hooked on him and longed to be an important part of his life. Instead of which, she was a temporary sex-toy. And she hated herself for being incapable of walking away from her own degradation.

  She’d wandered into the garden after dinner, taking her coffee with her. It was an attempt to get away from Vido’s suffocating personality. She needed space and freedom to remind herself of his failings so that her love for him could be crushed.

  Male arms came around her. Teeth nibbled her ear. ‘Come,’ Vido growled harshly. ‘I have something to show you.’

  And like a fool she went, holding his hand, following him up the twisting servants’ stairs and along the corridor that led to the east wing that had been derelict when she’d lived there.

  The carpet was thick and springy beneath her feet. Hand-painted silk lined the walls, occasional tables held graceful vases filled with scented orange blossom and sweet peas from the garden.

  ‘I need you.’

  He looked at her and she felt her bones softening. How she loved him. If only they could be happy together, live here, bring up a family…

  She bit her lip and tried to shut her stupid dreams from her mind.

  ‘This,’ he said, accompanying his words with a hard, possessive kiss, ‘is my suite.’

  The heavy panelled double doors swung open. She stared in awe. The sitting room stretched away, high-ceilinged, light and airy and with a stunning view over the lush gardens towards the lake.

  Closely monitoring her stunned expression, he drew her after him and then, after hesitating for a moment, he swept her off her feet before she could protest and pushed his way through a second set of double doors.

  To his bedroom.

  ‘No, I—’

  ‘Yes.’

  Grim-faced, he stopped her mouth with his. Roughly deposited her on the huge four-poster bed. Drew the heavy brocade curtains so they were enclosed in a small world of their own.

  And proceeded to make such exquisite love to her that in the darkness afterwards, when he’d fallen asleep, she cried silently, shaken by his tenderness.

  For hours she stared into the blackness, his arms still around her, his breathing regular as if he had no worries on his mind at all.

  Reaching out, she drew back the curtain a little. A shaft of moonlight illuminated Vido’s face. In repose his expression was one of contentment. And his dream was obviously enjoyable because he was smiling.

  Desperately loving him, she touched his tumbled hair and moved closer to breathe in his breath. If only he wasn’t so tender in his loving. If he had taken her without any sweetness at all then she might have coped. As it was, she loved him more and more. And all her determination to stay aloof was flung to the winds the minute he had touched her lips with his.

  It would be hell when he tired of her. Perhaps, she thought blushing at her own boldness, she’d better make sure he never did.

  ‘They seem happy.’

  With his champagne flute, Vido indicated Ben Lucas and Tom Duke, splashing in the subtly floodlit pool on their last night at Stanford House.

  ‘I’ll say. Thanks to you, their business is on course again,’ Anna pointed out from her lounger. And she covertly admired the gleam of Vido’s toned body in the silvery, soft moonlight.

  She stretched and sighed, smiling to see everyone having such a good time. It was like the end of term, she thought—though she’d never been involved in any of the impromptu parties at school and had watched wistfully from the sidelines.

  ‘Tired?’ Dark-eyed and watchful, Vido reached out and touched her solemn mouth with his forefinger.

  She trembled. ‘Not as tired as you must be. You’ve wrought a miracle these past few days.’

  Granted she had worked hard that week catering for the people from the advertising agency—but Vido had worked harder, poring over videos and notes of his meetings with the employees and management and socialising with them all. In the early hours he’d come to bed exhausted but he’d wanted to make love to her and she had been as inventive as she could.

  She blushed to think of the things they’d done.

  ‘They just needed to remember to sing from the same song sheet,’ he said, his lazy gaze hot and hungry as it wandered slowly over her body.

  ‘It was more than that and you know it,’ she replied thoughtfully.

  ‘Tell me,’ he murmured.

  ‘Vanity?’

  ‘No. I want your honest assessment.’

  ‘Well…’ She’d been stunned by some of the things he’d said in the course of his summing up of the problems besetting the agency. ‘Where do I begin? There’s so much. You were amazing. You got them all to see what they were doing; bitching and competing and playing stupid mind games. They saw how you operated. That you listened to your staff with genuine interest and acknowledged their contributions before making your own comments. They came here stressed out and miserable—and now look at them!’

  They both watched everyone cavorting like kids on a spree. Anna felt quite unsettled by her admiration for him. He’d been straight, direct and compassionate. She thought of the awkward situations he’d defused with humour and tact. Laughter had played a big part in getting everyone to lighten up and admit to their own foibles. No wonder Camilla and the others worshipped Vido.

  ‘More!’ he drawled.

  She didn’t mind stroking his ego. Every ounce of his considerable energy had gone into the saving of the agency. No wonder he looked shattered—and oddly vulnerable.

  ‘Let me see. I thought your observations were tough but always fair—and you framed them in such a way that no one could take offence. I think you opened their eyes to what they’d been doing. That manipulative woman, for instance, who cried every time she was—quite rightly—reprimanded for shoddy work.’

  ‘I’m convinced she didn’t even realise what she was doing,’ he mused. ‘I think she’d probably been resorting to tears all her life. You could see how quickly it made her boss back off.’ His eyes were very intent on her. ‘Go on.’

  ‘I liked the fact that you laid great store on treating staff with respect and seeing their point of view. And that without giving a lecture or seeming harsh, you showed everyone better ways of working. Your ways. Democracy rules.’ She slanted him an amused glance because he was smiling to himself as if her words had some special mean
ing. ‘What is this sudden need for adulation and praise?’

  ‘Once you thought I was the scum of the earth,’ he reminded her quietly. ‘Suddenly I’m Mary Poppins.’

  So that was it. There had been a purpose to all this. He was making her admit she’d been wrong about him.

  ‘I was young and sensitive to hurt. You’d treated me badly.’

  ‘You thought I had,’ he corrected. ‘So I’m not evil through and through any more?’

  Perhaps not evil. But not the kind of guy she could entirely trust. That made her sad. How could she love him truly without trust?

  ‘I was only pointing out that you’re good at your job,’ she said stiffly.

  ‘Thanks,’ he drawled but he looked disappointed that she hadn’t answered his question and she was glad when a couple of the agency staff came over to chat to him.

  Lying back in the steamer chair, she watched his easy manner, the obvious awe in which everyone held him. Grudgingly she had to admit that he was more than good at his job; he was exceptional. The gratitude of the staff of Lucas and Duke had been touchingly emotional, from the two once-warring directors to the timid tea girl who had been the butt of everyone’s malice.

  There was a quickening of her pulses. Could she have misjudged him? Restless, she stood up and went over to refill her champagne glass. As she was doing so, Vido appeared at her side.

  ‘We’ll have more time to ourselves for a couple of days,’ he said quietly. ‘I’m looking forward to that. We need time together.’

  ‘In bed,’ she muttered, a little resentfully because that was all he wanted.

  ‘That. And out of it. I like being with you, Anna. I like talking to you, just walking with you and being in your company. I like shopping with you and organising the week. Everything.’

  Her eyes shone. It was more than she’d ever hoped for. But she wondered if she was being foolish and decided that she’d been hurt too often to let her soaring emotions surface.

  ‘That’s nice.’ Casually she lifted her glass to him, trying to conceal her trembling. ‘To your expertise. In so many fields.’