The Billionaire's Blackmailed Heiress (8 page)

Quickly running up the stairs, she had wondered where he was, having spotted his large sports car parked in the driveway. Grimacing she had told herself that he was probably doing exactly what she should be, getting ready for the evening.

Having carefully showered, ensuring not to ruin her new hairstyle she had sat down to fix her makeup, surprised at how dramatic and daring she had been as she had applied the eye shadow, the result raising her excitement as even she knew that she looked good. From her smoky eyes which shone even brighter than usual to her large shining mouth the glossy lipstick enhancing the sensuality of them.

Pulling on the sleeveless cocktail dress, the built in underwear had pulled her breasts together to show off more cleavage than she was accustomed to, Mina’s eyebrows knitting together as she had felt suddenly so conscious of how much flesh she was showing off. The rest of the dress had only continued the theme as the silky material had clung to her wonderful figure, a split at the front allowing her to move easily in the exquisite dress while giving a glimpse of her long shapely legs.

Standing to take a look, she had hardly recognised herself. The Mina Lane, school teacher, was gone and in her place stood a sensual siren, Mina chuckling to herself.

“You scrub up well” jumping as a loud knock on the door had made her gasp, a small scream held back as Nikos’ voice the hint of irritation so obvious had been heard.

“Mina, it’s ten past seven. We need to go”.

She had quickly grabbed her matching shoes and bag “Just coming” she had cried back nervously, lifting the silk wrap that Francesca had insisted she team up with the outfit. With her expression now full of nervous fear and anticipation she had taken a deep breath moving from the room.

He was nowhere to be seen as she had stepped into the hallway, Mina moving to the stairs before she had spotted him, her lips catching her bottom lip to hold back the groan of just how handsome he looked. Wearing a black tuxedo complete with white shirt and bow tie he was stunningly gorgeous, powerful, sexual and so many more wonderful things. Mina so aware of the way her young body seemed to react to the man who was to all intents and purposes blackmailing her to reveal her true parentage.

Moving down the stairs he had stood side on to her, muttering something incoherently as he had once more checked his watch. She had gingerly taken her time moving down the steps, clutching the hand rail with one hand lifting the long dress with the other, apprehensive having never before worn such a long dress. With an irritated frown, he had turned ready once more to call to her, his features changing in an instant as he had caught sight of the woman walking towards him.

His eyes had grown wide with stunned surprise, fire rising within the once cold steel of them, his mouth gaping as he had stuttered in bemusement.

“M…Mina?” she giving a wide smile back as she had finally joined him in the hall. He had stepped back, his eyes blinking as he had controlled his surprise.

“You look…you look”.

Mina had chuckled “Better?” she had finished with an amused glint in her eyes.

Nikos had taken in the way her hair now seemed to caress her face, highlighting her large eyes and kissable lips. This thought jolting him back to reality. Giving a shaky half-smile he had nodded, needing very much to move to hide the way she was once more affecting him.

“Yes, you look better” he had retorted in a clipped voice “But we are late, so let’s move”.

Mina had felt the disappointment sit heavily in the pit of her stomach, not sure why his disinterest should bother her, but bother her it did.

The journey to the event had been a short one, Mina listening attentively as she had been reminded of key figures of the board, Nikos having the night before sent her complete dossiers on all of them, pleased that she had so obviously taken the time to read each.

Arriving she had been surprised to see the number of press snapping pictures of the rich and the beautiful. Mina groaning on spotting many celebrities, knowing that when the press realised who she was the inevitable interest in her parents and their soon to be notorious relationship would help to sell many magazines making her a juicy story worth pursuing. Unconsciously she had sank against Nikos, jumping as his breath had fanned her ear, his hand moving to the bare base of her back.

“Relax Mina”

“That’s OK for you to say” she had hissed quickly back at him, as he had pulled her to the end of the carpet furthest away from the throng of flashing bulbs and cries from the paparazzi. He had been surprised at how truly stricken she had been, the fear that had filled her lovely green eyes making him want to wrap his arm around her shoulder to tell her everything would be fine, to protect her. Scowling, he had put it down to his guilt at having put her in the position in the first place, once more reminding himself that she was the daughter of the man he despised, that his blood ran through her veins, this thought justification for his actions.

Mina had allowed herself to be directed inside the building by the expert hand of Nikos, breathing a sigh of relief as the press had disappeared behind them. She had found herself seated at a large round table like so many others in the room, looking splendid with colourful centre pieces and more silver cutlery than she had ever before seen. Looking at the sheer number of utensils and different glasses at each seat she had tried to quell the panic rising within her. Feeling Nikos’ hand covering hers, she had pulled her look from the place settings forcing a more sure smile on her lovely face.

“Mina I would like you to meet the members of our board”.

Plastering what she had hoped was a genuine smile on her face she had nodded at the array of faces which regarded her, curiosity on all. The voice behind had seen a look of anger instantly cross Nikos’ face as the last seat in their table had been taken by a petulant Alexander.

“Her right to be able to call them ‘our board’ has yet to be determined” huffily throwing himself into his seat, closing his mouth firmly as Nikos had thrown him an icy warning glare, Mina dropping her eyes in embarrassment as many of the board members had shuffled uncomfortably in their seats.

Finally it was a gentleman across who had broken the awkward silence, a small kindly man with a friendly glint in his eyes.

“So I hear that you are a teacher Miss Lane?” he had asked, many of the others smiling approvingly as the atmosphere had noticeably relaxed, Mina nodding and answering the many questions which had come her way.

Sat silently beside her Nikos had smiled, satisfied at the way she seemed to so quickly be winning over the board, not really surprised with her unassuming manner and gentleness. The fact that she was smart and possessed a keen sense of humour had made it all too easy for the board members to quickly warm to the young woman.

Alexander’s outburst had angered him, but she had not reacted but behaved with dignity, his look once more moving to the spoilt young man who was glowering sulkily as he had quickly downed the contents of his glass, Nikos once more finding it hard to believe that they both were fathered by the same man.

As the service had begun Mina had been careful to watch which utensils others had lifted as salad, soup and sorbets had followed one after the other. She had thought to have managed unnoticed until the deep laugh of Alexander had made her look around, his features cruel and mocking, helped by the large amounts of alcohol he had consumed.

“So which knife now Mina?” he had spat out nastily, his voice slurred before slightly raising his eyebrows.

“Oh I forgot…I’ll choose first”.

Making a contemptuous noise as his eyes had slid down Mina.

“You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear” he had finished.

Mina had heard the angry intake of breath from Nikos, his hand slamming down onto the table as he had made to rise, Mina turning to lay her hand on his arm to stop him, the tall man stilling at the unexpected touch of her. Turning and lifting her small chin proudly she had faced Alexander.

“You are drunk Alexander” her voice once more firm and matronly as though she were talking to a naughty school boy.

“Please remember that sow’s ears come in pairs dear brother”, a small chuckle rippling through the others as he had glared back at her once more dropping his eyes from her determined stare.

Beside her Nikos had felt his lips curl at the way she had handled both the situation and Alexander, once more finding himself impressed with Mina Lane.

The rest of the meal had passed quickly with Alexander sullen and silent. As the tables had been cleared a band had started to play, Nikos rising and extending his hand to her “Dance?” his voice silky, as with a smile she had followed him to the dance floor, where he had pulled her into his arms, Mina resting her hand on his shoulder. Hearing his chuckle she had looked quizzically up at him.

“I think Alexander is NOT having a good evening”.

Mina feeling her own lips twitch as he had continued “And I would like to say…I was most ungracious earlier…you look wonderful”.

She had felt the small blush rise to her cheeks as she had looked at him in surprise seeing a strange glow in his eyes.

“You are a very beautiful woman Mina Lane” he had whispered sensually in her ear as he had pulled her even harder against himself. She had remained silent as they had swayed together with the music, feeling as her eyes had fluttered closed her head resting against his shoulder.

As the music had stopped and he had once more led her back to their tabe, one of the board members, a man named Joseph Black had asked her to dance, Mina noticing as he had seemed nervous, his hands a little too warm. About 5’10” with sandy blond hair and warm sparking eyes he still towered over Mina, but he had held her loosely, respectfully against himself.

She had remembered from Nikos’ dossier that his final comment, as there had been for each of the members, was ‘shrewd, fair and forthright’, Mina smiling shyly up at him as he had moved closer to whisper softly into her ear in a voice full of humour.

“Am I to take it Miss Lane that your brother was not overly happy at having to add another name to his Christmas list?” Mina chuckling back, the comment relaxing them both as she had shaken her head.

“Apparently not Mr Black, and I’m guessing he is not setting another place at Christmas dinner either”.

He had laughed loudly at her response, his eyes growing softer, as in a more serious tone she had added

“It is difficult for him, Mr Black, it is not easy to find that you suddenly have a sister you knew nothing about”.

She had seen as he had nodded back his look full of respect.

“That is very forgiving of you, and I do wish you would call me Joe”.

Flashing him a dazzling smile she had insisted that he then call her Mina, the two falling into silence. After several seconds he had once more lent forward.

“May I ask you a question Mina?”

Looking back she had nodded “Of course…please”.

“How do you intend to vote?”

The question had caught her off guard, but looking back without even blinking she had answered “With Nikos”.

Seeing the surprise on Joe’s face she had finished “My understanding is that the company is doing well and that a sale will result in many of the workers losing their jobs”.

He had nodded softly, his brows knitting together thoughtfully “You are aware Mina that you will gain a great deal of money if you vote for the sale”.

Frowning slightly she had held his gaze.

“I have no real interest in money Joe. My life is just fine as it is”.

Giving a small smile “What you never had you never miss, but it seems wrong to throw so many others out of work for the sake of a quick profit for so few”.

Once more she could see the respect in the man’s eyes, as she had asked a question of her own.

“I thought that you were against the sale?”

Her question raising a look of surprise to Joes face “Why would you think that?” he had replied.

“Nikos gave me files to read on all the board members. Yours said you were more inclined not to sell”.

His laugh had made her look up in surprise, seeing how his large smile had made his pleasant features almost handsome.

“Smart, beautiful and honest - I have to tell you Mina you are not what I was expecting”.

With wide more serious eyes she had asked softly “And what were you expecting?”

His eyes had travelled to where Alexander was still sitting, downing yet another drink.

“I am ashamed to say that I had made assumptions based on other members of your family”.

With a smile that he had not hinted at her birth situation she had nodded sadly.

“Perhaps having money can lead to somebody being a little lost in their own lives” she had muttered softly, Joe nodding beside her, his eyes regarding Mina with a new strange light.

As the music had stopped, she had made to move as he had kept hold of her.

“Please, one more dance” he had grinned “I feel that I have interrogated you and would like a chance to redeem myself”, smiling Mina had nodded her head, her lips twitching as she had allowed him to keep dancing with her.

Nikos had frowned watching as she had failed to return from the dance floor, his eyes narrowing seeing the way that the other man had looked at her, a hot fire of jealousy filling the pit of his stomach, scowling at the realisation of his own feelings. Joe was not only one of the board members, but also his most trusted lawyer, he was also not a man who Nikos had ever really seen with many different women, frowning again as he had seen the unmistakable signs of attraction the other man showed. The hand on his shoulder had made him jump forcing a smile as he had seen Claire.

“You look lonely…come dance with me” she had crooned softly, her eyes shining seductively.

Rising he had followed her to the floor, taking her hand as he had led her close to where Mina swayed so sensually with the other man.

“I had hoped that you would have been the one to ask me to this dance” Claire’s soft voice had cut through his thoughts as he had looked down at her in surprise.