Blackmailed Merger (10 page)

Philippe had looked stunned, his eyes following her with complete confusion.  Turning to Dante the two men had spoken in Greek for a few seconds, before
he
had
grab
b
ed
the jacket from the back of his chair
.

“Excuse me Sam” he had said
.

“I should check up with my manager, deal with some business”
and with a final look at the lovely blonde on the floor he had moved from the main
dance room, his back stiff.  Sam had however, watched Bella, seeing as she had flicked a look over to the man now
retreating
, a sad
pained
expression crossing her lovely face.

“What is wrong with Bella
?
” Dante had asked gently beside her, as shaking herself she had shrugged her shoulders
.

“I don’t know, guess she had promised a dance to somebody else” looking back over at her friend, seeing how she had looked so very miserable
, not prepared to explain the situation to him
.

Turning to face him
once more,
she had given one of those broad smiles, making
Dante’s
insides flip. 

“I didn’t know you were coming back today” she had said, seeing as he had smiled back
.

“We reached an agreement this afternoon, and I wanted to see you, so Philippe and I jumped on the first ferry over and then spent another hour hunting you down “
.

She had given him a hurt look
.

“You could have just phoned.......I would have met you” she had
cried
, her
hand
moving to gently caress his face seeing how tired he looked.

He had trapped her fingers in his, gently kissing each one seeing the fire once more rise within her
.

“No
Cara
, I wanted to surprise you......and I think Philippe wanted to surprise Bella too”
his eyes seeing how Sam had refused to comment
, but seeing as she had once more flicked her eyes to where Bella still danced with the sandy haired boy
.

As the song had ended Bella had once more moved back to the table.  Sitting she had given a soft smile to Dante, Sam seeing the sadness still deep in her eyes
.

“It is good to see you again Dante
” the
sincerity in her voice making him smile back warmly at her
.

“And you too Bella
, Philippe is in the back rooms if you want......” he had not finished as she had shaken her head with determination
.

“I don’t think so Dante....I am sure that he has plenty to keep him busy”, her
eyes
looking down at her watch.

“I have a headache coming on” she had had bitten out, Sam seeing how hard she was trying to keep a smile on her face
.

“I think I will just go back to the villa.......get an early night for a change” giving a small half laugh
.

“OK that ship sailed
” she had joked,
noticing the time
.

Sam had risen quickly, looking over at Dante. 

“You
can’t
walk home alone” she had declared insistently, I will come with you, seeing as
he
had nodded
.

“I will walk you both back to your villa” he had said softly
, Bella looking upset to be ruining their
reunion
, her
eyes moving to Kate
.

“
No...really...
perhaps Kate” her sentence trailing off as she had seen how Kate was now in a corner with the German, the two kissing, the
man’s
hands all over her.

With a sigh the two had known that Kate would not be returning to the villa that night, Bella giving a
shaky
smile as she had nodded
.

“
Thank
you” the three moving towards the door.  As they had reached the exit, Philippe had reappeared, his eyes solely on Bella, catching he
r
off guard
as she had looked at him a haunted expression on her face
.

“We will wait for you outside” Sam had said as she and Dante had discreetly moved out of the building
.  Less than five minutes later Bella had appeared Sam noting that Philippe was nowhere to be seen.  As she had opened her mouth to spe
ak her friend had thrown her a ‘don’t ask’
look, moving forward towards the villa.

Dante and Sam had given each other surprised looks following her.  As his phone had gone off Dante had fallen back slightly, Sam moving closer to Bella
.

“You OK
?
” she had asked softly, seeing as her friend had looked at her miserably.

“
No...But
I will be”.  Looking over at Dante she had surprised Sam
.

“I’m sorry that I have ruined your plans” her voice full of that regret
.

“Maybe you should ask him if he wants to stay at the villa”
.

Sa
m had looked at her in surprise, knowing that the three girls had an agree
ment that no men stayed over, mainly p
ut in place
for
Kate’s
benefit.  Bella had given her a quick grin
.

“I think that we can trust him” she had chuckled
.

“What happened Bella
?
” she had asked gently, seeing as the lovely girl had suddenly seemed to be struggling to hold back tears
.

“He wanted another chance” she had said softly, Sam looking at her with concern
.

“And you said no?” seeing as she had nodded, looking back at her miserably
.

“We leave here in four days....what is the point.  I just think that it is a bad idea”
.

Sam had given a soft sigh
.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” seeing as
Bella’s
expression had become more sure
.

“Yes” her voice not as believable as it should have been
.

As they had reached the villa Bella had wished them both a good night, moving quickly inside, Sam sighing softly seeing the tears perched on her friends lids.

“I guess Philippe screwed up big time”
Dante’s
soft voice had wafted over her shoulder, as turning around she had smiled sadly up at him
.

“Yea...he did” her arms moving
loosely
around his neck
.

“Bella is not somebody who plays games Dante, and well ........she liked him.  Too many people look at
her
and see a dumb blonde, but she is one of the most loyal and smart people I know.  I think that she is hurt that he thought so little of her”
.

Dante had frowned
.

“I really don’t think he...”

Stopping as her finger had gently rested on his lips
.

“She has watched for four days as you have texted and phoned me.  She gave him her number and not once did he use it......and yet tonight he appears and expects her to leap into his arms when he had not given her a second thought.  No Dante, I like Philippe, but he truly is not deserving of her”
.

Dante had grown silent, once more thinking how smart both girls were, so different from most of the tourists that visited the island, women like Kate.  With a sigh he had nodded his head softly, as Sam had looked shyly up at him
.

“Would you like to stay the night
? I
don’t want to leave her alone”
.

She had seen the surprise in his eyes, before he had given a frustrated sigh
.

“As much as I would
Cara
, It has been a LONG week and I am tired, but as tired as I am, if I had to lie beside you tonight I would be unable to keep my hands off you.”

Sam had given a chuckle
.

“Nothing wrong with that” she had replied seductively seeing the return smile on his lips
.

“But...I did not bring protection, and so we would both lie awake all night frustrated”
.

She had given another small laugh, nodding
.

“Well I cannot help you there” before feeling as he had pulled her in closer, his mouth finding hers in a gentle kiss.

“Good night Samantha Trey” he had whispered gently
.

“Perhaps tomorrow I can talk you into a moonlight boat ride........perhaps even
one for the full evening” Sam had felt as her smile had spread over her face, so happy.

“I think that you very well might be able to” she had grinned
, seeing the glow in his eyes.  With that she had moved into the villa waving at him.

The next four days had been the happiest of her
life;
Dante had
lavished
attention on her, starting with the moonlight cruise where they had made love under the stars the only sound being the lapping of water against the boat.  During the day he had worked in his villa while she had enjoyed the holiday with Bella and Kate.  He would meet her around 5 and would spend the
rest of the evening with her,
Sam falling more and more under the enigmatic man
’
s spell.