Corporate Blacmail

Author's Note: This story is set in the fictional country of Nordland, a small island nation in the North Sea between the UK, Norway, and Denmark.

This story is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places described in this narrative are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This is an abridged version of Parts 4 and 5 that I originally wrote -- I'm publishing these in order to complete this series. The changes I have made haven't affected the overall storyline but have improved the pacing.

Appreciate all comments and feedback.

HF

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"Yes, Minister... the North Sea Initiative will play a significant role in the long-term energy security around the North Sea region," Astrid said in flawless French to the French Energy Minister. She'd met the Minister several times over the past year in relation to other projects that North Sea Oil and Gas were pursuing, and she had found him to be a friendly and approachable man, but with absolutely no idea about details.

"And what do you believe to be the long-term potential for this project?" the Minister asked. Astrid smiled and answered his questions. Here, in this professional, corporate environment, she felt at home. She was at an EU-hosted European energy conference in Paris, networking and discussing the North Sea Initiative to the respective government representatives. At 5'8", with striking blue eyes and blonde hair, Astrid, the Vice President Strategic Initiatives at the Nordland government-owned North Sea Oil and Gas Corporation, cut an impressive figure amongst the crowd of overwhelmingly male conference attendees.

Clad in a stylish Hugo Boss charcoal grey pantsuit, paired with a white silk Equipment blouse and black leather Salvatore Ferragamo pumps, Astrid was the epitome of a sophisticated European corporate executive. As she conversed with the Minister, it was clear to not just him, but also to the other members of his party standing nearby, that she wasn't simply just an attractive, well-dressed woman, one of many who would hang on the fringes of the European Union political machine, but a confident and capable executive.

Her insights into the evolving European energy market and the energy issues facing the Continent, including Nordland, over the next ten, twenty, thirty years marked her out as one of the rising stars of the North Sea Oil and Gas Corporation. Several of the Minister's aides, waiting for him to finish conversing with her, surreptitiously eyed the attractive blonde woman standing in front of them.

It was only when their gaze drifted down to her left hand that they felt a twinge of disappointment when they saw the wedding ring, specially made by a specialist craftsman in Nordhaven, on her ring finger -- a gift from her loving husband, Erik, given over twelve years earlier, a promise for the two of them to love and be faithful to each other forever. Although they didn't realize it, the other items of jewelry she wore, a delicate gold necklace from Tiffany & Co. and gold stud earrings from Cartier, were also presents from Erik, the necklace for her birthday several years earlier and the earrings on their fifth anniversary.

However, the aides and indeed, the Minister himself, would have been stunned if they had realized that the confident, capable, and exquisitely put together female corporate executive in front of them had actually been blackmailed by an up-and-coming black American energy executive over the past several months. None of them could have imagined seeing her come apart in ecstasy on his black cock, nor thought that she would have willingly taken another black corporate executive to bed before engaging in a wild threesome with both him and her blackmailer. Neither would they have expected that she would turn over reams of confidential corporate files that would give Horizon Energy Solutions an edge in the competitive European market.

"The North Sea Initiative project holds immense long-term potential for both our corporation and the European energy landscape as a whole. With advancements in technology and a strategic focus on sustainability, we envision the North Sea becoming a cornerstone of the EU's clean energy production for decades to come," Astrid said. "How so? Can you elaborate?" the Minister asked, a look of puzzlement on his face.

Astrid smiled to herself; he really didn't have any idea about the details. "Certainly, Minister. Our project is centered around maximizing the utilization of renewable energy sources such as offshore wind and tidal power in the North Sea region. With vast untapped potential in these areas, we aim to harness the natural energy resources available to us in a way that minimizes environmental impact and maximizes efficiency."

The Minister smiled. "Thank you, Ms. Bjornsdottir, for your insights. It's clear that the North Sea Initiative holds great promise for the future of energy. We look forward to continued collaboration and progress in this important endeavor." He held out his hand to her.

"Thank you, Minister. We appreciate your support and look forward to working together to achieve our shared goals for a sustainable energy future," she replied, shaking his hand. It had been a good discussion, one that she had prepared for and achieved the outcomes she had hoped it would. On her mental conference checklist, she ticked off the French Energy Minister.

Her feeling of comfort disappeared abruptly as she saw a familiar, but certainly unwanted, figure in the crowd. She swallowed nervously, feeling a knot of fear and anxiety tightening in her stomach as Richard weaved through the crowd towards her. She had hoped to avoid the black man, especially in such a professional setting. It had been nearly a month since his visit to Nordland, and she had been relieved by the lack of contact from him since then, beyond the standard corporate communications between their two firms. Yet here he was, striding purposefully toward her with a confident smile plastered on his dark face.

As he approached, she realized there was no escape from him, not with the explicit video of their first night together in his possession that he held over her as leverage for her continued compliance in his twisted scheme of corporate blackmail.

"Richard," she greeted him in English with forced cordiality, her azure eyes betraying the barest hint of apprehension. What does he want? Why is he here? she thought to herself.

"Astrid," he responded smoothly, his brown eyes gleaming with a mixture of charm and mischief, like a snake viewing its prey. "What a pleasant surprise to see you here."

Astrid forced a polite smile, her mind racing with thoughts of how to handle this unexpected encounter in such an environment. "Yes, I'm here to speak at the conference tomorrow," she replied, trying to keep her tone neutral.

"Ah, yes, I heard about your keynote address," Richard said, nodding approvingly at the blonde executive. "Quite an impressive achievement, I must say."

Astrid's heart sank as she realized where this conversation was heading. She had hoped to avoid any further interaction with Richard, especially after the ordeal he had put her through back in Nordland during the visit by the Horizon executives. Yet here he was, inserting himself into her professional sphere once again. Will he ever leave me alone? Will this ever end? she thought to herself.

"Thank you," she replied tersely, her voice betraying a hint of irritation. How can I get rid of him? "Is there something you need, Richard?"

Richard's smile widened, and Astrid felt a surge of unease wash over her, a sinking feeling growing in the pit of her stomach. "Actually, I was hoping we could catch up," he said casually. "Perhaps over dinner tonight? I know a charming little bistro not far from here. Le Petit Bouchon."

Astrid's mind raced as she considered her options. She knew she couldn't risk angering Richard, not with the leverage he held over her. But the thought of spending another evening in his company made her stomach churn with both dread, but also with a twinge of excitement. She hurriedly forced herself to push down the thoughts of excitement. This man was a disgusting asshole, she told herself firmly.

Astrid felt the sinking feeling in her stomach grow even more pronounced as she forced a smile onto her face and acquiesced, inwardly cursing her predicament. Not again... she thought to herself. She'd just managed to get over the events of his visit to Nordland. It had taken her over a week just to let Erik touch her intimately in bed. What can I do? she pondered to herself, hoping for an answer, yet none was forthcoming.

"Actually, Richard, that sounds lovely," she replied, her tone strained as she struggled to maintain her composure. I really have no choice... not while he has that video... she rationalized to herself.

"Excellent," Richard said, his grin widening. "I'll see you there at 7:00."

Astrid's heart sank at the thought of spending another evening in Richard's company, but she plastered on a fake smile and nodded. "Sounds perfect," she said, her voice devoid of enthusiasm.

As Richard sauntered away, Astrid felt a wave of anxiety and guilt wash over her. She knew she couldn't keep doing this forever, but with him having leverage over her, she didn't know what else to do. The video would be the end of her marriage and her career if either Erik, her husband, or her employer, the North Sea Oil and Gas Corporation, ever found out about it. Resigned to her fate, she turned her attention back to the conference, forcing herself to focus on the tasks at hand. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling of impending disaster for both her personal and professional lives that lingered in the back of her mind.

*****

That evening, Astrid paced nervously in her hotel room, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting long shadows on the walls. Her heart raced as she dialed Erik's number, eager for the comfort of the voices of her husband and daughter, even more so in this worrying time. The screen lit up with their familiar faces as they answered the FaceTime call.

"Hi, Mama!" Ingrid's voice chirped in Nordic through the phone, her bright blue eyes shining with excitement at the sight of her mother.

"Hey, sweetheart," Astrid replied, mustering a smile despite the continuing unease gnawing at her insides at what she was about to do with Richard. "How was school today?"

"It was good! We learned about dinosaurs!" Ingrid exclaimed, her enthusiasm for her studies clearly infectious. The sight of her daughter's happiness helped dispel some of the anxiety in Astrid's mind.

"That sounds fascinating," Astrid said, her attention momentarily diverted from the impending dinner with Richard, a brief smile flickering across her face. "Did you have fun?"

"Yeah! And guess what? I drew a picture of a T-rex!" Ingrid exclaimed, holding up a colorful drawing to the camera.

"It's amazing, Ingrid," Astrid said, genuine pride evident in her voice. As much as she hated herself for what she was about to do, the sound of her daughter's voice reminded her of what she had to lose if she didn't go along with Richard's vile plan. "I can't wait to see it when I get home."

Erik's voice interrupted their conversation, his image smiling warmly at her from the small screen. "Hey, Asa. How's the conference going?"

"It's going well, Erik," Astrid replied, forcing a smile despite the knot of anxiety in her stomach. Her gaze flickering to her reflection in the mirror. She was dressed in nothing but a towel, her blonde hair still damp from the shower. "Just getting ready for dinner with some of the other attendees." Astrid replied evasively, unwilling to reveal the true nature of her plans for the evening. "It's nothing major."

Ingrid's face appeared beside Erik's again, her blue eyes wide with curiosity. "Are you going to a fancy restaurant, Mama?"

Astrid chuckled softly, forcing a touch of levity into her voice; nonetheless, the sound was hollow in her ears, as she realized the deception she was being forced to maintain. "Yes, honey. It's a very fancy restaurant."

Erik's brow furrowed with concern. "Are you sure you're okay, Asa? You seem a bit tense."

Astrid's smile faltered, her gaze dropping to the floor. Can he tell? she thought to herself. "I... I'm fine, Erik. Just a little tired, that's all."

Her husband's expression softened with understanding and Astrid felt another pang of guilt. He was always so supportive of her. "Alright, love. Well, have a good night, okay? We miss you."

"We love you, Mama!" Ingrid chimed in, waving enthusiastically at the screen.

Tears welled up in Astrid's eyes as she blew them both a kiss. "I love you both so much. Goodnight," she said, her heart heavy with a mixture of guilt, shame, and regret as she ended the call.

Placing her phone down, Astrid took a deep breath and forced herself to focus on the task at hand -- she had to get through the evening with Richard. She made her way to the bathroom where she used the hairdryer and brush to dry and style her hair. She then began her ritual of applying her makeup before dinner. With practiced precision, she brushed on foundation, concealer, and blush, accentuating her features with subtle shades of eyeshadow and mascara. She reached for her favorite lipstick, a luxurious red shade, and carefully applied it to her pink lips.

Next, Astrid turned her attention to the wardrobe, carefully selecting the perfect outfit for the evening from the limited selection of clothing she had brought with her for the conference. Fortunately, she had been to numerous conferences before and knew there was always a good possibility of heading out to dinner to network and discuss future deals.

Slipping the towel from her pale body, she chose a sleek black Diane von Furstenberg dress, aware that its fabric would cling seductively to the curves of her body and paired it with a matching set of lacy black La Perla underwear. She rolled a pair of sheer black Wolford stockings up her pale legs, fastening them to a matching La Perla black garter belt, and slid her feet into a pair of strappy Jimmy Choo heels adorned with sparkling rhinestones.

As she admired her reflection in the mirror, a surge of conflicting emotions washed over her. The revulsion she felt at the thought of being with Richard warred with the undeniable arousal that pulsed through her veins at the thought of sharing a bed with Richard again. It was a maddening contradiction, one that left her feeling both disgusted and strangely intrigued and excited.

With a heavy heart filled with reluctance over what she was being made to do, Astrid forced herself to push aside her feelings and focus on getting through the evening. Maybe this will be the last time, she thought hopefully to herself, but something inside her told her that this was far from the end. She took one last look in the mirror, adjusting her hair and smoothing down the fabric of her dress. Then, with a resigned sigh, she slipped her phone into her purse and headed out the door, steeling herself for the evening ahead.

*****

Astrid entered the cozy little bistro that Richard had selected, her heels clicking softly against the polished wooden floor. Her cool gaze swept the room until it landed on Richard, seated at a secluded table near the window. He looked up as she approached, his charming smile unwavering. The sooner I do this, the sooner I can leave, she rationalized to herself.

"Good evening, Astrid. You look lovely," Richard greeted her in English, his voice smooth as silk, a small grin plastered on his face. Despite the loathing she felt towards the black man, she couldn't deny that he cut a handsome figure in his suit.

Astrid offered a curt nod in response, her demeanor frosty and distant. She took a seat opposite him, her expression guarded. Alright, let's get this over with... she thought unhappily to herself.

"Cut the pleasantries, Richard. What do you want?" Astrid's tone was sharp, devoid of any warmth. This is just a transaction, a business transaction, she rationalized to herself.

Richard's smile faltered for a moment before he leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on her. "Straight to business, as always. I appreciate that," he remarked, unfazed by her clear hostility. "I wanted to discuss the upcoming agreement between Horizon and North Sea Oil and Gas. It seems things are progressing quite well on that front."

Astrid tensed slightly, her guard slipping momentarily at his choice of topic. He wanted to talk about business? "Yes, it's nearing finalization," she replied cautiously, not sure where this conversation was going to go. "Our board has approved all the conditions Horizon requested. The ball is now in your court" she told him. He smiled casually at her words. "Board sign off for us is now a formality, we should have it completed within the week."

Richard's eyes sparkled with interest as he leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But I hear there have been some interesting developments at the conference you're attending. Care to share?"

Astrid's heart skipped a beat as she realized his true intentions. Oh, God... not more information... She had expected him to proposition her for another illicit rendezvous, not to pry for confidential information. She hesitated, her mind racing as she weighed her options. With a painful realization, she knew she had no other options -- not if she wanted to keep this all a secret from her family and the Corporation. Despite this, she still tried to play for time.

"What makes you think I have any information to share?" Astrid's words were laced with skepticism, but Richard merely chuckled in response, a little grin on his dark face.

"Oh, come now, Astrid. You're far too valuable to North Sea Oil and Gas to be left out of the loop," Richard countered smoothly, his gaze unwavering as it bore into her, causing her to flinch slightly. "Besides, we both know how this game is played."

Astrid's jaw clenched as she fought to maintain her composure. She knew the risks of divulging sensitive information to Richard, but the thought of defying him sent a shiver down her spine. Just give him enough, but not too much... she rationalized to herself.

"Fine," she relented, her voice barely above a whisper, as if worried anyone nearby would hear her. "The French Energy Minister mentioned potential regulatory changes that could impact European energy markets. It's still preliminary, but it could give Horizon a significant advantage over our competitors if we can implement these changes early."

"Come on, Astrid, don't be coy. I know you're privy to more than just regulatory changes," Richard pressed, his tone bordering on impatient, clearly sensing she was stalling.

Astrid swallowed hard, her palms growing clammy in her lap as she weighed her options. She knew she was treading on dangerous ground, but the thought of defying Richard sent a shiver down her spine. If only I could get my hands on that video...

"There have been discussions about potential offshore drilling sites in the North Sea," she began tentatively, choosing her words carefully. "It's a sensitive topic, but if Horizon were to secure exclusive rights to those locations, it could significantly bolster their position in the European market."

Richard's eyes gleamed with interest as he absorbed her words, a calculating smile playing at the corners of his lips. She felt a shudder of disgust and fear flash through her heart at the sight of his smile. How can I ever escape this...?

"Go on," he urged, leaning in closer towards her, as if hanging on her every word. His brown eyes were fixed on her blue ones, and she saw that there was no affection in them, only lust. Lust for her body and her knowledge.