Page 16 of Sev’s Blackmailed Bride (The Dante Dynasty #1)

“I prefer to do this standing.” Her hands curled into fists. “You used me. You used me to try and take over TH. I’m here to tell you that you’ve failed. And I’m also here to tell you that I think you’re despicable.”

“Let’s set the record straight on several points.

” He stood, tossing the folder Nicolò had given him to one side.

“When we first met— hell, when we first made love—Ihad no idea who you were. Maybe if I’d answered my cell when Marco phoned that night, Iwould have.

But if you recall, Iwas a little preoccupied and he didn’t get through to me until the next morning. ”

She folded her arms across her chest and shook her head. “I’m not buying it. You could have discovered my identity before you ever arrived at the showing.”

“It would have been possible, Isuppose. But the fact is, Ididn’t.

” He stalked closer. “Next point. The Fontaines and I were already negotiating the sale of Timeless Heirlooms before you and I ever met. Tina knew I intended to buy them out, either when she eventually sold out to me, or after she was forced to declare bankruptcy. That hasn’t changed. ”

“But you hadn’t counted on the success of the showing.”

“No.”

“Or that they might acquire Juliet Bloom as their spokeswoman. Or that she would use their collection in her next film.”

“Correction. Your collection. And Juliet Bloom has postponed her decision.” He paused a beat. “Indefinitely.”

Undisguised fury ripped through Francesca.

“Because you told her that you had a collection as good as TH’s.

That you had the perfect designer for her.

Me.” He didn’t deny it and desolation battled with anger.

“You thought you could hire me away from the Fontaines and steal the Bloom account so they’d be forced to sell to you. ”

“Yes.”

The simple confirmation cut deep. “You’re not even going to deny it?” Please denyit!

“Why should I? It’s true. If you’d accepted my job offer that’s exactly how it would have gone down.” For the first time, she saw a businessman instead of her lover. “That’s how it’s still going down.”

She shook her head, so angry she could barely see straight. So heartbroken she could barely feel past the pain. “Not a chance in hell. Do you think I’d ever agree to work for you after this? That I’ll ever sleep with you again?”

“One has nothing to do with the other. One is business, the other personal.” He shrugged. “The two are mutually exclusive.”

Her chin wobbled precariously. Didn’t he get it? “One has everything to do with the other. I’ve lived a lifetime of betrayal in one form or another. Ican’t...” She ground to a halt, correcting herself. “I won’t be with a man I can’t trust.”

“Francesca, Ididn’t seduce you in order to tempt you away from Timeless.”

Liar! “You actually expect me to believe that?”

“It’s the truth. Imade you a legitimate job offer for two reasons. First, you’d be an incredible asset to Dantes. You’re the best designer I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying a lot.”

“And second?” Not that she needed him to spell it out. She alreadyknew.

“Second, having you leave TH makes them more vulnerable to a Dantes’ takeover.”

Did he really think she’d find his reasoning appropriate?

That A plus B equaled acceptable in her book?

He had a lot to learn. “Maybe if you only wanted me because of my talent, Icould somehow justify it. Somehow. But that’s not the case.

You want to take down Timeless Heirlooms and you want to use me to do it.

Ican’t allow that. Ican’t allow you to do anything that threatens Tina and Kurt. ”

“Because Kurt’s your father.”

The breath escaped her lungs in a heady rush and her vision blurred. One minute she stood staring at Sev in utter betrayal and the next he pressed her into one of the nearby chairs. He disappeared from her line of sight for a moment, then returned with glass inhand.

“It’s just water, though I have something stronger if you prefer.”

She shook her head without speaking and downed the water in a desperate gulp. “How? How could you possibly know that?”

“Nicolò hired a private investigator.” Sev cupped the curve of her cheek and for a brief, insane moment she relaxed into his touch.

The instant she realized what she’d done, she jerked back and his hand fell away.

“Before we met at Le Premier I arranged to have each designer investigated. Marco and I attended the showing in order to collect names. By the time Nicolò called the next morning, the PI had matters well underway.”

“You’re going to blackmail me now, aren’t you?”

“Yes. ”

She closed her eyes. Oh, God. He made it seem so simple. So obvious and acceptable. “You’re a total bastard, you know that?”

“When it comes to taking care of my family, you’re right.” She could literally feel the change come over him as he shifted from lover to adversary. “I’d rather you come to us of your own free will. But I’ll do whatever necessary to restore Dantes.”

She looked at him, searching his face for some sign of the man she’d taken to her bed. If he still existed—if he ever existed—he was lost to her now. “Don’t do this,” she pleaded. “You don’t need TH. Dantes will still be a success without hurting Tina and Kurt.”

“Their business is failing.” She hated the compassion gleaming in his burnished gold eyes.

Hated him all the more for being right. “Bloom might revitalize it for a short time, but Tina is too capricious to keep the business going for longer than a few years. She hired three designers, two of whom are worse than mediocre. The fact that she also hired you is more dumb luck than true discernment. The only reason the company hasn’t gone under before this is thanks to Kurt’s business acumen. ”

“So now you’re the hero? You’re going to rescue Timeless Heirlooms?”

He gathered himself, exuding an uncompromising determination that had long been a hallmark of the Dante legend.

“Timeless Heirlooms belonged to us. Because of my father’s own capriciousness, Ihad no choice but to sell it off.

Now I’m in a position to right that wrong.

Do you expect me to walk away without recovering what I lost?

” Regret colored his words. “That isn’t going to happen and you know it. ”

“Because you feel responsible for Dantes’ fall from grace?”

“Because I am responsible. You know why I feel that way.”

She remembered the night he’d explained it to her, and how sympathetic she’d felt.

Not anymore. Not when he demonstrated such ruthless disregard in order to achieve his goal.

“So, you’ll do anything to return the company to its former glory.

No matter who gets hurt. No matter who gets in your way or who you have to steamroll over.

” She wasn’t asking, but acknowledgingfact.

“No one has to get hurt. The Fontaines will be in a far better position if they sell out to us now than if I’m forced to collect the broken pieces after their fall.”

“Very generous of you, I’m sure.”

For the first time, aspark of anger flared to life in his eyes. “It’s time to negotiate, Francesca. Will you come to work at Dantes of your own volition?”

“What happens if I refuse? Will you tell Tina that I’m Kurt’s daughter?”

For the first time he didn’t give her a straight answer. “I don’t want to do it that way.”

“But you will if you think there’s no other option.

You will because you know that the news will devastate Tina, since she and Kurt were married at the time of my conception.

Knowing how volatile she is, she’ll throw him out.

And even if they eventually reconcile—which they will since they truly love each other—the damage will have been done. Their neglect will hand you TH.”

“That’s Nicolò’s assessment of the situation, yes.”

“It’s a rotten thing to do, Sev.”

Pain sliced across his face. “I’ve been forced to make far more difficult decisions, decisions that have had a disastrous impact on people’s lives.

” His voice dropped, landed in some dark, desolate place that echoed through his words.

“I’ve had no choice. There was no one else to make those decisions.

And I don’t doubt there’ll be other occasions when I’m forced to make still more. ”

She could see the truth in his eyes, see that he’d made an uncomfortable home for himself between that proverbial rock and a hard place.

She could also sympathize with him, up to a point.

Because from now on she’d have to make difficult decisions as well, to stand on her own without Sev at her back.

Well, she’d been there before, just as Sev had.

She’d lived most of her life with no one beside her when times grew tough.

She could do it again. She needed to be strong, to refortify the barriers she’d created years ago to hide her vulnerability and weakness.

And she would. There wasn’t any other choice.

“If I agree to work with you, Ihave one request.” She didn’t allow herself to consider that her statement as good as conceded defeat.

“Name it.”

“The Fontaines are to receive full price for TH. Iwant it in my contract. Iwon’t lift a finger to help Dantes otherwise.”

He gave it a moment’s reflection. “In that case I want an exclusive two-year contract with you with an additional two-year non-compete clause. If you walk away without meeting the terms of your contract, Iwon’t allow you to work for anyone else in the industry in any capacity, whatsoever, for two full years. ”

Suddenly she found herself right there with him, ahard place boring into her back, aboulder slamming her from the front. “That seems a bit harsh. ”

“I have an investment to protect. Ihave no intention of buying out TH only to have you walk away from Dantes and help the Fontaines start up a competing business.”

It hadn’t occurred to her to do any such thing. But now that he mentioned it, it would serve him right if she’d planned to do precisely that. “Very well. Iagree.”

He held out his hand. “Welcome to Dantes.”

Francesca realized her mistake the instant she put her hand in his. The Inferno reared its ugly head, darting from his hand to hers and setting her blood on fire. It didn’t seep into her bones, but burned inward, branding her more deeply and completely than she thought possible.

She saw a similar kick of reaction from Sev, the sensation filling his expression with a predatory hunger. “Oh, and there’s one more detail I forgot to mention.”

She didn’t have to ask. She knew precisely what detail he’d omitted. “Forget it.”

“I can’t forget, any more than you can.” Sev’s eyes turned to molten gold. “I still want you in my bed.”