He frowned, caught off guard by the slip. Shaking his head, he changed the subject. ‘Did you find me anything I can use?’
A look, almost of disappointment, crossed her face. ‘Nothing that would aid your war, but there’s something else. Before you use it though, can I just suggest that SNV and Toredo could be different arms of the same company? Is a three-way merger out of the question?’
‘It’s low on my list of ideal outcomes.’
Her gaze dropped, her smile as tight as her nod.
He traced her face for a minute, noting that, apart from lip gloss, she hadn’t applied any more make-up when she’d changed. He curbed the urge to trace his fingers over her skin as he had last night.
She’d made her feelings more than clear. She wasn’t interested in blurring the professional lines of their relationship. And he needed to relocate his little black book.
Opening the file, he speed-read through the half-dozen pages and paused when he reached the most interesting morsel of information. ‘Grandma to the rescue again?’
A light blush washed her cheeks. ‘I didn’t see the harm in tapping a useful source.’
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. Sayonara.’ 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.