A Deal with Alejandro (Rival Brothers 1) - Page 39

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?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. That was different.’

‘How, Mom? How was it different?’ she demanded.

Tags: Maya Blake Rival Brothers Billionaire Romance
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