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       CHAPTER EIGHT

      THE RIDE TO Midway International Airport at what felt like the crack of dawn was non-eventful. Unlike the thumping of her heart as the limo Alejandro had sent for her stopped alongside a huge gleaming white private jet with the SNV logo displayed discreetly on the tail.

      ‘Mr Aguilar’s already on board, ma’am. Your luggage will be taken care of.’ The impeccably uniformed driver doffed his cap after he helped her out.

      As she crossed the Tarmac and mounted the steps, her mother’s words filtered, unbidden, into her mind. Alejandro indeed commanded a powerful top step on the world stage. Thus far, she’d only experienced him in the environs of his company and very briefly at a dinner that only lasted a few hours.

      The swiftness with which he’d secured an audience with Kenzo Ishikawa and started a different set of balls rolling in Kyoto had amazed her yesterday. Stepping into the plane and seeing Alejandro seated at a large conference table, a pile of documents at his elbow, while the crew buzzed around in preparation for the flight, she was suddenly struck by the sheer power he wielded.

      Power her mother wanted Elise to whore herself to achieve a slice of.

      The brightness of the morning dimmed as despair and desolation threatened to sink deeper into her.

      ‘The quicker you find a seat, the quicker we can take off, Elise.’

      She started at the deep drawl. Unwilling to admit what the tenor of that tone did to her see-sawing emotions, she smiled at a crew member who passed her, and made her way across the shockingly spacious midsection to where Alejandro sat. ‘Good morning to you, too.’

      He lifted a mocking brow at her, and indicated the seat opposite him. ‘Buenos días. If that sour look is because of the early hour, rest assured, you won’t be required to work the whole thirteen hours of the flight. There are bedrooms on board. Take a nap, if you feel so inclined.’

      Elise shook her head. ‘I don’t need a nap,’ she replied, then promptly yawned.

      He sent her a speaking glance. ‘Sí, you’re fresh as the proverbial daisy.’

      ‘I slept badly. So sue me.’

      He frowned. ‘Litigation won’t be necessary. We’ve all suffered sleepless nights at one point or other.’

      ‘I didn’t meant that literally—oh, never mind.’

      Tossing his pen onto the table, he sat back and observed her for a full minute before, raising a hand, he summoned an attendant and ordered coffee to be delivered after take-off.

      ‘I’m surprised I didn’t realise this before,’ he murmured.

      ‘Realise what?’

      ‘You’re not a morning person,’ he supplied.

      Her attempt at a laugh emerged more like a snort. ‘Compared to what your idea of morning is, no one is a morning person.’

      He pressed his fingers into a steeple against his lips, the silky-haired forearms bared by his rolled sleeves flexing in the morning light.

      Studiously, Elise averted her gaze from that shockingly sexy display of brawn as the doors were locked and the plane taxied to the runway. She might have condemned her mother for her deplorable suggestions last night, but it didn’t mean her insane attraction for Alejandro had dimmed. In fact, his less formal dress and slightly dishevelled hair only added to his intense appeal.

      Once they reached cruising altitude, the attendant arrived with a platter of coffee, bagels and croissants. Seizing at the excuse to occupy herself, she grabbed a bagel, then poured and sugared her coffee, before passing Alejandro a cup of espresso.

      ‘Gracias.’

      When she’d devoured half of the bagel, she glanced at his documents. ‘So what do you need me to do?’

      ‘I meant what I said. You don’t need to work during the flight.’

      She frowned. ‘I’m supposed to twiddle my thumbs for thirteen hours?’

      ‘I’m attempting to be less...ogre-tastic, Elise. Take advantage of it.’

      The words were too similar to those she’d heard a few short hours ago. As absurd as it was, they struck a chord of disquiet. She didn’t want to take advantage of anything or anyone. ‘I’d rather not,’ she bit out.

      ‘Why do I get the feeling I’ve misstepped?’

      A quick investigative glance showed his incisive gaze on her. Elise shook her head, hoping to dispel his interest, but he carried on looking at her.

      ‘It’s not important. Seriously,’ she stressed when his eyes narrowed.

      After a moment he nodded, and returned his attention to his documents. A full hour passed before she lost the battle to stay still. With nothing for her to do but leaf through mindless magazines, her attention continued to stray to Alejandro. The pen he twirled through his fingers became a source of fascination. As did the drift of his fingers down the surface of his tablet.

      Enough already.

      Looking around, she smiled at the attendant who caught her eye. When he started towards her, she rose from her seat.

      And gasped when Alejandro’s hand closed over her wrist. ‘Need something?’

      She attempted to speak, despite the heat travelling up her arm. ‘I...yes. I’m not sure how the luggage thing works on private jets. I’m wondering whether I can get access to my stuff. No problem if not...’

      Without letting go of her, Alejandro rose to tower over her. ‘Your things were stowed in one of the bedrooms. I’ll show you.’ A jerk of his head dismissed the attendant. Heading to the back of the plane, he indicated a short flight of stairs.

      She’d erred on the side of not too casual but with travel comfort in mind when she chose the navy flared skirt and white short-sleeved shirt she was wearing. But now as she went up the stairs she wondered whether her skirt was too short, her shirt a little too clingy.

      Hating herself for letting her mother’s views seep into her confidence, she headed towards the single door at the top level and opened it. The bedroom was larger than her apartment’s, with a king-size bed draped in cotton sheets and a blood-red coverlet. On the opposite wall, a high-tech entertainment and drinks centre stood beneath a wide-screen TV, with a dove-grey velvet-covered chaise longue set against one wall. Next to the chaise, she spotted an open closet where her suitcase and art bag had been stashed next to another set of suitcases.

      The space was undoubtedly designed for relaxation, but it was the sort of relaxation that had Elise’s breath snagging in her chest and her pulse racing at a frenetic pace.

      She heard the door shut behind her and turned. ‘I’ll just grab my stuff and СКАЧАТЬ