Betrayed - By Ellie Jones Page 0,4

cleared her throat. “Then the flight, the plane will not wait, not even for you.”

He rubbed his forehead, annoyed at the interruption. He said, “The rooms are reserved?”

“Of course, a hotel in Hanley, as you asked. The office will be in one of the commercial suites of the hotel, we thought it would be more convenient.”

“Sounds good.”

“Your secretary is preparing things. She flew in last night.”

He gave a nod.

“And I checked with the hotel. They say it will take you just over an hour from Manchester airport. You can travel either along the A34 trunk, or the M6.”

“Thank you.” He already knew; it was familiar territory.

“May I advise the driver to make ready?”

Rafael didn’t answer, didn’t really want to leave his reverie.

“Señor?”

He gave a curt nod, and she left. He turned from the window and flopped into a seat.

The goddess had flitted into his life, then out again, just as easily. Dancing, giggling; a nymph with some absurd need to be mysterious even when making love. Even at special moments, she’d tantalised him with her elusiveness. The time had been wild, but too short. They’d discovered ways to excite each other, ways he hadn’t known existed; had they invented them? Sex had been inventive; nothing too daring, nothing too obscure. Nothing had been out of bounds for them. Jeez, he’d adored her. Yet, amazingly it hadn’t been mere sex between them. Their relationship had gone way beyond that.

Yet, as his emotions entered an unfathomable state, she’d told him it was over. He hadn’t known why. What had he done; what had he said? Had she been too young to cope with what was happening?

He’d mourned her passing. No one had warned it could hurt so much. It taught him to treat women with caution, not to get involved, taught him to keep his distance.

But the ghost was back; did that mean his ideas would change again?

Damn Papá! Why did they have to do it this way?

Rafael leaned his forehead onto the cool pane of glass. There had been women since, yet not one like that will-o’-the-wisp.

Her father’s factory was under scrutiny. He had to choose whether to invest. Papá would be furious if he made a botch. Papá said if it was as good as it seemed he wanted in. Rafael had to assess if they were to put in an offer. The responsibility lay with him. His job also required him to make certain if they invested in the factory, she would stay. No her, no deal! Papá was adamant! The designer must stay.

This should have been his deal, done his way, not Papá’s way.

Rafael scratched his nose. It still wasn’t too late for Eduardo to show interest, but what then? Could he wangle his way around Papá and make it alone? He would need to be uncompromising to pull off something like that.

He stared at the picture, wondered what she’d been doing. Was there a man in her life? Women had been part of his, too many, too much sex, until each blended with the other and they became the same. Most cast their nets at him because of what he was. They satisfied a primitive need so he permitted them, let them debase themselves, and allowed them to scratch his itch, nothing else.

He sighed. He would have to be objective; he could hardly put the business at risk. No matter what happened, it would not make sense to put Papá out of business. After all, what was Papá’s would one day be his.

Papá had toyed with the idea of expanding into the UK a few times, and saw this as an opportunity. Papá had become adamant, and it was Papá’s company, so they were going to expand. One day it would be his then he could do as he wished, but for now Papá had control.

Would there be a company left? Would this overstretch Papá?

Damn! This campaign might spell the end if it went wrong. He had to be ruthless. He couldn’t let sentiment get in the way, and he couldn’t take the soft choice either. If he said yes, and the deal went wrong, he would be to blame. If he said no, and a rival bought them out and made a success, Papá would absolutely kill him.

What a mess-up.

He stared into the distance. Sleepy hamlets dotted the valley, poked through the haze. Labourers would soon be hard at work before the insufferable heat drove them indoors for the afternoon.

He would have to play the game