His eyes darkened and her pleasure escalated.
They stood like that, staring. Appreciating. Acknowledging their impending merger. And even when the trace of cynicism crossed his eyes, her excitement didn’t dim.
He reached into his jacket pocket. ‘I have something for you.’
‘I... What?’
‘A gift to remind you of a momentous day.’ He held out the box.
‘There’s no risk that I’ll forget it any time soon. You don’t need to give me a gift.’
‘I’m doing it all the same.’
‘Alejandro—’
‘We’re arguing again,’ he murmured, his jaw slightly clenched.
‘You like our arguments.’ She attempted to lighten the mood, unable to drag her eyes from the olive-skinned beauty of him, or her senses from the intoxicating scent of him.
‘I do. They drive me half insane, but the victory is always worth it.’
Her eyes widened. ‘The victory?’
‘Sí, you always inevitably capitulate, but not before you make me jump through hoops.’
‘I don’t...’ She stopped, her mind drifting back to realise that it was true. Somehow Alejandro got his way in the end.
‘Take the gift, querida. My arm is about to fall off from the strain.’
She took it, partly out of curiosity and partly because she was still replaying his words. Reason took flight as she opened the box and saw the glittering gems.
‘Alejandro! I can’t take this. It’s not... What would your team think?’ she blurted.
‘They’ll think themselves incredibly lucky to be working for me since they all received bonuses of their own.’
‘Oh...’ The diamond bracelet was exquisite, the design simple but flawless.
He took the bracelet from its velvet bed and secured it around her wrist. Then taking her hand, he kissed the back of it. Elise didn’t miss the hard triumphant light in his eyes as he placed her hand in the crook of his arm.
Mild dread shivered down her spine, but she pushed it away, attempting to lighten the tension once again. ‘No need to look so smug.’
His mouth twitched in a tight smile. ‘There’s every need, mi corazón. I have you exactly where I want you.’
* * *
Alejandro kept ahold of her all through the party. And even though they drew more than a few speculative glances, Elise didn’t care. Her decision was made and cemented in her heart. Besides, although it hadn’t happened yet, Alejandro’s constant attention in the form of little touches had already sparked enough rumours to snowball its own story.
She went with the flow, chatted to acquaintances and executives from all three companies, with the exception of Jason Ishikawa, whose name had been blatantly excluded from the guest list.
She was walking away from Jason’s brother, Nathan, when a hand slid around her waist. ‘You were right about one thing,’ Alejandro drawled in her ear.
Her smile wasn’t as full as she hoped. ‘Just the one?’ she teased.
She expected a quick comeback, and her steps faltered when he didn’t answer immediately. Stopping in the hollowed-out space between reception rooms, she faced him, her heart thudding sickeningly.
‘Alejandro...I think we need to talk. Clear the air?’
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