Billionaire's Second Chance (sam, bella and Kate Book 2) (7 page)

Since that time there had been very few stories of Philippe Tremour in the news and those that there had been were business
-related rather than the society pages of previous years when he had been well known for his playboy lifestyle.  With a sad smile she knew that Philippe had his daughter and with what little she knew of him that he would make her the most important woman in his life.  This knowledge, while sad, filled her with pride.

So it was on yet another cold, wet Thursday afternoon that Bella once more found herself moving into her small office.  The area was tastefully decorated to greet potential clients.  She sauntered over to her desk, flicking through the mail, sighing.  The recession was biting into the wedding planning business and most of her time was filled with making the correct contacts and setting up deals with bridal stores and caterers to ensure they recommended her services.  Bella however, was very choosy about who she worked with, so her base of contacts was narrow, resulting in less business.  While she knew that once she managed some bigger weddings the work would pour in, at that moment in time she was not exactly rushed off her feet.  With a wry smile she again found herself mulling over the words of her ex-employer, that she would always be welcome back with them, sighing softly that she would even be contemplating it.

Picking up the ringing phone she gave a cheery greeting.  “Bella?”  The voice on the other end, male with a slight tinge of an accent
, seemed familiar, Bella trying to place it as she confirmed it was she.  “It is Dante Durant”,  the voice stated, Bella gasping with surprise.

“Dante...
Oh, it is wonderful to hear from you.”  Her mind grasped for any reason why he should be calling her, panicking thinking that there was something wrong with Philippe.

“Have you spoken with Samantha?”

With a more cautious tone to her voice she responded nervously, “Not recently Dante and I really can’t talk…”  His soft laugh stopped her as she paused nervously, not knowing what to say.  It had only been four months earlier that Kate had married.  Bella still remembered Samantha’s reaction to once more seeing Dante there, the intensity of her hatred for him shocking to her.  In all her life Samantha had been the one calming influence within their small group, never having a bad word to say about anybody, but her refusal to even be near him worried Bella.

“Bella, Samantha and I are getting married
.”  The shocking statement caused her mouth to drop open with disbelief, her hand clenching the phone tightly.  “Are you there?”  His concerned voice brought her around as the happy laugh bubbled up within her.

“Oh my God Dante.
  I am so happy for you.  I... I don’t know what to say.”

His voice seemed full of relief and warmth, “Thank you Bella
.”

Still laughing, she congratulated him again, struggling to speak, “When
? How?  I mean at Kate’s wedding...”

His soft throaty laugh
halted the tirade of questions tumbling from her mouth, his voice gentle, “I guess that seeing each other again... It opened up all the old feelings”, another chuckle leaving him, “Not all good... But deep down we both knew then that we were meant to be together... Older and wiser.”

With a gasp she realised that it was Dante not Samantha talking to her, her eyebrows knitted together cautiously, “Why have I not heard from Sam?”, surprise on her voice, as he
gave a low laugh.

“Well
, she only just accepted last night, and we plan on being married within three weeks.”

Bella gasped. “Three weeks!”, the shock
in her voice clear.

Dante continued, “I think Samantha is still a little shell-shocked.
  We are planning on ring shopping today, but I wanted to do something that I know will mean everything to her.  I want you to be the wedding planner.”

Shock slammed into Bella
. “M...me?”, she stammered as he described the wedding he had in mind, her eyes growing wider and wider.  “You want a New York society wedding... In less than three weeks!”, her voice incredulous as he laughed.

“Well
, if it helps, the venue is booked.  It has been since the moment I saw her again at Kate’s wedding”, a softer tone coming to his voice, “I knew then she was the only woman for me.”

Bella
felt tears rise to her eyes, the “aww” escaping her lips before she could stop it, reaching down to her desk for a handkerchief from the box she knew to be there.  As he outlined the budget for the wedding, even Bella – used to expensive weddings – gave a low whistle.  When he specified her fee she tried to say no, that she would do it for nothing, Dante insisting.  “Bella I am phoning you because Sam knew that you would refuse to be paid.  This is your business and we are going to work you like a dog.  Believe me, this is not going to be easy.  But we both know you are the perfect person for the job.”  Giving another small chuckle she finally agreed, Dante telling her of the plans he had put into effect for when she arrived in New York to meet with them the following week.  After several more moments talking, he agreed to send her details of the venue and any ideas they already had so that she could make a start.

Replacing the receiver, Bella stared at it for several shocked seconds before bursting into laughter, her eyes shining
- Dante and Samantha were getting married!  Hugging herself, she remembered how she thought them the most perfect couple she had ever met, saddened when they broke up.  Gasping, she sat up stiffly, giving a small groan, another thought filtering through.  If Dante was the groom, she knew who would be best man, her stomach flip-flopping alarmingly.

For the rest of the week Bella surfed the web, finding out as much as possible about the venue, gasping at how beautiful it was, smiling at his words that he booked it the moment he saw Samantha again.  Dante had always gone that extra mile, sadness once more filling her as she wondered if Philippe had been the same with his wife.  Giving herself a shake she again chastised herself for thinking such thoughts.  He was in her past
– the best place for him to remain, Bella not prepared to ever allow him to hurt her again.

When she phoned the exclusive hotel
, which he had also booked ahead, and identified herself, she quickly found herself talking to Dave Sinclair the manager, Dante already having given her name as the contact for the wedding.  She found him most helpful, quickly setting up a meeting the day after she was to arrive. Dave agreed to send her contact details for all their preferred contractors, Bella smiling hearing the relief in his voice that she did not already have her own unknown people.

When Samantha phoned a couple of hours after Dante, she seemed subdued, Bella frowning with concern before her friend laughed
, telling her that she was still trying to take it all in.  Chuckling, she nodded, knowing what a whirlwind Dante could be.  “Sam... I know that you never told us what happened, but one thing I always thought was that the two of you belonged together”, real feeling in her words as there had been silence for several seconds as Samantha seemed to be struggling to hold on to her emotions, giving a half-laugh half-cry.

“Yes...
I guess you are right.  Destiny – this day was almost meant to happen.”

The news that she was to spend the next three weeks in New York came as a surprise to Bella’s boyfriend Tim, Bella telling him that night as they met for dinner.  Tim was handsome
, with a keen sense of humour, a computer science professor at the local university.  The two had met at a friend’s wedding, Bella smiling at the irony of the fact that so many people met their future partners at friends’ weddings, smiling dreamily at Dante’s words once more.  It had only taken him to see Samantha again at Kate’s wedding for him to decide that she was the woman for him, for him to overcome whatever obstacles there had been in his and Sam’s past and win her back.  Absently, she wondered again about Philippe, frowning as she pushed his image from her thoughts. 

“Penny for them?”  Looking up she gave a grin,

“Just thinking about my friend Samantha... Dante is so perfect for her.”

Tim gave her a return smile before his features became more wary as he looked keenly at her.  “The university is on break for the next three months.
  Perhaps I could come with you.  Give us a chance to really get to know each other.”

Bella lifted her glass, gulping the water nervously.  The two of them had been seeing each other for nearly a month, Tim not once pushing her to sleep with him, content to wait until she was ready. 
Giving a nervous smile she flicked a look at him. “I will be working all the time.  That would be no fun for you, and besides the rooms there are exorbitant... It would cost a fortune.”

His hand moved to take hers
, entwining their fingers together, “You have a room all arranged.  Perhaps we could... share.”

Biting her lip nervously
, she sighed softly, her eyes full of apology, “I... I’m not ready for that Tim... And when, or if... Well, I would rather not be in the kind of stressful situation that the wedding will be.”

Watching her, he nodded, giving a reassuring smile.  “It was just a thought”, his eyes softening, “When it is right it will be...
right”,  Bella’s eyes filled with thanks.

The flight over was the best she had ever taken, Dante having booked her a first class seat, Bella enjoying the luxury and pampering.  It also meant that she was able to work on the plane, sighing softly seeing how her diary was already full with meetings, trying not to think about the fact that Philippe was bound to be involved.  A quick search showed that the two were still very much friends, the thought that perhaps they might have fallen out in the past few years dissolving before she thought about every other best man she ever had to deal with.  They were solely interested in the stag night and the wedding itself
; Bella steeled herself for the one meeting that was inevitable between them, gaining some comfort that it would be in a large crowd, most likely the night of the wedding rehearsal.

At the
arrivals gate, she gave a loud squeal, seeing Dante and Samantha together, the three hugging as she congratulated them again, the two girls crying as they clung to each other.  With a smile on his handsome face, Dante rolled his eyes at the two chuckling as he muttered, “Women!”, his voice full of laughter.

Over lunch
, she heard how he had organised for her to have a suite in one of the five-star hotels in the area close to the wedding venue.  The suite came with a bedroom and a large office and waiting area which she could use to organise the event.  Smiling happily, she thanked him, “You have thought of everything”, surprised to see the way Samantha threw him a hard look.

“Oh yes, he does that
.”

Confused,
Bella sensed a strange atmosphere between the two.  After lunch, Dante excused himself, apologising that he would have to return to work, leaning down to kiss Samantha, Bella smiling seeing the fire in both of their eyes quelling the unease of earlier.  Finally alone, the two took the limousine which Dante insisted on their using, his features becoming more sombre as he looked at Samantha, reminding her of the attention of the paparazzi.  Giving Bella an apologetic look, he informed her that dealing with the press was something else she would have to get used to. Bella nodded in understanding, assuring him that she had managed in the past.

In the suite
, she gasped, moving from the bedroom to the office stocked with all the latest technology.  “Oh my God Sam... Look at this bed!”  Samantha laughed as Bella launched herself onto the elegant king-size bed.  “We could have a party right here!”

Chuckling, Sam jumped on beside her, “Those kind of parties were always more Kate’s thing”, looking over at Bella, “And she is the one married!”

With a wicked grin on her face, Bella rolled back off the bed, “Not for long MRS DURANT”, surprised to see an almost mournful look crossing her friend’s face, her features became more concerned.  “Is everything OK?”

Sam gave her a shaky smile.  “Yes
, just overwhelming”, her eyes becoming warm once again, “I am so glad you are here Bella... So very glad.”

Pulling her friend in for another hug, Bella stood up, becoming more officious.  “OK
Bridezilla. No time to waste.  Let’s talk weddings”, the two moving into the office area and sitting down as Bella pulled out her diary and the many large folders full of information on everything needed for a wedding.

The two talked for several minutes, Bella looking at Samantha with worry in her eyes before blurting out the one thing that filled her mind, “
Two weeks…two weeks.  Need to plan a HUGE wedding in two weeks” her eyes narrowing, concern deep within the blueness, her voice soft, wary, “Why two weeks Sam?  It seems so soon.”

Sam gave a small smile.  “I think that Dante expected to win me over faster”, before she gave a shaky smile seeing the look of doubt on Bella’s face, touching her hand softly. 
“Well we know how we feel Bella, and we could wait six months or a year.  But at the end of the day, it would just be time wasted, and well, we want a baby... And we don’t want to bring it into the world before we are married.”

Bella had been beside herself, a large smile on her face as tears once more shone in her eyes, her finger flicking away a tear.  “You are going to have me a wreck”, she sobbed softly, the two women again hugging.  The soft knock on the door pulled them apart, Bella looking in surprise at Sam, questioning who it was as her friend shrugged her shoulders, declaring it to be her office.

Moving to open the door, a polite smile on her lovely face she felt the shock slam into her, the smile melting in disbelief as Philippe stood outside.  “Hello Bella”, his deep voice washed over her, his eyes holding hers seeing the pain flit through her eyes before she stepped back, dropping them from him, a more guarded look on her beautiful face.