A Deal with Alejandro Page 6

  The buzz now replaced with cold trepidation, she braced herself and answered the call.

  ‘Finally! Your father and I were beginning to wonder whether you’d been abducted by aliens,’ her mother snapped, her voice containing a bite that always raised Elise’s hackles.

  ‘I turned the sound on my phone off when I met with Mr Aguilar. Things got out of hand after that.’ She immediately cringed at the poor choice of words.

  She didn’t bother retracting them, because her mother was already enquiring sharply, ‘Out of hand? Are you saying we didn’t get it? Damn, I should’ve handled it myself. But we’re the number one PR firm in Chicago. People beg to come to us, not the other way round. All the same, this commission could’ve been huge for us. You should’ve called us when things started going bad. Ralph! Come here. We have a problem.’

  Elise’s grip tightened on the phone, all too familiar anger and hurt welling inside her. ‘Mom—’

  ‘Your father and I will have to see if there’s any way to salvage it—’

  ‘Mom!’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I signed the agreement with SNV this afternoon.’

  Stunned silence followed. Elise tried to breathe through the hurt clogging in her chest.

  ‘Well, that’s...commendable?’

  The question mark hooked like a rusty claw into her. It was the same question mark with which they’d greeted her devastation after being nearly assaulted by a client they’d pushed her into dealing with.

  ‘Are you sure it wasn’t a harmless pass, Elise?’

  ‘You’re mistaken. Brian Grey doesn’t normally go for girls like you...’

  She breathed through the anguish. ‘Thanks for your rousing belief in me,’ she replied, but the murmur of voices in the background told her they were engaged in a side conversation about her.

  Her father took over a minute later. ‘I hear congratulations are in order?’

  Again the insidious disbelief that she’d been able to land SNV’s business. ‘Is that a question, Dad?’ she asked stiltedly.

  ‘You can take that tone all you want, but you’ve made it perfectly clear you’re just passing through the business that kept you in clothes, ponies, and round-the-world vacations, not to mention college tuition fees.’

  ‘Some of those things were your responsibility to me as my parents. The others I never asked for. And I’m paying you back for my education. Let’s not forget that.’

  ‘You wouldn’t have had to if you hadn’t misled us about your true intentions. We didn’t pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to send you to college to study art. Any fool can draw. You were supposed to make marketing and PR your main focus.’

  ‘I’m not a fool, Dad. And I graduated with double majors. You just choose to ignore that fact because it suits your argument. I’m sorry I disappointed you and Mom by not wanting what you want, but my life is my own. If you can’t respect that—’

  ‘Elise—’

  Her father was cut off abruptly as her mother took control. ‘Enough of this. These arguments give me migraines and I can’t afford one tonight. We’re entertaining the Greenhills. They’re not as prestigious as Alejandro Aguilar, of course, but both your father and I need to be on top of our games. A commission from them will guarantee us a significant mention in the Tribune. I know you’d rather be doing other things than talking to us, so just forward me a copy of the contract so Accounts can set up a payment schedule with SNV.’

  Elise exhaled shakily. She’d tried to bury the futile wish for affection from them, but their cold-hearted indifference to her and everything except climbing the social and financial ladders, despite the shockingly harrowing events of last year, still caused anguish. ‘Mom—’

  ‘Goodbye, Elise.’

  Her mother hung up, leaving her no choice but to swallow the words that never quite managed to pave the way for a non-confrontational conversation.

  She blinked rapidly when she realised tears were forming. Dashing her hand across her face, she forwarded the contract to her mother.

  Powering down her laptop, she slid properly into bed and pulled up the sheets to her chin, firmly refusing to dwell on the past.

  Instead, she analysed her day.

  In some ways, today could’ve gone better. She could’ve summoned more control over her errant emotions around Alejandro, for instance. Been less absorbed by his raw magnetism, that hint of bleakness that echoed the knot trapped inside her.

  But she’d secured and held on to the SNV commission.

  Tomorrow would be better.

  * * *

  She groaned out loud when her alarm sounded at six. Rolling over, she debated the wisdom of making middle-of-the-night decisions like running to SNV’s offices as a perfect start to the new day.

  Eyeing the backpack she’d readied with her work clothes and everything she needed for the day, Elise groaned again, wondering what she’d been thinking.

  You need a clear head to deal with Alejandro Aguilar. Running does that for you.

  Grudgingly accepting the voice of reason, she rose and donned her running gear. Tying her hair into a ponytail, she caught up the backpack and headed out.

  Twenty-five sweaty minutes later, she arrived at SNV. She was gulping thirstily from the water fountain when she sensed she was being watched. Her heart leapt into her throat, but when she raised her head it wasn’t Alejandro, but a sandy-haired man who approached with a smile and an outstretched hand.

  ‘I’m Wendell Grant. I’m with the strategy team on the Japanese merger. Alejandro mentioned he’d gone with my recommendation and hired you.’

  Wondering when Alejandro would’ve had a chance to do that since it was only six thirty, she plastered a smile on her face. ‘Oh, I see. I guess I owe you big for that.’

  His smile widened. ‘I accept payment in caffeine-related beverages.’ He fell into step beside her and held the lift door for her. ‘Good thing is, in this place, it’s free,’ he whispered conspiratorially.

  Elise laughed. ‘Noted.’

  He pressed the button for the same floor Alejandro’s office was located, then sent a swift glance over her body. ‘You better hustle. Alejandro might want a meeting. In my experience it’s better to make yourself available and not be needed, than the other way around.’

  She nodded brisk thanks, although her body developed a curious thrum at the mention of Alejandro’s name as they exited the lift. Wendell turned right and she headed for the women’s bathroom that held fully stocked shower cubicles.

  ‘Oh, by the way...’

  She paused and turned.

  ‘I take my coffee black with two sugars,’ Wendell said.

  Acknowledging him with a quick wave, she darted into the bathroom.

  She arrived at Margo’s desk one minute before seven. The middle-aged PA looked up and rolled her eyes.

  ‘Be warned. He’s in a mood. There’s a briefing in the conference room. You better head there, too. He’ll join you when he’s done with his phone call.’

  Elise eyed the door, heard the growled imprecation from within, and exchanged a nervous smile with Margo before heading the other way.

  She entered the conference room and greeted the three men and three women comprising the strategy team. After Wendell made introductions, Elise went to the coffee cart and prepared two coffees, and held one out to him.

  ‘Black, two sugars.’

  He took the coffee from her and took a sip. ‘Perfect. You can stay.’

  Exaggerated groans and ribbing sounded around the table.

  Smiling, Elise started to raise her cup, and froze at the sight of Alejandro, silently observing her from the doorway.

  She locked her knees, the bolt to her stomach just from the sight of him enough to knock the breath from her lungs. Tension emanated from him. The team lapsed into silence, furtive glances passing between them.

  Alejandro prowled forward and stopped at the head of the table. ‘You’ve all met my new PR guru. Good. This
will be a short meeting.’

  Bodies shifted. Throats cleared. The tension remained.

  ‘Are you going to sit down, Elise?’ Alejandro addressed her without looking her way.

  ‘Uh, sure.’

  About to take the seat farthest away, she froze again when Alejandro pointed to the chair adjacent to him. Again without looking her way.

  Clutching her untouched coffee, she made her way round the table and slipped into the chair. A few heartbeats later, Alejandro sat down.

  Like yesterday, he wore a black shirt and faintly pinstriped tailored trousers. If he’d worn a tie with the ensemble, he’d discarded it—the two top buttons opened to reveal his strong throat and the hint of silky curls. She quickly averted her gaze from the evocative sight and concentrated on the file in front of her. The thin file that, upon closer inspection, held everything she’d discovered yesterday.

  Her eyes widened. Had he returned to the office last night to put this together? The man was superhuman.

  ‘Yesterday, Elise confirmed what we’ve all suspected for the past few days. The Ishikawa Corporation is considering another player for the merger. What the report doesn’t say is that player happens to be my brother.’

  Elise tensed at the icy chill of his tone as shocked murmurs went around the table.

  ‘Your brother?’ Wendell echoed.

  Alejandro’s eyes hardened a touch. ‘Yes. He’s CEO of Toredo Inc. That fact shouldn’t alter our strategy. At least not yet. Elise believes Kenzo Ishikawa and the proposed relocation of the factories is the bone of contention fuelling the sudden switch in their end goal. We’ll concentrate on that instead.’

  Wendell frowned and glanced at Elise. ‘Their grandfather? Are you sure?’

  She nodded. ‘As sure as I can be without hearing it straight from his mouth.’

  Alejandro levelled a hard stare at him. ‘Do you have a problem with that assessment? If so, prove it wrong,’ he bit out.

  Wendell’s eyes widened. ‘Umm...no, I believe her.’

  ‘Good. I want a preliminary report of what it’ll cost to relocate fifty per cent of the factories and leave the remainder in Japan for the next five years. That will be all.’

  He rose, signalling an end to the meeting. A few steps from the door, he looked over his shoulder. ‘Elise?’ Her name was a terse command.

  She rose, aware of the speculative glances she drew.

  Wordlessly, she followed him into his office, the door swinging shut behind them. The familiar-looking coffee cart stood beside the sofas. Alejandro strode to it and poured himself an espresso.

  After taking a healthy gulp, he faced her.

  ‘Are popularity contests your thing?’ he enquired. His tone would have been cordial, but for the deadly bite threading it.

  Elise frowned. ‘What?’

  ‘You walk into a room and instantly feel a burning need to make sure everyone likes you, is that it?’

  A quiver of anger, and something else she couldn’t define, shot through her. ‘The only thing I’m sure of right now is that I have no clue what you’re talking about. Wait, maybe I am sure of one thing. You definitely woke up on the wrong side of the bed.’

  His mouth twisted. ‘You’re assuming I went to bed at all.’

  ‘Well then, that’s your problem right there. Grumpiness due to sleep deprivation is a common ailment. And I don’t need you to fight my battles for me.’

  ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘I could’ve defended my findings to Wendell. You didn’t need to lumber in.’

  Green eyes narrowed. ‘Watch it, Elise. You’re in danger of forgetting who’s boss.’

  Another shiver passed through her, but it was in response to the sparks arcing through the air. And the fact that she wasn’t shying away as she’d promised herself last night she would. In truth, the opposite seemed to be the case. Something inside her relished it. ‘I haven’t forgotten. But I appear to have done something specifically to annoy you between last night and right now. Something I have no clue about—’

  ‘Unless I haven’t been paying attention to my team, Wendell Grant hasn’t lost the use of his limbs. Is there any reason you felt the need to fetch him coffee?’

  Her snort escaped before she could stop it. ‘You’re annoyed about that?’

  His brows clenched in a frown. ‘I don’t wish to set a precedent,’ he snapped. ‘Or breed an atmosphere of sexism at the workplace.’

  Elise took a deep, bracing breath. ‘So why didn’t you just say that? Why go with the popularity angle? And yesterday it was about me flirting with Oliver.’

  ‘You’re making my point for me.’

  ‘Am I? Or are you going out of your way to find fault with me because you have a problem with me?’

  His jaw tightened. ‘I assure you—’

  ‘No. Let me assure you. I’m familiar with a work environment where it’s believed that throwing your weight about and reminding those around you who’s boss every minute of every day is the way forward. Both times you’ve bitten my head off, your employees have seemed surprised. Which tells me you don’t normally do that. Your problem is with me specifically. So I’ll explain myself in the hope we can start another day with a clean slate, shall I? I met Wendell on my way up. He told me he’d recommended you to use Jameson. We joked about what his reward would be. I got him the coffee as a thank-you. End of story.’ Realising she’d delivered another diatribe, Elise heaved in a breath.

  Alejandro stared at her for several beats without speaking. Eyes still fixed on her, he drained his espresso, set down the cup on his desk and prowled to where she stood.

  ‘As I said...you want to be liked,’ he taunted, her ramble clearly having had zero effect.

  ‘Are you serious—?’

  ‘So, what about me?’ he inserted. ‘Do you like me, Elise?’

  ‘I... What?’ She exhaled.

  He shrugged, piercing green eyes examining her face in rapt detail before they locked on her mouth. ‘Grant merely recommended you. There were two other candidates I could’ve gone for. I chose you. So, tell me? How will you thank me?’

  Electricity stormed the air. Invisible sparks flew, crackling thick and volatile charges between them. Her mouth tingled, her throat growing dry as she tried to swallow and speak. The first few attempts, words failed her, her senses swimming as she tried to step back from the edge of the dangerous abyss that suddenly loomed before her.

  She shook her head. The movement was jerky. Uncoordinated. ‘I’m not falling for this,’ she said, her voice a croak above a whisper.

  ‘Falling for what, Elise?’ he asked, his tone containing an unfamiliar pulse that sent more shivers chasing through her body.

  ‘For whatever trap you’re setting for me.’

  ‘You’re far too fixated on traps,’ he drawled, his gaze still glued to her mouth.

  ‘You’re far too adept at laying them.’

  ‘I’m waiting, Elise.’

  She licked her lips. It was a quick lick, a desperate act to stop the insane tingling. But his eyes darkened dramatically, and he exhaled a breath that sounded pent-up. Aggravated.

  What was happening—?

  No. Whatever was happening here didn’t require fathoming. She knew first-hand how quickly things could escalate from seemingly tranquil to potentially life-scarring. She’d been wary before Brian Grey had taught her a salutary lesson last year. But that incident had only tripled her efforts to stay away from emotional and sexual pitfalls.

  Granted, Alejandro evoked an entirely different sort of apprehension from the sensations Brian Grey had produced in her. But they were all equally dangerous. Even more so this time, because her emotions weren’t as non-receptive as they’d been with Brian.

  The realisation troubled her enough to propel her one step back. Then another.

  Do you like me, Elise?

  This close, when his scent was sucking her into that sensual vortex, when his body was close enough to feel the heat pulsing off him,
her senses screamed yes.

  ‘I’m here to work, Mr Aguilar. There’s nothing in my contract that says I can’t be nice to other people. So unless you have another problem with me, or something specific you wish me to work on, I’ll be in my office.’

  She turned and walked away, painfully aware of his gaze tracking her every step.

  Elise entered the room she’d used yesterday and stopped in her tracks. The space had been transformed. A computer had been set up, together with a phone, sleek stationery and her own refreshment trolley. Two large ferns had been placed at each end of the window, and a bouquet of fresh, expensive-looking flowers stood on a pedestal beside her desk.

  She looked over her shoulder to find him staring at her. Elise’s lips parted with the urge to say something, but, after their terse exchange, appropriate words failed her.

  Alejandro turned away from her and the moment passed. Strolling with lean-hipped grace, he took a seat at his desk.

  ‘Your brief today is to find me an in to Kenzo Ishikawa,’ he ordered.

  Her eyes widened. ‘You’re going after the grandfather?’

  He eyed her. ‘Contrary to what you may think, I don’t go around annihilating every opponent who crosses my path, Elise.’

  She flushed. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

  ‘You’ll do better than that. You insist on reminding me of the terms of your contract, so let me remind you that your contract holds as long as you remain useful to me. Find me something I can use, or you’ll cease to be useful.’

  The warning gripped the back of her mind all morning and afternoon, long after the video conference that proved to be a colossal waste of time.

  Ten minutes into the call, it was clear the Ishikawa brothers were merely spouting platitudes in order to buy themselves more time. She was surprised Alejandro went along with it, giving them the further week they requested to iron out what were clearly nonsensical minor issues.

  Then he and the team spent the rest of the week digging deeper into every aspect of the Ishikawa Corporation.

  Elise felt a moment’s unease when the words hostile takeover were thrown on the table. Alejandro’s head lifted and he stared directly at her as he vetoed the idea. She wasn’t sure why her heart tripped over. Nothing had changed between them. Their Tuesday morning conversation had set a precedent for their stilted relationship.