Blackmailed Merger (26 page)

“Kate asked me to give you this, but only on the morning of your wedding” flashing her a large grin
.  With a start of surpri
se and delight she had taken it, both she and Bella
so disappointed when she had been unable to attend
the
wedding due
to being seven months pregnant and unable to fly
, both Bella and Sam so happy for her.  Kate
had been upset that they would not delay the wedding for six months or so, laughing as Sam had replied “erm......nooo”

Tearing open the envelope she had gasped at the most beautiful garter belt which had fallen out, heavily laced with silk ribbon holding the delicate accessory together, so chic not like one of the many store sold ones, Sam instinctively knowing that Kate, a
gifted seamstress had made it herself
.

“Oh My God” Bella had mouthed
.

“That is beautiful
”
.

Lifting the letter she had smiled gently reading
Kate’s
wishes for her, telling her how much she missed not being there and telling her how much she loved her, Sam feeling the small tear in her eye.  Reading the PS at the bottom she had given out a laugh,
nodding.

“What did it say
?
” Bella had chuckled as Sam had handed it
to
her.  Reading the final line she too had laughed nodding her head
.

“Yep, she was right
...
we did both forget the garter” both g
irls feeling their spirits rise, before Bella had leapt to her feet
.

“OK bridezilla, enough we have a BIG day ahead of us”
.

That morning and afternoon the time had flown past.  T
he girls had to have their hair
and make-up done with Bella not only organising the wedding, but also being the maid of honour.  She had spent much of the time on the phone to her assistant, going over and over details, until Sam had thrown her hands up
.

“Bella, Stop!”
.

Her friend looking at her in surprise

“She is more than
capable;
you are going to have the poor girl a nervous wreck”
.

Bella chuckling as she had
hung-up
nodding
.

“I guess you
’
r
e
right”
.

Finally home, Bella had been the first to get ready, Sam telling her how lovely she looked in the stunning gold cocktail dress that they had chosen for her to wear, neither girl liking the frumpy bridesmaids dresses many had to endure.  Next it was
Sam’s
turn to get ready, and as she had risen to change the door bell had rang, Bella moving to answer it.  She had returned carrying a large arrangement of flowers with a card and two long boxes, Bella smiling widely
.

“From Dante” she had grinned, placing the beautiful flowers on the table before handing the other items to a surprised Sam.  Opening the card she had read his words
.

Thank you for bringing such joy to my life
.

Bella
had clapped
her hands, sighing
romantically as she had read it.
Sam
had not been
prepared to tell her the t
rue meaning behind the words,
that finally he had the company that he had always wanted, her father
’
s. 
Opening
the first box she had groaned, tentatively lifting from it a diamond
bracelet
,
Bella “oooing” at how beautiful it was.  The second bigger box had seen Bella smiling widely at her
.

“I helped pick it” she had declared happily, as Sam could only stare at the diamond encrusted necklace with the solitaire drop, knowing that it was both incredibly expensive and also perfect for her dress
.

“I
...I  ...
don
’
t know what to say” she had finally muttered, her eyes taking in the way the exquisite piece of jewellery had caught the light.  Bella was excitedly jumping from foot to foot
.

“I know............ are they not the most beautiful things
?
” she had chuckled
.

“Dante came to me and wanted some help choosing.........it has been so hard not to tell you” she had laughed, seeing Sam’s surprised look
.

“Dante came to you?” she had queried, seeing as her friend had nodded her head laughing
.

“Yep.......you are sooooooooo lucky” she had chucked, taking the items from Sam
.

“But now ........move it and get ready”
.

The trip in the
limousine
had been when nerves fully took hold of Samantha, the whole thing seeming so surreal to her.  She was having the wedding of her dreams marrying the one man in the world she had ever loved, and yet sadness had filled her with how twisted it all actually was. 

She knew that her father was waiting for her at the other end, Dante insisting that he be the one to walk her down the aisle, the press eating up the whole thing.  She had read the stories of how true love had brought together two great corporations and mended the divide between father and daughter, Sam
feeling so sick at the time, as
Dante had insisted on Daniel playing a role in the wedding
.

As she had stepped from the car, Daniel Trey had stepped forward taking her hand.  She had seen the approval in his eyes, so different from the last time she had seen him at a party four years ago.
 
Together the two had taken their place at the top of
the aisle within
the church
,
Bella appearing behind her as she had sorted out the skirt, fluffing it to ensure that it would flow well as she walked.  She had given Sam a “good luck” grin as she had then taken her place in the procession.

Hearing the music start to play, Daniel Trey had moved forward, Sam on his arm the wedding march playing loudly in the wonderful area.  She could hear the exclamations of approval as they moved forward, her eyes solely focussed on the man stood at the end of the carpet, seeing as he had stood with his back to her, his head slightly raised as though looking at the many saints delicately chiselled into the stonework.  Beside him Philippe was glancing around, a big grin on his face, as he had seemed to be whispering to the man beside him. 

Finally taking her place, Dante had turned, feeling the flip flopping of his stomach.  So sure of everything, so used to dealing with heads of state and other powerful figurehea
ds, this day had floored him, n
erves making his hand shake slightly, frowning not understanding his feelings.  He had orchestrated everything
leading up
to
this
day, and soon would see his dream come true.  Soon he would be the head of the biggest corporation
of its type
in the world.  Sensing Sam beside him, he had finally turned to look at the woman who had made this all possible, his eyes wide with wonder. 

As they had stopped the Minister had asked who gave this woma
n, Daniel Trey stepping forward, a look passing between the men as he had placed her hand into
Dante’s
, Sam
once more feeling like a pawn in the vendetta between these two men
who were destroying her life, but feeling emotions flooding through her.  Looking at Dante, she had seen the way he had looked
back
, the glow in his eyes so familiar to her.  This was the man she had loved so many years ago, the man she had dreamt of marrying
,
the man who had hurt her more than she would ever have thought possible.
 
As
he had taken
her small hand, she had been astonished to feel
his
shaking
slightly
,
even more surprised as he had moved closer whispering to her
.

“You look so beautiful”
.

This making her smile up at him, her heart filling with warmth as she had mouthed gently to him “thank you” his smile widening
.

The rest of the service had
progressed
in a daze for Sam as they had read the traditional vows
,
Sam finding herself watching Dante, seeing how handsom
e he looked in his wedding suit
, with the gold vest, Sam knowing that Bella had ensured that all of the party matched.  As they had been declared husband and wife she had expected a small kiss from him, but was surprised as he had pulled her harder to him kissing her fully on the lips, Sam feeling herself mould into him as she had given a soft sigh.  Pulling back his eyes had glowed so brightly, his focus fully on her as hers was on him.  It was only the sound of the music that had seen them both laughing nervously and pulling back from the other
.

After they had signed the relevant documents the two had moved back down the aisle, this tim
e her husband holding her hand as both of them had smiled and waved happily to the many people sitting in the congregation.  Behind her Sam had noticed that Philippe had taken
Bella’s
hand,
also
noticing with a grin that the other girl had only smiled at him.

Finally in the
limousine
the two had been alone for the first time, both sitting back against the seat exhaling with relief.  With a laugh he had turned to look at her, his eyes taking in the lovely woman beside him
.

“That was........intense” he had chuckled as she had nodded in agreement
, giving a small smile
.

“Yes it really was” her voice tinged with a little sadness
.

Dante had looked over at
Samantha, his
wife, the thought suddenly causing a small lump in his throat.  She looked incredible, enveloped in the ivory satin, her
bejewelled auburn hair framing
her lovely face.  Looking at the necklace which sat on her throat, he had inwardly thanked Bella for picking such a perfect accessory.  Moving his hand he had lifted her fingers, seeing as she had looked over in surprise, not pulling away from him as she had the first time they had met again.  He had entwined their fingers to admire the two gold bands they now wore, seeing as she had done the same, before more seriously he had looked into her lovely green eyes.