Mills & Boon Stars Collection: Seductive Nights: A Deal with Alejandro

He closed the file. ‘I’ll take it under advisement. The conference call with the Ishikawas is in fifteen minutes. I want you there.’ Not that he held out much hope that it’d be any more progressive than the last one.

Gael had drawn battle lines and he would be going all out to sink his claws deeper into the deal.

* * *

As expected, Alejandro was met with platitudes and empty promises. He played along for half an hour, then changed tactics.

‘How is your grandfather?’

Jason and Nathan Ishikawa exchanged quick glances. ‘He’s very well. Thank you for asking.’

Alejandro nodded, ignoring the fact that Jason’s gaze slid once again to Elise. ‘Send him my congratulations on his upcoming seventy-fifth birthday celebrations.’

Nathan cleared his throat. ‘We will.’ Alejandro waited. The brothers exchanged another glance. ‘Until next time, then, Mr Aguilar. Sayōnara.’ They bowed their heads.

‘I look forward to meeting him when I’m in Kyoto soon.’

‘You’re coming to Japan?’ Jason asked.

Alejandro smiled. ‘Yours isn’t the only deal I’m interested in. I’ll have my PA liaise with yours about dates. Buenos días.’

He disconnected the call to apprehensive faces.

‘I didn’t know you had other business interests in Kyoto,’ Elise said.

‘I don’t, but I will by the end of the day. Specifically with Kenzo Ishikawa. Is your passport up to date?’

She frowned. ‘Yes, it is. Why?’

‘It’s time to put your theory to the test. We leave for Kyoto tomorrow morning.’

* * *

Elise recognised the luxury town car the moment she stepped out of the similar car Alejandro had sent her home in. They’d worked late into the evening, then he’d spent an hour grilling her on Japanese custom. She was exhausted, but in a good way.

But she’d yet to pack for the trip to Japan and Alejandro was picking her up at 7:00 a.m.

Seeing her mother’s lithe, seven-days-a-week-at-the-gym honed body unfold from the back of the car caused her stomach to dip.

And not in a good way.

‘You’re ignoring my phone calls again.’ Marsha Jameson couldn’t be accused of beating about the bush. She was dressed to kill in top-to-toe designer clothes and accessories, and not a hair or eyelash deigned to be out of place.

Elise sighed, her grip tightening on her briefcase. ‘I’m not. I’ve been swamped all day. I texted you back to say so.’

Her mother sniffed. ‘You know how I feel about texts. If I wanted a text conversation with you, I would’ve initiated one.’

‘I intended to call you when I got home.’

Marsha eyed the apartment block with mild distaste. ‘Well, I’m here now.’

Elise raised her eyebrows. ‘Would you like to come in?’ she invited, torn as to whether she wanted the answer to be yes or no.

‘For a minute. I have a pressing engagement in forty-five minutes.’

Ironically, the lifts were downstairs and waiting when they walked in. Elise stepped in, conscious of her mother’s gaze, which held its usual disdain as it drifted over her. ‘Really, Elise. That grey does nothing for you. And why aren’t you wearing any make-up?’

‘I am.’ She refused to continue applying the unnecessary amount of make-up her mother had insisted she wear in the workplace.

Her mother’s eyes narrowed on her face. Thankfully, before she could respond, the lift arrived.

Elise led the way to her door, praying the visit would be quick. But when her mother refused a drink, that pang of hurt made itself very much known.

She sat down on her two-seater while her mother perched on the armchair across from her. Her Realtor had described her apartment as cute. Elise knew her parents would have other, far more unsavoury, terms for it.

‘I spoke to your grandmother today.’

Elise’s stomach dipped further. This house call wasn’t about business. ‘Right.’

‘She told me about the help she’s been giving you.’

‘Is that a problem?’

‘That my mother is helping my daughter do her job? Of course not.’ She sniffed. ‘I just wanted to make sure you understood that if any help she provides you with doesn’t reap the results the client wants, you’re the one who’ll be held responsible.’

Her heart twisted on a fresh wave of pain. ‘You don’t need to spell it out to me, Mom.’

Hazel-gold eyes the same shade as hers snapped irritation. ‘Before you act affronted, I also wanted to say I hope it works out for what you need for SNV.’

Elise’s mouth parted in surprise, but her mother wasn’t finished. ‘I was also alerted by the travel department that you’d requested details of your travel insurance.’

Her mouth snapped shut, the real reason for her mother’s visit slowly unfurling. ‘Yes. I’m accompanying Al—Mr Aguilar to Kyoto tomorrow.’

The flash of interest in her mother’s eyes mildly sickened Elise. ‘I thought so. This is excellent news. He obviously thinks very highly of you.’

‘Obviously.’

Marsha’s gaze hardened. ‘Watch your tone, young lady.’

‘Prove to me that you didn’t drive all the way downtown to dispense the motherly advice I think is coming my way, and I will.’

Her mother stared at her for a moment before she shook her head. ‘I don’t understand you. You’ve had so many opportunities handed to you. And every single time you’ve turned your nose up at it.’

‘Say what you came to say, Mom. Or prove me wrong.’

Her mother’s jaw tightened. ‘What is so wrong with telling you to make the most of this opportunity?’

Pain pierced her. ‘The same way you pushed Brian Grey’s “opportunity” on me?’