Blackmailing the Billionaire (2 page)

Driving up the long narrow road leading to
her father’s old farm, she felt loss fill her. Parking outside the
familiar farmhouse, she stood leaning against her old beat-up car,
her eyes scanning the area, memories of the past filling her. Here
she had been taught by her father how to ride a bike, drive a car.
A tear rose to her eyes at the thought of losing the place. It was
the last link she had to the man who had died only seven months
earlier, the loss suddenly overwhelming as tears slid down her
face. Dashing them away, she stood rigidly. She could do this...
Her father would want her to do this. Her father would have done
what needed to be done to save Ricco and so would she.

The sound of the other car moving up the
dirt track mobilised her, she opening the old creaky door of the
farmhouse, moving to the warm homely kitchen. Filling the kettle,
she pulled out two cups. “JJ!”, the woman’s voice drifted to her,
Joy smiling softly, “In here, Aunt Jan”, the sound of heels
clip-clopping over the wooden floorboards soon heralding the
arrival of the other woman.

Jan Walker rushed through the doorway, her
features wary and strained. “How did it go JJ? What did he say? Did
he agree?” Joy chuckled, only her aunt now calling her by the pet
name given to her by her cousin when they were both children. At
that time Lily had been unable to say Joy, instead managing JJ, the
name sticking with Lily and Jan. Smiling reassuringly, she pointed
to the table. “Sit and catch a breath... Tea is nearly ready. I
will tell you everything in a moment” The older woman dropped
thankfully into one of the chairs pushed under the beaten pine
table, a pained moan leaving her, “It’s bad isn’t it?... Oh My God
JJ... What will we do?”

Making a soothing clucking sound, Joy rushed
over to hug the other woman, her arms wrapping around her thin
shoulders. “It is not bad news Jan... It worked... Now catch your
breath and wait for the tea” The strangled, relieved sob escaping
the woman pulled a soft groan from Joy as she moved back to the
cups, giving her aunt a chance to pull herself together.

By the time she placed the tea before the
other woman, who was once more in control of her emotions, her
expectant look fixed on Joy, she told her everything that had
happened. When she finished, her aunt reached out, her hand
covering hers. “I don’t know what to say”, her voice breaking
slightly, “I am just sorry that you are losing your home” Joy
squeezed her hand back, her lips turning down sadly, “I think that
I would have lost it anyway”, her eyes rising, a softness deep
within, “At least this way it will be for a reason Aunt Jan. This
is what my father would have wanted. I can feel him telling me that
this is the right thing to do”, a wavering smile coming to her
lips, “Besides... I will get enough to buy a place in town... Be
closer to my job... When I get one”, her aunt nodding slightly. “My
brother was an amazing man JJ”, tears sparkling in her eyes, “And
so is his daughter”

The small gurgle at her side drew Joy’s eyes
to the car seat which the older woman had brought with her, the
sleeping boy stirring as the two women looked adoringly down at
him. In a voice full of love, Joy whispered gently, “Hi Ricco”

Joy woke earlier than normal the next day,
nursing her coffee on the porch as the first rays of sunlight lit
up the morning. She loved this time of day. Silence reigned, then
suddenly as if orchestrated, the dawn chorus of birds erupted,
their shrill whistles heralding another day.

With a happy smile, she pushed to her feet,
moving to the old barn. While the farm was small, now only about 30
acres – her father having over the years sold off the bigger fields
– there was still much to do. When he died, Joy had kept some of
the smaller livestock, having them there somehow keeping his spirit
alive.

For the next two hours she fed the chickens,
pigs and two cows which remained. Happily, she collected the eggs
and milked the docile cows, knowing that Mrs Peters would enjoy the
fresh milk for her cheese-making. Grimacing, she knew that soon she
would have to find homes for all of them, fighting the sudden wave
of loss before shaking herself, her lips lifting... But not today.
With the chores done, she moved to the closest field, a bucket of
oats in one hand, a bridle in the other, a hard-hat on her
head.

Chuckling, she watched as Blaze, her horse
for the past five years turned and trotted towards her, his tail
held proudly behind him. Reaching her, his head pushed into the
bucket, Joy laughing loudly as she fastened the lanyard around his
neck. “You are so greedy Blaze... One day you are going to push
that nose of yours right through the bottom... And then what?... No
more oats for you” As though in answer, the large handsome horse
blew through his nose, dislodging oats at the bottom which flew out
like dust around her, Joy laughing even harder, her worries gone
for that small time.

Carig Calle drove his sports car down the
dirt track, his teeth gritting as the wheels jolted once again into
a pothole. Looking around, he allowed himself a small smile,
checking his watch. At seven he wondered if she would be up, not
everybody the early riser he was, the thought of catching her
off-guard making his lips curl with satisfaction.

Parking, he frowned when there was no answer
to the door, Carig letting his look scan the area. Movement in one
of the fields drew his attention, he carefully picking his way
across the courtyard to the field, his decision to wear thousand
dollar Italian shoes now not seeming to have been his best.

Reaching the field, his mouth gaped open at
the sight that met him. There on top of a huge hunter, Joy sat
majestically, the two moving fluidly, almost as one, as she pushed
the horse to canter towards a series of jumps. Frozen, all he could
do was stare as the horse took off, the woman on his back bending
forward before snapping back as the graceful animal landed, the
motion seamless and effortless for the two.

Mesmerized, he watched as horse and rider
moved around the course before she pulled up, her hand slapping the
horse’s neck, her body folding to wrap her arms around it, her soft
voice wafting towards him, “Good boy Blaze... Good boy”,
contentment and happiness in her tone, the sound making him wish he
was the horse, her praise aimed at him. With a frown, he quashed
the feelings, lifting his hands and clapping.

Instantly, she sat bolt upright, her
startled eyes flying to where he stood, her shock at his being
there evident on her flushed cheeks. With a visible effort to pull
herself together, she twitched the reins, the horse moving in his
direction.

“Mr Calle... I was not expecting you. I
thought you would phone”, her voice cool, look wary as he grinned
up at her, a small shrug of his shoulders his only answer. “You
ride very well Joy... Oh and as my ‘girlfriend’, perhaps you should
get used to calling me Carig”

Joy regarded him somberly for a few moments
before nodding. “OK Carig... So what brings you here this early?...
Or have you not been to bed yet?”, her telling look flicking down
his suit, a playful smile flitting across her lips. “Were you
grabbing that last night of fun before saddling yourself with some
ugly duckling for the next couple of months?”

Her words made him flinch. “Ah... OK I
deserved that. And... I’m sorry. I was out of line and I did not
mean it”, a rueful smile on his lips. “I was... put out yesterday”
With a loud chuckle, she inclined her head, a wicked gleam in the
soft brown depths of her eyes. “Forgiven... And I guess that you
could have said worse”, her lips once more breaking into the large
smile which had so entranced him the previous day, “So very, very
much worse”

With another flick of her wrist she walked
the horse to the gate, Carig opening it for her as the large animal
clip-clopped onto the cobbles of the courtyard. Letting the reins
fall, Blaze dropped his head, searching for any wayward oats which
might be found, her leg swinging around until she was sat sideways
onto the tall creature. Moving forward he held his hands up, as one
would to catch a jumping child. “Need help?”

Joy shook her head as she slid gracefully to
the ground. “Thanks, but I have been doing this by myself for a
long time”, suddenly wishing that she was again on top of Blaze as
the man towered over her. She could not tell what he was thinking,
his eyes hidden behind designer sunglasses, the handsome Spaniard
so out of place on the farm. Everything about him was slick, clean,
expensive, her hands rubbing down her jodhpurs, her hair clinging
sweatily to her head when she removed the riding hat. Giving a
half-laugh, her nose crinkled, “Sorry. If you had called I would
have made sure I was showered... You are probably better being
upwind of me right now... Horses have a very distinctive smell”

To her surprise he laughed, his arms
crossing over his broad shoulders. “Kind of assuming that I don’t
ride, aren’t you?”, her eyes widening in surprise, “YOU... You
ride?”, her cheeks dimpling, “Horses... Not just sports cars?”, her
look flitting to the one parked in front of the house, his brows
rising in mock indignation. “As it happens yes... Is that so hard
to believe?” Grabbing the reins, Joy began to walk to another
field, her eyes squinting to him playfully. “It is just that I
cannot imagine you creasing your suit, to be honest”, his loud
laugh pleasant to her ears as he joined her.

Carig slanted a look at the small woman
beside him. When had anybody teased him so openly? In the office,
he was admired and feared, his employees treating him with
reverence and respect, his adversaries even more so. His dates were
generally not chosen for their thinking ability, but more by their
looks and ability to pleasure him in bed, these women usually
totally in awe at his impressive wealth. Joy however, seemed not to
care one little bit about his money, he finding her openness
strangely enjoyable.

As she moved around the horse, stripping the
saddle from him in minutes, he allowed his eyes to trail over her.
The previous day, dressed in a baggy suit, her figure was hidden
from him, but today in jodhpurs which could have been sprayed on,
he admired the way her shape softly curved in all of the right
places. Her pert bottom and well-toned legs caught his attention, a
sensual smile spreading over his face. Perhaps having her around
might not be so arduous after all.

Finished with Blaze, Joy shooed the horse
into the field, ensuring the gate was well-secured, before taking a
deep breath, she turned to Carig, surprised at the strange
expression on his face. Once more she was aware of what a sight she
must make, dressed in working clothes, her hands dirty, she sweaty
from the exertion of jumping. Fidgeting, she looked back at the
house.

“Let me get you some coffee... Then jump in
the shower”, another smile lifting the corners of his mouth as he
chuckled, “Well that is very kind of you... But just coffee would
be fine for me” Joy felt her cheeks burn as her mouth flapped open
and shut. “I... I meant me... not together!”, her eyes narrowing as
he began to laugh, before she too giggled. Moving towards the house
she looked at the CEO over her shoulder, “A sense of humour... Who
knew?” Carig followed behind her, his eyebrows wiggling, “Yeah,
well don’t tell anybody... Stock prices might never recover”

She led him in the kitchen, her attempts to
make him coffee shooed away, his loud snort bringing another laugh
to her lips as he filled the kettle, “I think even I can manage
making a coffee”, Joy pointing to the cupboards where he would find
what he needed, before she slipped into the bathroom. As the water
cleansed her, she thought about Carig Calle. The day before, he had
been everything she believed the spoilt arrogant CEO to be,
however, today he seemed different... More human.

A chuckle slipped from her lips as she
rinsed the soap from her body. ‘Human’? Really? Poor man, she had
villainised him before even getting to know him, a trait she
usually loathed in others. With a grimace, she stepped from the
shower. She of all people should know that often the persona
someone exuded did not always reflect how they truly were, her brow
furrowing as she determined to give him another chance.

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Carig sipped on
his coffee, his eyes scanning the small yet comfortable kitchen.
The oak cupboards were a million miles from those in his own home.
Here they were aged, beaten up with years of loving use,
instinctively knowing that they had been handmade, the colour
richer than their newer counterparts.

Small personal touches filled the area, a
plaque declaring, ‘I only have a kitchen because it came with the
house’, making his lips curl. The sentiment would fit in well with
his lifestyle, but from the array of pans and cooking trays hidden
behind the cupboards he had looked in, forgetting where she pointed
for cups, this kitchen was not underused. It was the heart of the
home, and for some reason, sitting in it felt comfortable.

When driving to her farm that morning, the
land the last piece of the development puzzle he needed, he had
been determined to be aloof, make her think twice before having her
drag him around as her boyfriend. However, the whole scene outside
unsettled him. He enjoyed talking to her, a long weary sigh leaving
him. Why did she have to be so damn likable?

Lost in his thoughts, his head snapped up as
he heard the footsteps entering the kitchen. Joy moved into the
area, a shy smile on her face, her hair pulled into a ponytail,
wearing yet another bland suit. Frowning, he watched her features
become more concerned as she took in his look, his eyes rolling as
he stood. “Seriously... Is that what you plan on wearing?”

The words were out before he could stop
himself, the softness in her features disappearing instantly as she
stood more rigidly, fire lighting her large eyes. “What is wrong
with my clothes?”, the words bitten out as she glared at him.
Waving his hands, he exhaled a long, suffering groan, “You really
need me to tell you?” Her mouth straightened in an angry line, eyes
flashing with warning, “Why don’t you do that Mr Big shot”, she
threw back at him, Carig seeing as her hands fisted angrily on her
small hips, her foot tapping.