Alejandro always plays by the rules...

Alejandro Aguilar never mixes business with pleasure—but his newest employee, marketing guru Elise Jameson, is refreshingly different and irresistibly intoxicating. Working together on a high-octane multibillion-dollar merger, exhilaration gets the better of them...

Until now!

But this Spaniard is still wrestling demons from his past and he sees betrayal everywhere, including in the eyes of his temptress, Elise. So he fires her, destroying the business deal—and her heart. Until he realizes his mistake. Innocent Elise is the key to the merger, and she knows her price—but is Alejandro prepared to go all in?

‘Miss Jameson.’

It wasn’t a request. It was an order couched in a pseudo-reasonable tone.

Keep walking. She took another step.

‘Elise.’

She froze, the sound of her given name so unbelievably sensual coming from his deep, slightly accented tones that she couldn’t suppress a gasp. She slowly turned around.

‘One last thing. My company isn’t the place to find your next boyfriend or a husband. As long as you’re contracted to work for me you’ll practise a zero-fraternisation policy. I find that petty lawsuits are best avoided that way.’

‘Are you speaking from personal experience?’ she asked.

Alejandro’s face tightened into a rigid, forbidding mask. Hell, she’d struck another nerve. God, what was wrong with her?

‘That is not your concern. Just be sure to let Grandma know you’ll be disappointing her for a while longer where potential wedding bells are concerned, would you?’

Just keep walking.

Rival Brothers

When rivalry is thicker than blood…

Estranged brothers Alejandro and Gael Aguilar are titans of technology and each other’s biggest rivals.

It will take two special women to help these sexy Spaniards put the past behind them and join forces to become more powerful than they ever dreamed!

Battle commences in…

A Deal with Alejandro

And find who will be victorious in…

One Night with Gael

Available November 2016

A Deal with Alejandro

Maya Blake

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MAYA BLAKE’s hopes of becoming a writer were born when she picked up her first romance at thirteen. Little did she know her dream would come true! Does she still pinch herself every now and then to make sure it’s not a dream? Yes, she does! Feel free to pinch her, too, via Twitter, Facebook or Goodreads! Happy reading!

Books by Maya Blake

Mills & Boon Modern Romance

Signed Over to Santino

A Diamond Deal with the Greek

A Marriage Fit for a Sinner

Married for the Prince’s Convenience

Innocent in His Diamonds

His Ultimate Prize

Marriage Made of Secrets

The Sinful Art of Revenge

The Price of Success

The Billionaire’s Legacy

The Di Sione Secret Baby

Secret Heirs of Billionaires

Brunetti’s Secret Son

The Untameable Greeks

What the Greek’s Money Can’t Buy

What the Greek Can’t Resist

What the Greek Wants Most

The 21st Century Gentleman’s Club

The Ultimate Playboy

Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Rival Brothers

Title Page

About the Author

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

ALEJANDRO AGUILAR STEPPED out of a bracing, ice-cold shower to the sound of a ringing phone. At 4:00 a.m. such an occurrence would have alarmed most people. He already had a fair idea of why his early-morning routine was being disturbed.

Crossing the master bedroom suite of his Chicago penthouse, he draped the towel round his neck and picked up the phone.

‘Is it done?’

A muted sigh from his chief strategist, Wendell Grant, greeted him. ‘I’m sorry, sir, but they wouldn’t be swayed. We’ve thrown everything at them, including my firstborn son.’

The attempt at humour fell flat, causing the weary-sounding man to clear his throat uncomfortably.

Alejandro’s grip tightened on the handset, the inkling he’d harboured for several weeks expanding to nape-tingling certainty. There were far too many indicators to ignore the suspicion any longer.

‘Frankly, I’m at a loss as to why they’ve suddenly become so intransigent,’ Wendell continued. ‘The Ishikawa brothers’ team refuses to even discuss what the problem is beyond stating that they need more time.’

Alejandro knew what the problem was. The heads of the Japanese e-commerce conglomerate were protracting the deal, which should’ve been finalised a month ago, in order to accommodate a third party’s interest.

‘How did you leave things?’ he asked.

‘They’ve asked for a few more days. We tried to get an earlier date but they wouldn’t budge. We’ve agreed to a videoconference on Friday.’

‘That’s unacceptable. I’m not waiting another five days. Call them back. Tell them I want the Ishikawa brothers in conference tomorrow.’

‘Yes, sir.’

About to hang up, Alejandro sensed his executive’s reticence. ‘Is there something else?’

‘Well...I got the feeling they think they have the upper hand. The dynamic has definitely shifted...’

Hearing his suspicions voiced by another brought a clench of anger to Alejandro’s gut. If his executives had sniffed out the same issue, it was time to take over the helm again.

‘Sir? Is there something we should know?’

Alejandro squashed his ire. ‘I’ll take it from here. Extend my gratitude to the team and tell everyone to take the day off. You’ve earned it.’

‘You still want me to make the call?’ Wendell asked.

‘No. I’ll take care of it.’ Now that he knew with whom he was dealing, it was time the gloves came off.

‘If you’re sure, then I better get home to my wife before she serves me with divorce papers.’ Another weary laugh, which fizzled away, the other man sensing Alejandro’s tense mood. ‘Oh, one last thing. I had my assistant compile the shortlist of PR firms for you. Jameson PR has the most extensive experience in Asia. I think at this stage we need all the help we can get.’

Alejandro finished the call and hung up. Snatching the towel from around his neck, he dropped it and padded naked to his dressing room. His signature grey suits, black shirts and bespoke pinstripe ties were within easy reach. Selecting a charcoal suit, he dressed with military efficiency, and was heading out of the door fifteen minutes later.

The drive to the Loop, the financial heart of Chicago, took less than ten minutes. The early hour meant very little traffic and Alejandro gained marginal satisfaction from letting the engine of his Bugatti Veyron roar along the quiet streets.

But nothing could ease the iron-hard fist of unwelcome knowledge trapped in his gut. Nor the accompanying rage that mounted with each passing second.

He’d moved from Spain, the country of his birth, to California at the age of twenty-one, and then relocated to Chicago a year after that because he’d wanted nothing to do with his family. The move from Spain had been to remove himself as soon as it was legally possible from the volatile quagmire that was his parents’ sham of a marriage. Alejandro had put several thousand miles between himself and the two individuals biology had used to create him, and never looked back. Little did he know he’d been placing himself within touching distance of another powder keg in the form of his half-brother.

Gael Aguilar.

He was half of the equation that had worsened the acrimony in Alejandro’s life over two decades ago. Gael and his mother had put faces on the hitherto faceless monsters that were his father’s indiscretions. Those monsters had grown until Alejandro had had no choice but to leave the only home he’d known.

But the nightmare hadn’t been ready to let him be.

Gael had arrived in California shortly after him. And Silicon Valley hadn’t been large enough to contain the two of them. Especially when his younger half-brother had started making himself a nuisance by going after the same deals Alejandro showed interest in. Wiping out Gael’s burgeoning e-commerce start-up would’ve been an easy accomplishment for Alejandro. But that would’ve indicated he cared one iota about the life he’d put behind him. It would’ve given the impression that the countless instances of infidelity, rancour and falsehood that had peppered his childhood still had the power to matter.

So he’d walked away.

He might be an Aguilar, but he was so in name only. Nothing about it was worthy of being lauded. He’d cut all ties. As far as he was concerned, he existed in this world alone.

Except his half-brother hadn’t got the memo. A decade after meeting for the second and final time, it appeared Gael was determined to insert himself into Alejandro’s business once again. Or at the very least, scurry away with the deal Alejandro had worked tirelessly to pull together.

Turning off his engine, he launched himself from the car and crossed the underground car park of his company’s building. Entering the lift that would take him to the top-floor offices of SNV International, he recalled that last exchange with his brother when Gael had found out he was leaving California.

‘I hear you’re relocating your business. Why? You scared I’m going to show you up?’ Gael’s white smile, cocksure, taunting and tinged with bravado, had reminded Alejandro too much of their father’s, eliciting nothing but cold indifference.

‘Don’t kid yourself. My company is successful enough to thrive anywhere in the world. But perhaps you should count your lucky stars that I’m leaving and removing myself from the temptation to crush you into the dirt. This way you at least have a hope of making something of yourself.’

His brother’s smile had evaporated like mist in sunshine. A look Alejandro had ironically recognised in himself—one of implacable will and determination—had passed over Gael’s features.

‘I look forward to the day when I make you swallow those words, hermano.’

Alejandro had shrugged and walked away. He hadn’t bothered to tell Gael they would never be true brothers because they’d never meet again. Crossing paths once when they were teenagers had been bad enough. A second time, in their twenties, was overkill.

He’d thought there wouldn’t be a third.

Except, walking away hadn’t ended it. Foolishly, it seemed Gael had taken offence at his words at their last meeting. And like a damn virus he was determined to corrupt as many of Alejandro’s dealings as he could.

He strode into his office as the April sun rose over Lake Michigan. Normally, he stopped to admire the view as he enjoyed his morning espresso. This Monday, however, he tossed his car keys on his desk, tugged off his jacket and went to work.

By 9:00 a.m. he had definite confirmation that it was indeed Gael meddling with the Japanese deal.

He sat back in his chair, fingers tented together as he forced down the acid bite of distaste. Gael’s company, Toredo Inc., had grown into an e-commerce powerhouse second only to Alejandro’s own company. Not for a single moment had that reality fazed him. His company was worth billions, and more than held its own in the industry. At times when he felt generous, he even welcomed Toredo’s competition.

Not this time. Bagging this deal would launch SNV into an echelon of its own. It would be the culmination of the success he’d striven for since walking away from the tatters of what the common man termed a family. Others might accommodate such failures. He didn’t. He’d cut his losses on an irredeemable life because nothing he did could fix what was permanently broken. Instead he’d concentrated on what he was successful at. He’d made his first million at twenty-four, just before he left California. In the ten years since, he’d risen to the top.

The Ishikawa deal would be his crowning glory. He’d worked too long and hard to see it dismantled by Gael.

His strategy team had suggested hiring a PR company experienced in dealing with Japanese companies to work alongside his in-house PR department. Alejandro had shelved the idea until negotiations had stalled. Although he still had his doubts as to the efficacy of employing an outside PR company, he opened the first file.

The headshot caught his attention immediately, although, staring at the picture critically, Alejandro couldn’t pinpoint why. Her mouth was too wide and full, her nose a little too perfectly pointed. Her almond-shaped hazel-gold eyes held too many shadows, and, for his taste, she was wearing a little too much make-up; he preferred the natural look. The shadows and the make-up alone jarred him further into memories he didn’t want to dwell on. Like the memories of his brother, they were reminiscent of a past he’d striven hard to forget.

Yet he couldn’t drag his gaze away from Elise Jameson’s picture. The almost absurd notion that if he stared for long enough the image would come to life gripped him. His gaze dropped past her jaw and neck and he experienced the tiniest stab of regret that there wasn’t more to see.

Gritting his teeth, he perused her academic accomplishments, which were impressive enough to compel him to read on. The discovery that Jameson PR was a family company brought a twisted smile, but Alejandro suppressed the useless threat of emotion. Not every family was as dysfunctional as the one he’d left behind.

Suficiente!

He needed his head screwed on straight to see this merger through, not spend time dwelling on the past. He moved on to the other two files. Within minutes he’d dismissed the other candidates.

When he found himself staring at the headshot again, he reached for the phone.

‘Margo, set up an interview with the Jameson PR people for this afternoon, would you?’

‘Umm, one of their executives is already here. Shall I send her in? Your diary is free since you’ve cleared most of your appointments already.’

He frowned. ‘They came here on the off chance I’d want to see them?’ Alejandro wasn’t sure whether to applaud them for their brazenness or condemn them for wasting valuable man hours on the likelihood of being hired by SNV.

‘Wendell thought it might be prudent in case you wanted to move quickly on the PR front.’

Alejandro made a mental note to increase his team leader’s bonus. His gaze dropped to the headshot. ‘Which representative from Jameson is here?’

‘It’s a junior executive—Elise Jameson. I can arrange for a senior member to come in if you pref—’

‘No, it’s fine. Send her in.’ He would glean as much from the younger Jameson as he would from her parents. Besides, he didn’t have time to waste. ‘I’d like some fresh coffee, too. Gracias.’

A brisk knock on the door a few minutes later brought his head up.

Margo entered first, wheeling in a tray of coffee. Alejandro’s gaze swung past her, his attention almost compelled to focus on the dark-haired woman who followed. A part of him disliked the fizz of compulsion almost as much as it anticipated his first glimpse of her.

True, his wholehearted immersion in this potential merger had left little time for physical dalliances for the better part of a year now. The occasions when he’d been tempted to indulge in carnal pleasures, the chase had surprisingly grown boring. Enough to abandon his date at the after-dinner-coffee stage on more than one occasion. Nevertheless, he was a red-blooded male, as the momentary tightening in his groin informed him now when Elise Jameson stepped into the office.

The early morning sun struck her face as she paused on the threshold, bringing every feature in her photo to vivid life. Her face was impeccably made-up, just like in her headshot, but where he’d been healthily captivated before by the glossy two-dimensional version, he was paralysingly riveted by the flesh and blood reality.

She advanced farther into the room. Her stride was confident but minimised by the navy pencil skirt whose matching jacket was secured by a single button beneath a full chest. The cut of her clothes immediately drew Alejandro’s gaze to her Venus-like body and shapely legs. Attractive. Alluring. But nothing extraordinary.

And then she smiled at a departing Margo, and realisation struck.

Elise bore an unsettling resemblance to a painting he’d once seen hanging in his father’s study when he was fourteen years old. The woman had been standing before a window with the sun shining on her arresting features. Her dark hair had been caught at the back of her head, her eyes shut and her face lifted in sun worship. The artist had captured her image from the point of view of a lover staring down at his paramour.

Their differences in height once Elise Jameson reached his desk were strikingly similar.

Except that woman had been nude.

And that painting had also caused prolonged rows between his mother and father, with one vowing to burn the painting and the other mocking the jealous fit. The painting had lasted six days before it’d disappeared. And even though he’d snuck into his father’s study to stare at it, Alejandro had been glad once it was gone.

All he’d cared about was that the rowing had ceased. Albeit, inevitably, temporarily.

He blinked the memory away, irritated with his ongoing traipse down memory lane, to find a manicured hand proffered.

‘Thank you for seeing me, Mr Aguilar. I’m Elise Jameson.’

He took her hand, noted the soft but firm grip, the smoothness of her skin, the spark that travelled along his palm, and released her.

‘I’m aware one of my employees suggested we may be interested in your services, but don’t you think it was a touch foolish to just present yourself here? You could’ve wasted the entire day,’ he stated in a voice he knew was clipped.

Her eyes, which were more tilted and vivid in real life, widened a touch, before she blinked back her composure. ‘You say foolish, I say impeccably timed,’ she replied coolly.

He lifted a brow. ‘Are we to disagree so soon? You think that bodes well for our potential working relationship?’

Her shoulders tensed infinitesimally. ‘Pardon me for being forward, but if you require a yes-man or -woman who’ll jump at your every suggestion, then perhaps Jameson isn’t the right fit for you. Sycophancy isn’t in our remit.’

He noted then that, although her accent was American, her features bore a hint of an Asian heritage, making her beauty even more enthralling. He also noted his own faint amusement with irritation. Rounding the desk, he approached the tray laden with coffee and bagels and poured his fifth cup of espresso. ‘Coffee?’

‘No, thank you. I’ve had my daily allotment. Any more and you’d have to prise me off the ceiling.’ One corner of her crimson-painted mouth twitched and Alejandro found his gaze tracing the full curve.

Striding back to his desk, he gulped down half of his beverage. ‘In that case, sit down, Miss Jameson, and tell me what is in your remit.’

She took the time to unbutton her jacket, giving him a glimpse of the jade-coloured silk top beneath and a shadowed cleavage before she sat down.

‘Normally, it works the other way round. You tell me what you need PR-wise and we advise you how to achieve it, sycophancy not included, of course.’ Another smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Over the scent of ground coffee beans, he caught the faintest hint of her perfume. Crushed berries mixed with an elusive spice. Unique. Captivating. He caught himself inhaling deeper to chase the scent and gritted his teeth.

‘We seem to have skipped a step or two in the traditional interview process, so perhaps we should go with the flow here.’

She blinked. ‘I could go with the flow. Except I’m not even sure where the river starts, Mr Aguilar. Wendell Grant was equally cryptic when he called and asked me to come here. Sadly, cryptic won’t cut it if you need my help.’

‘Since I haven’t decided whether I do or not, I’m not going to go into the specifics of a highly confidential deal.’

Her mouth tightened a touch before she smiled her insincere smile. ‘If you’re worried about confidentiality, our impeccable record speaks for itself.’

‘Be that as it may, until you’re officially hired, I prefer to practise a little...restraint.’

Her gaze locked with his for a long moment. Then she nodded. ‘As you wish. So let’s talk hypotheticals. What can I do for you?’

A frown tugged at Alejandro’s brow. She was intelligent. And she was saying all the right things. But he couldn’t shake the feeling something else was going on beneath the surface.

‘How old are you?’ he asked.

Her eyes widened. ‘Why is that relevant?’

Alejandro folded his arms, mildly disturbed by his own question. ‘Is it a state secret?’

‘Of course not.’ Her gaze dropped to his desk. ‘But you have my file right there in front of you. You’ve read it so you know my age. If I wanted to lie to you about anything—which I don’t, by the way—lying about my age would be the stupidest one to start with, don’t you think? And other than to catch me out in a lie, I’m not sure why—’

‘Do you always answer a simple question with a diatribe?’

Beneath the make-up, heat flushed her cheeks. Her nostrils flared a touch before she blinked back her composure.

‘I’m twenty-five. As it says in my file,’ she returned acerbically.

‘How long have you worked for your parents?’ Again a question he hadn’t anticipated asking.

Her mouth compressed. ‘Since I graduated university at twenty-one.’

Alejandro studied her silently. To her credit, she didn’t fidget.

Unfolding his arms, he rested his elbows on his desk. ‘I don’t think this is going to work out, Miss Jameson. Thank you for coming.’

First came a look that closely resembled relief. Followed by surprise. Then her lips parted as shock set in. ‘Excuse me?’

‘If you can’t see your way through answering a few simple questions without getting emotional, I don’t see how you can deal with the hard stuff. Margo will see you out.’

She started to get up. Halfway through the act, she dropped back down. ‘This is some sort of trick, isn’t it?’

It was Alejandro’s turn to be surprised. He regained his senses quickly. ‘I’ve been working on a deal that is determined to fall apart at the last minute. Trust me, wasting time with tricks is the very last thing on my mind. Goodbye, Miss Jameson.’

Shadows and questions swirled through her hazel-gold eyes. Her lower lip twisted, as if she was gnawing it from the inside. Eventually she rose, her fingers clamped around her briefcase, her jaw angled with stubborn pride.

Without a word, she turned away from his desk. In that moment, Alejandro wished he’d also turned away. The sight of her trim waist and voluptuous backside triggered another onset of libido-tugging.

He gritted his teeth.

The timing and circumstance of this attraction to her were abhorrent enough to send him to his feet. He’d vowed a very long time ago never to mix business with pleasure when another deal had disintegrated because of a fleeting liaison with a competitor. He’d been young and foolish enough to imagine one would not affect the other. Although the incident had only temporarily slowed down his meteoric rise, Alejandro had learned the lesson well enough to keep his affairs private and brief.

Dragging his gaze from the shapely legs heading for the door, he strode to the window and stared at the view. Lake Michigan didn’t offer much solace. Like a lead domino falling over, Elise’s image, the feel of their palms touching, the silkiness of her skin, tumbled through his mind. Even the sound of the door shutting barely created a ripple in the sizzling awareness gripping him.

What the hell was wrong with him today? First he’d cracked open the vault of memories he’d vowed never to revisit. Now he was getting hot under the collar because of a woman who should barely register on his radar?

He shoved a hand through his hair and turned around.

Elise Jameson was standing before his desk, her eyes square on his.

‘Unless I’ve grown senile in the last five minutes, I’m sure I told you to leave.’

She exhaled slow and steady. Alejandro was certain it was a composure-gaining technique. He had a feeling he’d need one of those before the day ended.

‘You did. But I’m still here. The way I see it, you’re either going to hire me or we’ll never see each other again. So I need to say this. I wasn’t being emotional. I just didn’t see the point of wasting time with questions to which you already had answers. And yes, my...irritation could’ve been kept on a tighter leash. Give me another chance and you have my word it won’t happen again.’

‘What it are we talking about, just to be certain? The irritation or the emotion?’

The whitening of her knuckles on her briefcase was the only sign that his question had further irked. ‘Either. Both. Whichever you wish.’

He leaned back in his chair. ‘Because I’m the boss?’

‘Because you’re the boss. Once you hire me. But allow me to say one last thing before you make up your mind.’

‘Yes?’

‘I’m good at my job. You’ll get nothing but the best from me. I promise.’

He shrugged. ‘That’s a good speech. But it’s just a speech. I also don’t deal in promises.’ Promises were easy to make and easier to break. He’d learnt that lesson with shocking frequency as a child.

Her gaze swept down for an instant before rising again. ‘Finish the interview. Whichever way you want. Then make up your mind.’

The urge to dismiss her was strong. The urge to have her stay was stronger. Alejandro stepped back from examining why. This whole day had been askew from the start.

‘Very well. Sit down, Miss Jameson. But let me make one thing clear.’

She sat back down. ‘Yes?’

‘I never play tricks. I abhor subterfuge of any kind. Remember that before we go any further.’

She nodded and folded her hands in her lap. ‘Understood.’

CHAPTER TWO

WHAT THE HELL just happened?

Elise reeled as if she’d just been dragged upside down through an earthquake. Only she wasn’t sure whether she’d survived it or whether what felt like aftershocks were, in fact, another larger quake poised on the horizon, ready to flatten her.

She took another slow, steadying breath.

It was clear the man across the desk from her—the intensely masculine man, whose green eyes tracked her every movement like a spotlight searching for a flaw—was intent on rattling her. Why, she wasn’t exactly sure. She was here to help, after all.

Perhaps it was the air of mistrust fairly vibrating off him. Or her own blaring instincts about being in a predator’s presence that had produced his thunderous frown when she’d walked in.

Whatever it was, it’d ruffled her calm, which had in turn reminded her of the hell letting her guard down with a client had created just one short year ago.

Her palms grew clammy.

Reeling herself back in, she pushed the disquieting memories away.

Unlike last year, she’d chosen this commission herself. Alejandro Aguilar the man was an unknown quantity, but as CEO his reputation was stellar. She needed to bring her A-game because she couldn’t lose this commission.

Earning SNV’s contract would mean freedom from Jameson and her parents’ clutches. It was the visceral need for freedom that had eroded the temporary relief to be free of this man’s disturbing aura when he’d asked her to leave. It was what had halted her flight when every instinct had screamed at her to accept his cold, terse dismissal. And run.

The instinct still clamoured. But then so did the burning need to fulfil her duties to her parents and finally, finally walk away.

‘I understand completely,’ she reiterated, projecting a firmer voice.

‘Good. Now answer me this. Hypothetically, if a deal you were working on for a year suddenly started to fall apart, what would you attribute it to?’ he asked in that smooth, deep voice that transmitted right through to the soles of her feet.

‘That depends on who the other party is, although most eleventh-hour setbacks usually involve money.’

‘This one isn’t money related. I’m sure of it.’ A grim smile fleeted over his lips before his face hardened into a beautifully arresting sculpture she had a hard time dragging her eyes from.

In truth, everything about Alejandro Aguilar was insanely absorbing. From the square-cut jaw to the cheekbones that belonged on a Roman statue, to the broad shoulders, tapered torso and neat backside she’d glimpsed when she’d turned around mid-flight, his looks and aura were overwhelming enough to cause another shaky exhalation.

Silently, intensely, she repeated her warning mantra to herself.

Looks were deceiving; power and arrogant charm were stepping stones dangerous men used on their prey. Quite apart from her parents wielding those assets with almost lethal force, her own harrowing experience had taught her to be extremely wary of those qualities.

Marsha and Ralph Jameson had taken turns drilling into their only child that exploiting those elements were what would get her ahead in life. They hadn’t accommodated the notion that she wanted to live a different life. Had gone as far as to push her into a situation she’d barely been able to escape from unscathed, then derided her ordeal.

That, above everything her parents had subjected her to, still had the power to burn her raw.

Elise pushed the traumatic memory away and redoubled her efforts to focus. ‘If it’s not money, then it’s a competitor.’ He regarded her steadily. ‘But then you know that, too.’

He nodded. ‘Yes.’

‘So, the question is, what’s your competitor offering them that you’re not?’

‘Nothing,’ came the immediate, rigid reply.

‘Are you sure?’

One sculpted eyebrow rose. ‘Are you questioning the veracity of my due diligence?’

He was touchy. Extremely. Men like Alejandro Aguilar didn’t rise to lofty CEO positions of extremely successful corporations by being touchy. Men like him usually had rhinoceros-thick skins. Had she adversely demonstrated her wariness about being in the presence of another powerful man? Was she being overly sensitive?

The tense conversation she’d had with her mother before coming here had put her on edge. Marsha Jameson had wanted to spearhead the SNV commission herself, despite Elise having cultivated the initial contact with SNV’s PR department. Elise had stood her ground, a fact that hadn’t pleased her mother. It was another reason Elise had stopped herself from walking out of the door just now.

She wouldn’t...couldn’t blow it.

Inhaling slowly, she picked her way through the mine-infested landscape. ‘Of course not. But there’s nothing wrong with an extra pair of eyes.’ For some reason her statement brought an even deeper scrutiny of her face, his gaze holding hers with fierce control. She hastened to continue. ‘It is why you’re looking to hire an outside PR firm, isn’t it?’

He remained silent for a brief spell, his fingertips pressed together. ‘Your file says you specialise in US–Japanese commissions.’

‘Yes.’

‘This merger involves a Japanese company.’ He paused. ‘The Ishikawa Corporation.’

Elise’s heart missed a beat. The reason behind it was puzzling. It’d come sooner than expected, but he would’ve needed to trust her with some details in order to secure her help. That he’d done so mere minutes into the interview shouldn’t trigger such a response from her.

Yet the tiniest sliver of warmth curled through her.

To counteract it, she nodded briskly. ‘Give me an hour to do a little research...I mean a more personal research, and I’ll see if I can come up with something.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘You think an hour is all it’ll take to fix my problem?’ he taunted.

‘I won’t know until I try whether or not I can help you, Mr Aguilar. Let me try.’

‘You have half an hour.’ He nodded to the far side of his office, where two stylish studded leather sofas faced each other across a smoked-glass coffee table. ‘I’ll have Margo set you up with a laptop—’

‘There’s no need. I brought my own.’ Elise held up her briefcase and attempted a cool smile.

His scowl deepened. ‘I’d prefer it if those confidential details we spoke about don’t leave my building. Pass the test, and we’ll see about redressing your security access.’

The warmth evaporated. ‘Oh, right.’ She was irritated with herself for feeling stung by the implication that she wasn’t trustworthy. But then hadn’t she experienced a similar feeling towards him moments ago? Wasn’t she even now kicking herself for continuing to be mesmerised by the sheer depths of raw sensuality oozing from him?

‘Is that going to be a problem?’ he enquired.

Realising she’d been staring at him for a fistful of heartbeats, she pinned on another smile and rose. ‘Of course not. I’m ready when you are.’ She headed for the sofa to the sound of Margo being summoned, but the tingle between her shoulder blades and down her back indicated he was watching her. Keeping her movements fluid, she set her case down and removed her jacket before choosing the seat farthest from his desk.

Only then did she risk another glance in his direction.

His head was bent over a document, two fingers tracing the words downward as he speed-read. As with everything she’d noticed about him so far, the action was unmistakably absorbing. To the point where she was in danger of appearing like a hormone-engorged groupie at a rock concert!

She exhaled in relief when Margo knocked and entered. The laptop she set before Elise looked custom-made and top of the line.

After she departed, Elise opened it and stared down at the wallpaper that depicted the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range in Spain. In the middle of the screen, the SNV logo blinked its request.

‘Is there a problem?’ Alejandro asked coolly.

‘Yes. This requires a password.’

He rose with smooth animal grace, document in one hand and his tiny espresso cup in the other. Pausing at the tray, he refilled his cup, then crossed the room to her.

The notion that she’d unwittingly invited him closer sent equal amounts of chagrin and wariness coursing through her. Her senses jumped as he reached for the laptop. Elegant fingers flew over the keyboard and then he handed it back.

Expecting him to return to his desk, she stared dry-mouthed as he picked up the document and cup, relaxed against the sofa, and crossed one leg over the other.

Elise had always thought that men who sat that way were a little too in touch with their feminine side, but there was nothing even remotely feminine about Alejandro Aguilar as he lounged with almost predatory indolence and flicked through the papers in his hand.

‘Unless you intend to prise your answers from my subconscious, I suggest you get on with it, Miss Jameson.’

Heat flared into her cheeks for the third time in less than an hour, eliciting a thorough self-loathing for her inability to curb her jumpy reactions.

Dragging her focus back to the laptop, she settled it on her lap and went to work. Her initial searches produced run-of-the-mill information about the Ishikawa Corporation Alejandro most likely already possessed. She sent three quick emails to trusted sources in Kyoto and Osaka, delved deeper into the company history, then traced the genealogy of the founders.

Fifteen minutes later, a tiny spurt of excitement lanced her.

‘Found something you want to share?’

She looked up and found laser eyes trained on her. ‘What?’

‘You just made the universal feminine sound of excitement,’ he drawled, lifting his cup and draining it.

She tried to look away, but found herself unable to. ‘I’m not sure what that is, but yes, I may have found something.’

‘And?’ he pressed impatiently.

With effort, she refocused on the screen. ‘And I have another thirteen minutes until my time is up. So if you don’t mind?’

He made a sound beneath his breath, a cross between a growl and a huff, as he stood to refill his cup yet again. The sound rumbled along her nerve endings, causing her fingers to stumble over the keys.

God. What on earth was wrong with her?

Even before the incident that still had the power to make her stomach turn in sick horror, she’d never reacted this strongly to another man. Ever. She hadn’t allowed herself to even indulge in thoughts of the opposite sex since the incident. Sure, there hadn’t been a shortage of male attention despite her often blatant lack of interest. From those who wanted to date the boss’s daughter to further their own ends, to those who thought she would be accommodating with her affections because of the rumours surrounding her parents’ marriage. Each and every one of them had been firmly rebuffed.

Alejandro Aguilar hadn’t so much as flicked an interested eyelash in her direction. Yet her senses seemed poised on the edge of an unknown precipice, anticipating a sensation she couldn’t quite name.

The ping of an incoming email brought blessed refocusing. She read it quickly, then reached for her phone. ‘I need to make a quick phone call.’

‘Why?’ he asked without lifting his gaze from his document.

‘I want to confirm a few things before I present my findings. I still have five minutes left.’

He nodded to the state-of-the-art gadget crouched in the middle of the coffee table. ‘Use that phone.’

The bite of distaste stung deeper, prompting her to utter words she would’ve been better off stemming. ‘Are your trust issues as big as your caffeine problem?’

Glacial green eyes sliced into her. ‘You call them problems, I think of them as necessary tools that keep me at the top of my game. Your time is almost up. Use the phone or cut your losses and leave.’

Her hand tightened around her phone. ‘You’d toss me out before you hear what I’ve found out? Just because I state a few home truths?’

‘We met an hour ago. Are you naive enough to demand that I trust you in so short a time?’

‘Of course not. Nevertheless, I don’t appreciate being treated as if I’ve committed a crime or I’m about to commit one when all I’m trying to do is to help you.’

‘You take pleasure in debating non-issues when the only thing that should be important here is your service to me. Learning to give me what I want will go a long way to improving your chances of earning this contract.’

Her breath hitched as another voice surged into her head.

Stop playing so hard to get. Give me what I want and I’ll reward you...

The distaste of bitter memories made her snap, ‘I told you, if you’re looking for someone to lie down for you to walk all over, then I’m the wrong person for the job.’

He strolled the last few steps to the coffee table and dropped his papers on the gleaming surface. Regarding her with cold detachment, he drawled, ‘Lying down, in any shape or form, won’t be necessary. But once again we’re at an impasse, it seems. The next move is yours.’

Every atom in her body screamed at Elise to slam shut the laptop, get her things, and leave. She stayed put. Tried to get herself under control.

Yes, Alejandro Aguilar had done nothing but make demands that chafed, but they weren’t uncommon.

Sucking in a breath that didn’t quite rebalance her equilibrium, she set her phone on the table and, using Alejandro’s conference set, dialled the number she knew by rote.

When the familiar voice filled the room, Elise wondered for a moment whether she’d done the right thing.

‘Hi, Grandma.’

A furtive glance at Alejandro showed both eyebrows lifted in cold mockery.

‘Elise, my dear, what a pleasant surprise. I hope you’re calling to tell me you’ve finally found a young man worthy of your affections? I know half of them are dim-witted and the other half focused on the almighty dollar, but a beautiful, intelligent girl like you is capable of landing the right man. You’re not being too picky, are—?’

‘No, Grandma, I’m not... I’m calling about something else.’ Cringing and red-faced, Elise switched to Japanese, her chin lowered to avoid Alejandro’s drilling stare. ‘Something work related.’

‘Oh. Okay...’

Elise asked the questions she needed to, then a few more to verify she was on the right track, then quickly ended the call, unwilling to invite her beloved grandmother’s laser probing into her non-existent love life.

In the seething silence, she cleared her throat, momentarily gripped by embarrassment.

‘In the interest of getting this surreal hour over and done with, can we attempt to get past the fact that you blithely dropped your work to make a personal phone call?’ Alejandro snapped.

‘It...umm...wasn’t a personal call. At least not from my end...anyway.’ Elise stopped, smoothed her damp palms over her skirt, and tried to form coherent words. ‘My grandmother is Japanese. She lives in Hawaii now but she still owns several businesses in Kyoto. I thought she might have insights as to what’s stalling your merger.’

Alejandro returned her gaze, narrow-eyed, then took the seat opposite her. Wordlessly, he waited, his powerful arms braced on his knees.

Elise cleared her throat. ‘Kenzo Ishikawa, Jason and Nathan’s grandfather, started the company.’

‘I’m aware of that.’

Elise barely managed to keep her lips from pursing. ‘He’s old school. Traditional.’

‘I know what old school means. Explain yourself better.’

‘Kenzo has taken a back seat, but he’s still on the board.’ At his darker glare, she hurried on. ‘The company’s been based in Kyoto since it was created. Were you planning on moving any of their factories from Kyoto?’

Alejandro nodded. ‘Seventy per cent of them, yes. It’ll save millions of dollars in revenue and deliver a faster service if we relocate the factories and warehouses to Europe and the US.’

‘That probably doesn’t matter to him. Since this is a merger and not a buyout, they’ll still be associated with it. Kenzo won’t want to see everything he’s worked for moved to another continent.’

‘So your opinion is that this deal is stalling because of nostalgia?’

‘Sentimentality can be a strong motivator.’

‘I don’t have time for sentimentality. Or protracted delays. Sitting back while they grapple with their touchy-feely emotions isn’t cost-effective for me.’

‘Perhaps it hadn’t been a card they felt they could play and win,’ she ventured. ‘But now they do?’

His jaw clenched. One fist wrapped around the other, then he surged to his feet.

‘You know, don’t you?’ she queried.

‘Why the Ishikawas have suddenly gone dewy-eyed? Sí, I do,’ he breathed.

Elise was certain fire would shoot from his nostrils, so devastating was the rage simmering from him.

But he simply returned to his desk. Slightly dazed, she heard him order Margo to summon his strategy team. Once the instructions were snapped out, he jammed his hands into his pockets and turned to the window. Although his gaze remained fixed on the view of Lake Michigan, Elise sensed his thoughts were very much turned inward.

To the source of the problem she’d just helped him uncover.

She sat, hands in her lap, as minutes crawled by. Finally, irritation snapping at her fraught nerves, she stood and shrugged on her jacket. Buttoning it, she approached him.

‘Pardon my interruption of your non-Zen rumination, but does the light bulb I just handed you mean that I’m hired?’

His shoulders stiffened. Slowly he turned and leaned against the window, his ankles crossed. Elise forced her gaze to remain on his face, not glance down to the thighs bunched against the taut fabric of his trousers.

‘Sí, I’m inclined to give you the commission.’

She tamped down the absurd fizz of excitement. ‘I hear a busload of buts in there.’

His eyes gleamed a dangerous, hypnotic green. ‘But...we need to establish a few ground rules.’

‘I can live with a few reasonable rules.’

His mouth twisted with a parody of a smile. ‘I assure you, it’ll be in your interest to do so.’

She attempted a smile of her own. ‘I’ll be the judge of that. So shoot.’

‘First, there will be instances when if I say jump, you will ask me how high.’

‘I don’t think—’

‘Like now, for instance, when I say if you want to be hired, you’ll let me finish speaking before you give in to the urge to interrupt.’

She swallowed hard against the urge to tell him to go to hell and reminded herself why she needed this commission. Practising a woefully inadequate restorative breathing exercise, she forced out a nod.

‘Second, are we agreed on the extreme confidentiality of this deal?’

‘Yes.’

‘So, no more phone calls to Grandma.’

Heat rushed up her neck. ‘No more phone calls to Grandma.’

‘Good. You’ll work from here in my office, full time, until this deal is done.’

‘I thought I’d be working alongside your own PR team.’

‘They’ll be brought in when extra support is needed. Don’t worry, you’ll be adequately compensated.’

Not seeing any way around that bar refusing, she pressed her lips together and nodded.

‘Was that a yes, Miss Jameson? If so, I prefer to hear the word, so there’s no misunderstanding.’

She gritted her teeth. ‘Yes. It was a yes.’

‘Perfect. You’ll start today. Right now. Margo will escort you to HR and you’ll sign the requisite confidentiality papers. If you need lunch, let her know and she’ll organise something for you.’

‘I’m quite capable of getting my own lunch.’

‘This is one of those instances where wasting time on a matter will be considered a breach of your work rules.’

Shock widened her eyes. ‘I beg your pardon?’

‘Lunch, unless you have specific dietary requirements, is lunch, Miss Jameson. Wasting time arguing about who gets you lunch is counterproductive.’

‘I... Are you serious?’ she asked, unsure whether to be grossly offended or mildly hysterical.

He jerked his head to a connecting door at the far side of the room. ‘There’s a Michelin-starred chef employed to prepare and serve whatever dish you desire to my personal dining room. All you need to do is ask.’

Elise was aware the scenario he’d just described would be most professionals’ idea of a dream perk. Certainly, her parents would relish the chance to laud such a privilege over their competitors and brag about it to clients.

‘I have simple tastes, Mr Aguilar. A sandwich from a bistro is perfectly adequate for me. Besides, taking a few minutes away from the office to walk to said bistro helps my cogitative process.’ She took a breath. ‘But I concede that you’re under time pressures. If the chef isn’t offended by making me a sandwich, then I’ll be happy to eat in your dining room.’

Another hard non-smile twitched his sculpted lips. ‘I do believe you’ve just jumped again, Miss Jameson. Although in a puzzlingly overcomplicated way.’ He nodded at his door. ‘Don’t keep Margo waiting.’

Elise forced fists that had unconsciously curled to loosen. She stared at him as he resumed his seat...his throne...and carried on ruling his kingdom as if he hadn’t just swatted her away like an annoying fly.

‘Is there something about me that rubs you the wrong way, Mr Aguilar?’ she asked, suppressing the part of her that questioned her compulsive need to go head to head with him. She reassured herself it was because she didn’t want to be caught by a horribly unpleasant surprise further down the line, the way she had last year. If something swirled beneath Alejandro’s forbidding mask, she preferred to uncover it sooner rather than later.

He scrutinised her from head to toe, then back again. Slower. More intensely. Until her whole body tingled from the penetrative stare.

‘Are you about to start another argument with me?’ he enquired silkily.

She shook her head but stood her ground. ‘No. But if there happens to be something bothering you about me, I think we need to address it now, before...’ She stopped, unwilling to bring the ugly past to this discussion.

One brow lifted. ‘Before?’

She shook her head. ‘I don’t like surprises, Mr Aguilar. I like working in a fraught environment even less.’

His jaw clenched for an infinitesimal moment, then he did something unexpected. He pressed two fingers against each temple and rubbed. The sigh he emitted was filled with thick weariness.

‘This deal should’ve been done months ago. I don’t mind the challenge of a difficult deal if it’s warranted,’ he murmured, surprising her further by admitting to being anything other than omnipotent. ‘But I’m bored by the games the Ishikawas have suddenly decided they want to play.’

‘I don’t think—’

Cool green eyes met hers. ‘Yes, I know what you think. But I’m bored nevertheless. Boredom makes me...unpredictable.’

He was skimming the real issue behind his acerbic attitude. What she wasn’t sure of was whether the real reason, somehow, involved her. Just as she was certain he wouldn’t answer if she probed further.

She needed to leave this office. Go find Margo and get the HR papers signed. The earlier she got to work, the quicker her last ever commission for Jameson would be done. Then she could truly put the past behind her.

So why was she picking up a sleek bottle of mineral water from the coffee tray and holding it out to him?

Alejandro looked from the bottle to her face. A face she willed with everything inside her not to redden again.

When he didn’t take it, she set it down in front of him. ‘Try drinking some of this instead of guzzling down gallons of caffeine. It might ease that tension headache you’ve got going on.’

He ignored the bottle. ‘I don’t anticipate adding nursemaid to your list of duties. The ones I have in mind for you will be quite involved. Let’s concentrate on those, shall we?’

‘Duly noted. You can be assured that if I happen to be around when you’re struck by lightning or a murder of crows decide to use you for pecking practice, I’ll continue on my merry way.’

The smile that twitched his mouth was a shade warmer than the last one. Elise found herself wondering what a genuine smile from him would look like and abruptly stepped back.

Turn around. Go.

She headed for the door.

‘Miss Jameson.’

It wasn’t a request. It was an order couched in psuedo-reasonable, even tones.

Keep walking. She took another step.

‘Elise.’

She froze, the sound of her given name so unbelievably sensual coming from his deep, slightly accented tones, that she couldn’t suppress a gasp. She slowly turned around.

He was no longer massaging his temples. But he’d wrenched the top off the water bottle, the tip of it poised an inch from his lips.

‘One last thing. My company isn’t the place to find your next boyfriend or a husband. As long as you’re contracted to work for me, you’ll practise a zero-fraternisation policy. I find that petty lawsuits are best avoided that way.’

‘Are you speaking from personal experience?’ she asked before she could stop herself.

His face tightened into a rigid, forbidding mask. Hell, she’d struck another nerve. God, what was wrong with her?

‘That is not your concern. Just be sure to let Grandma know you’ll be disappointing her for a while longer where potential wedding bells are concerned, would you?’

Elise turned back around, too filled with roiling emotions to trust herself to speak.

Keep walking.

CHAPTER THREE

IS THERE SOMETHING about me that rubs you the wrong way?

Of all the words she could’ve chosen.

Alejandro snorted, inwardly grimacing at the sexual bent he’d afforded the words. But they wouldn’t fade away. Like the headache pounding his temples, each heartbeat flashed an image of Elise Jameson onto his retinas, each one more vivid than the last.

Madre de Dios.

He didn’t need to waste time on an attraction his principles wouldn’t allow him to act upon.

Now he knew the cause of the stalled merger, he could simply pay Jameson PR for services rendered, plus a generous bonus. He had no doubt that Gael had arrived at the same realisation as he had, but, since negotiations hadn’t yet been severed with SNV in favour of Toredo, it was most likely Gael hadn’t found a satisfactory way to appease the Ishikawas, either.

With that last puzzle unravelled, he didn’t need Elise Jameson.

Except she’d rooted out his problem with a single, albeit unorthodox, phone call, whereas his strategy team had spent weeks trying to unravel the mystery of the stalled negotiations.

Sending her away would save the irritating prickling of his senses whenever she was near. Or he could keep her around as the extra pair of eyes she’d advocated until this deal was in the bag.

He stemmed the need to call HR and retract the contract. He never set rules for his staff he didn’t follow himself. Regardless of how looking at Elise Jameson’s face and body made certain parts of him stir, his only focus in dealing with her would be this merger.

A pep talk. He was giving himself a pep talk. Por el amor—

He tossed the curiously empty water bottle on the tray, having no recollection of drinking it. He refused to believe his easing headache was because of his water intake. Or the unknotting of his muscles because Elise had helped him finally unravel the mystery of his failing deal.

He eyed his phone, the temptation to call Gael out on the games he was playing surging high. But no. First he would see what strategy Elise came up with. Every employee had their uses. He’d found hers. No reason not to see how she fared for a few more days.

Resolutely, he got back to work. Only to find his gaze straying with annoying frequency to the clock on his desk. An hour later, he snatched up the phone.

‘Margo, do I not recall paying for an efficient time management seminar recently?’

‘Umm...yes. Two months ago.’

‘Great. So is there any reason the HR team are taking over an hour to send Miss Jameson back up?’

‘Oh, yes, sorry. She called to say Mr Michaels was ordering lunch for the department and that he would be adding her order in so she could eat and get the papers signed at the same time. That’s super-efficient, don’t you think?’

Alejandro gritted his teeth. ‘Exceedingly.’

‘Shall I order your lunch now, sir?’ Margo asked.

‘No.’ He started to lower the phone. ‘Gracias,’ he tossed in before slamming down the handset.

He told himself he was irritated because he wanted her working ASAP. Time was of the essence.

So why was he eyeing the door, listening out for the click of high heels?

With a vicious curse, he refocused on the extensive list of products his marketing team needed his approval on before offering it through SNV in the next quarter. He was halfway down it when her laughter echoed through the door.

He knew it was her because the charge through his blood was hauntingly familiar. And thoroughly unwelcome. His PA joined in the laughter, as did a male voice.

Alejandro continued reading. More laughter filtered in.

He didn’t recall moving. Or turning the door handle.

‘So lunch was great, then?’ Margo asked.

‘Gosh, yes,’ Elise enthused. ‘The club sandwich was amazing! Thanks for recommending it, Oliver.’

Alejandro watched, unobserved, as Oliver Michaels, his head of HR, delivered a smile that made Alejandro’s hackles rise.

‘My pleasure. Although it’s wickedly sinful, it’s more than worth the extra hour at the gym.’ He patted his abs.

Elise smiled. The act was slow, measured. A revelation. As if she didn’t do it often, so was taking time to draw her companions’ attention to the extraordinary gift she was bestowing on them. Alejandro’s breath strangled in his throat. He watched Michaels and Margo stare as her smile transformed her face from visually stunning to exquisitely entrancing. ‘I call that a win, then.’

Oliver Michaels was the first to recover. ‘Uh...yeah. I like to think—’

Alejandro stepped into Margo’s office, achieving instant silence. ‘If you’ve quite finished rhapsodising about culinary delights, perhaps we can all get back to work?’

Margo’s eyes widened; no doubt she was realising what Alejandro’s chilled voice represented. With a quick nod, she refocused on her keyboard.

Elise met his gaze, her smile now non-existent, tension in her body as her nostrils flared slightly. Alejandro’s gaze dropped to her lips. She’d lost some of her scarlet lipstick since she’d left his office. The result was a softer look that made him imagine what she’d look like after being thoroughly kissed. Those lips would be much plumper than they were now, of course. And she would have more natural colour in her cheeks—

Suficiente!

He redirected his attention to Michaels, who was holding out a folder. ‘I brought Elise’s contract down for you to countersign—’

‘Leave it with Margo.’ He glanced pointedly at Elise.

She took a few steps forward, then paused. Looking over her shoulder, she let loose a smaller smile. ‘Thanks, Oliver. See you around.’

Michaels jerked out a nervous nod.

Alejandro waited until she stepped into his office, and slammed the door. ‘See you around?’ he repeated.

She stiffened. ‘What?’

‘I didn’t stammer.’

‘No, you didn’t.’ She sighed. ‘You’re clearly having a bad day. I get that. But do you really need to drag everyone down just because you’re in a mood?’

‘Excuse me?’ Alejandro bristled.

‘On second thought, don’t answer that. I’m here. I’m ready to work.’ She walked away from him, taking the subtle scent of her perfume with her. After retrieving her briefcase, she stopped in the middle of the room. ‘Margo said you haven’t assigned a desk for me to use yet?’

‘No,’ he answered shortly, his mind still fixed on the fact that she hadn’t answered his question to his satisfaction.

‘Is there one I can use?’ she pressed.

He inhaled deeply, dismissing the smile, the exchange. Everything that had happened in the last few hours.

Going to his desk, he grabbed the substantial file that was always within reach. ‘Come with me.’

He led her to a side door across the room from where she’d done her work that morning. Throwing it open, he walked to the desk directly opposite from the door. Unlike his office, it was sparsely furnished, the only thing besides the desk and chair was a floor lamp set against the single glass wall. He set the file down.

‘You’ll work in here. I use this office when I don’t want to be disturbed. Margo is excellent at keeping physical intrusions away when I need it, but even I can’t resist checking my emails when I’m in the middle of a deal.’

Her smile was tight and false. Alejandro willed himself not to wish for the genuine one he’d caught a brief glimpse of. ‘It’ll do great, thanks.’ She pulled the file towards her. ‘Anything in particular you want me to watch out for?’

Alejandro shrugged. ‘Read up on the merger. I have a conference call with the Ishikawa brothers tomorrow. You’ll sit in on it with me. You wanted to be my extra pair of eyes. My Japanese is adequate but not expert. You can be my eyes and ears.’

‘Okay.’

She dropped her case on the desk and removed her jacket. The second button of her blouse had come undone. Alejandro shoved his hands into his pockets, irritatingly caught between the need to point it out or ogle the creamy silkiness of her skin.

Several seconds passed.

Elise sat down, opened the file and glanced up. ‘Was there something else, Mr Aguilar?’

‘Leave the door open. There’s no phone or intercom in here. It’ll save you having to get up and come to me if you have any questions.’

Her gaze flicked past him to his office. Her eyes widened a touch.

‘Yes, I can see you from my desk,’ he confirmed.

A whisper of a smile touched her lips. ‘I’ll resist the urge to chew on my nails or burp loudly, then.’

‘That would be very considerate of you, gracias.’

Her eyes widened further and Alejandro suppressed a rare smile. He’d lived so long in the States that most people forgot he was of Spanish origin. And more than one past conquest had been enthralled by his occasional lapses into his mother tongue.

‘I...I didn’t actually mean that, Mr Aguilar. That was just a—’

‘Joke? It may not seem that way to you, but I do know what those are. I’ve occasionally been known to make one or two of them myself.’

One shapely eyebrow lifted. ‘But not recently?’

The reminder of why this deal was going sour darkened his mood. ‘No, Elise. Not recently.’

‘Okay. How’s the headache?’ she asked, then her forehead twitched, as if she hadn’t meant to blurt out the question. Alejandro felt an odd sense of kinship as his own unnerving need for something that had no place in this office threatened to return.

‘No longer an issue. Perhaps we can work towards keeping it that way by getting this merger back on track?’ he said brusquely.

‘Umm...sure,’ she murmured, still looking mildly puzzled.

Alejandro returned to his desk, satisfied that control had been established. Not that it’d been too far from his grasp. Granted, this morning’s revelations had unsettled him.

But he’d never shied away from a challenge. He wasn’t about to start now.

CHAPTER FOUR

ELISE RESISTED THE URGE to glance into the outer office. She’d already done that far too many times. Thankfully, not once had Alejandro looked her way. His focus on his work was absolute enough to induce envy. He’d taken a few phone calls, one of which he’d conducted at the far end of his office in front of the bank of floor-to-ceiling windows.

For one absurd second, Elise had wondered whether the low murmured conversation involved a lover. She’d jumped away from the thought as if physically scalded. It was beyond none of her business, and straying into dangerous territory she knew better than to approach.

Refocusing on her work between those times hadn’t been a hardship. The intricacies of the merger were staggering and fascinating. But more importantly, the deal Alejandro was chasing would create thousands of jobs. Granted, the merger would also elevate him to top five on the World’s Richest list, but he would be helping thousands along the way.

The other thing she’d noted was the mind-bending scale of philanthropy attached to each year’s estimated earnings. For each year Alejandro achieved the target he’d set his company, he planned to donate a share of the company’s profit to humanitarian projects.

Elise frowned as she finished the charities section. Nothing she’d read so far should make the Ishikawa Corporation want to do anything other than bite Alejandro’s hand off in their haste to secure the merger. If nothing else, they stood to become instant billionaires.

‘You’re frowning.’

She stumbled to a halt, realising she’d entered his office. He was bathed in the mid-afternoon sun, the contrast of olive skin against the rolled-up sleeves of his black shirt striking enough to command her stare. ‘Oh... I’m almost done reading the file.’

‘And?’

‘And the deal...the charity benefits... It’s all amazing.’

‘Amazing directly contradicts that frown.’

She looked away from him, anxiously noting her elevated pulse rate, and crossed over to the drinks tray. ‘Well, I expected to find a thread of dissatisfaction right from the beginning. Something that would indicate they were unhappy. There’s nothing. I’m just wondering why they chose now to throw a wrench in what was from the very start a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.’

‘My guess is another party is dangling promises they may not be able to keep.’

Elise picked up a bottle of water and traced her finger across the top. ‘You guess? Sorry, but you don’t strike me as the kind of man who guesses.’

‘And have you known many men like me?’ he drawled.

She flushed, then cursed herself for being flustered at the deliberate taunt. ‘You know what I mean, Mr Aguilar.’

Contemplative eyes probed hers for several seconds. When he held out an imperious hand for water, she picked up another bottle and passed it to him, curbing the urge to roll her eyes.

‘You’re right. I don’t guess.’

Surprise spiked through her. ‘So you know who’s trying to jinx the deal?’

‘Sí, I do,’ he murmured in a tone that sent a shiver down her spine. When he didn’t elaborate, she frowned.

‘Are you going to tell me who it is?’

‘Have you finished reading the report?’

‘Not yet.’

He uncapped the bottle and drained half of it in greedy gulps. Elise stopped herself from staring at the solid column of his throat. Or at the dark stubble that had crept over his jaw in the last few hours.

‘Go finish it. The “who” doesn’t really matter. What I need is a PR strategy on how we can resolve this problem if they remain intransigent.’

She returned to her office, fully aware there was no point pressing him for more information.

When she next raised her head, the view at her window had changed from day to evening, with lights from the adjacent skyscrapers illuminating the night sky. Her senses jumped when Alejandro filled the doorway.

‘You done?’ he asked, leaning against the jamb.

Elise nodded, wishing there was something else she could refocus her attention on besides the sleek musculature of Alejandro Aguilar’s body.

There’s the file. Her work. The reason she was here. She’d signed a contract mere hours ago that had drawn clear lines of boss and employee. While her past experience had borne witness that clients could violate contracts, she had a feeling Alejandro would stick rigidly to his.

But that didn’t mean she could drop her guard...or ogle his breathtakingly gorgeous body whenever she was in his presence.

She dragged her focus to the file. ‘My opinion hasn’t changed. They would have to have been offered something over and above what you’re offering. And that’s...’

‘That’s what?’ he encouraged.

‘That’s bordering on financial suicide, unless the other party has unlimited funds. Or are willing to go all out to steal this deal from you.’

His gaze swept downward, veiling his expression. Her senses twitched. She used to think she was a good reader of people. A horrific violation of her trust had robbed her of that last year.

Even so, she knew she’d struck somewhere in the vicinity of a nail.

Alejandro turned around without answering.

Elise rose. ‘Am I right? Mr Aguilar, is someone going to extraordinary lengths to see you fail?’

‘Alejandro,’ he murmured.

‘What?’

‘If we’re to work together, you’ll have to call me Alejandro.’

Elise wasn’t sure why the thought of repeating his name, even minus that sensual Spanish intonation she had no hope of mimicking, sent a shiver of awareness through her. ‘I... Okay.’

‘The chef has prepared dinner for us. Come. We’ll talk some more while we eat.’

She followed him out of his office to a set of smoked-glass doors, which swung open to reveal a small twelve-seater dining room. At the head of the table and directly adjacent, two places had been set, complete with silver tableware and glasses that indicated this was a multi-course meal.

They sat, and the chef walked in bearing two platters. Elise chose the chicken ravioli starter and almost groaned with pleasure as the delicate tastes melted on her tongue.

‘Okay, I take it back. Given the choice of going outside for fresh air and a sandwich or this, I’ll choose this every time.’

The chef, who was almost at the door, grinned at her compliment. Smiling in return, she turned back to her place and noticed Alejandro’s scowl.

Her smile dimmed. ‘Um, in case you missed it, I’m conceding that I was wrong before. No need to give me the evil eye.’

His eyes narrowed on the shutting door before returning to hers. ‘Do you make a habit of flirting with every man you come into contact with?’

Elise froze in the act of lifting her fork. ‘I don’t flirt,’ she bit out, her insides congealing at the accusation that struck a direct hit and dredged up haunting memories. No matter how many times she’d told herself the assault hadn’t been her fault, a part of her always wondered if she’d emitted the very vibes she’d striven to avoid her whole life.

Her parents might have chosen to use their God-given looks and charm as weapons, and Marsha Jameson might have advised Elise to exploit her sexuality to her advantage, but Elise had vowed never to follow in their footsteps.

Unfortunately, that rigid belief had proven to be an irresistible challenge for Brian Grey...

Hastily shoving aside bitter memories, she pushed the chair back and surged to her feet.

Her wrist was captured before she’d taken a single step. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’

‘I don’t like the tone of this conversation. Perhaps I was too hasty in taking back the benefits of getting my own meal. I don’t flirt,’ she reiterated, the need to reassure herself that what had happened a year ago hadn’t been her fault pumping through her blood. ‘But I have manners. And if someone does something nice for me, I thank them.’

He regarded her intensely for far too long. ‘Sit down, Elise. We’re not done.’

She shook her head. ‘I’ve lost my appetite. Besides, it’s seven in the evening. I didn’t sign up to work all hours.’

‘But you committed yourself to working reasonable work hours. Are you calling this an unreasonable hour?’

‘I’ll re-evaluate if I’m not subjected to unfounded allegations,’ she challenged. She looked pointedly at the hand manacling her wrist.

He waited a beat, then released her. ‘You were enjoying your food a few minutes ago. I’ll refrain from ruining our meal with...touchy subjects.’

Elise eyed her plate, then the door. She knew her outburst had flared brightly on Alejandro’s radar, but walking out at this stage would be counterproductive. She sat back down.

‘While you’re doing that, perhaps you’d like to remember that I haven’t flirted with you. Unless you count yourself above men?’ It was a cheap shot, regretted the moment she uttered the words.

One corner of his mouth quirked. ‘We’ll leave that debate alone, shall we?’

Her face reddened slightly, and for the rest of the first course they didn’t speak.

Once the second course of roast beef and vegetable medley had been served, he held up the bottle of expensive red. ‘Wine?’

About to refuse, she sprung for a little Dutch courage to see her through and nodded. ‘I’m not much of a wine drinker, or a drinker at all, so don’t hold it against me if I don’t appreciate the vintage.’

He filled her glass, then his. ‘I prefer honesty to a pretentious diatribe on non-existent flavours and bouquets.’

Despite the residual sting of his earlier accusation, a smile tugged at her lips. ‘Score one for me.’

Sharp eyes met hers. ‘Remain straight with me in all things, and you’ll score a lot more.’

For some reason the statement produced equal amounts of dread and anticipation. Anticipation of what, she had no idea. They were halfway through their main course before he spoke again.

‘So, in light of what you’ve discovered, what would Jameson PR advise?’

She knew her parents would advise him to go for the usurper’s jugular. Setting a bloodhound on the trail of salacious gossip and secrets to discredit was a favourite tactic her father relished.

‘A charm offensive. And a reminder of everything they have to gain by merging with you.’

‘Not a declaration of war on my competitor?’

Her mouth soured. ‘You can take that route if you want to, I guess.’

‘Which route would you take?’

‘Not that. Blood and gore turn my stomach.’

‘Perhaps you need a stronger disposition,’ he mocked.

Choosing not to take the bait, she sipped her wine, a little surprised when it slipped down smoothly. ‘The looking-into-the-whites-of-their-eyes approach works, Alejandro. Nothing beats a personal touch. How many times have you met the Ishikawa brothers face to face since deciding to pursue this merger?’

He swirled his wine glass. ‘Twice.’

‘After you had your team investigate their viability and profit margins?’

‘Of course.’

‘I’m guessing both times were here in the States where you wined and dined them at the best restaurant in town?’

‘Their every wish was catered to. They left happy.’

‘In your opinion.’

His gaze probed hers. ‘What’s your point?’

‘I’m willing to bet my sizeable manga collection that you didn’t divulge a single personal detail about yourself.’

‘At the risk of repeating myself, I don’t do—’

‘Touchy-feely. Yes, I’m aware. But letting them see you as remotely...human may have prevented this from happening.’

‘That might work for the average Mom and Pop ice-cream-parlour business. If they can’t see their way past those...feelings to a multibillion-dollar merger, then perhaps I’m dealing with the wrong business.’

She sent him a droll look. ‘We both know this isn’t a mistake. The Ishikawa Corporation’s business record is outstanding. So is SNV’s. A successful merger would be the stuff of breaking news headlines and serious accolades. All you’ll need to do is...bend a little.’

‘Is that what you’d do in my shoes? Bare your life to strangers in order to secure a deal?’

She lifted her glass and took a healthy gulp, relishing the warmth that blanketed her insides. ‘We’re not talking about me here.’

‘You’re fond of hypotheticals. So let’s have it. Would you give yourself the same advice, were you in my position?’

‘Maybe.’ She bore his intense scrutiny for a minute before she sighed. ‘Yes, I would.’

‘And what would you tell them about yourself?’

Elise shook her head. ‘That’s too broad a question.’

‘Let’s streamline, then. You attended a university on the west coast when your family is based in a state with excellent universities. Why?’

Nerves began to eat into the warmth. She took another sip, despite the faint warning that this form of Dutch courage hadn’t been her best idea. ‘The need to broaden my horizons?’

‘If you had such a need, why did you return to work with your parents?’

She stiffened at the other raw subject that grated her nerves. ‘Is there a law against that?’

‘Is that the answer you’d give a prospective business partner?’

‘No...’ She paused, aware she had skidded towards a chasm of her own making. ‘I agreed to work at Jameson in return for my parents paying for my university tuition.’

A slow frown gathered on his brow. ‘They expected you to pay for the education they gave you?’

Elise chose to blame the Malbec for loosening the tight leash she normally had on her emotions. ‘They expect a lot of things. Including not giving free rides to anyone, including their daughter.’

The enlightened gleam in his eyes further unnerved her. ‘Things aren’t cordial between you and your parents?’

A harsh laugh escaped before she could stop it. ‘You could say that.’

‘Then why do you work with them?’ he queried.

‘Because jobs don’t automatically fall from the heavens the moment you graduate from college. And if, by some divine grace, you make it to a second or third interview and your prospective boss finds out that you’re the daughter of Marsha and Ralph Jameson, they question why you’d snub the chance to work for the exalted Jamesons. Half of them won’t touch you because they don’t believe you’ll be committed to your job. The other half have certain...preconceived notions about you and won’t even give you a chance. Seven months of polite rejections and my parents demanding repayment of their loan left me little choice.’

Elise took another sip of wine to drown the sinking knowledge that she’d divulged far more than she’d intended to.

Silence seething with questions filled the room. Alejandro levelled a gaze at her, speculation swirling in his shrewd eyes. ‘And is that debt paid off?’

She swallowed. ‘No. But I’m almost there.’

He raised his brow. ‘Almost?’

‘Yep. With your help, of course.’

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