is another reason,’ said her father, his arm about her mother’s shoulders now, putting on a united front, ‘and I hate having to tell you this, but—’ he dragged in a deeply troubled breath ‘—the bank is in trouble. We fear that we shall be financially ruined if Vidal doesn’t take over.’
Looking at him, Elena saw the deep lines of strain on his face and the worry in his eyes that she had assumed were because of her sister’s actions, but it now appeared that something more serious was afoot. Even her mother’s face was filled with fear, her brown eyes haunted, sunk more deeply than Elena had ever seen them.
Instantly, Elena folded her in her arms, holding her trembling body close. Her mother had always been such a strong woman that it hurt to see her like this.
Her parents’ bank was a private one, whereas Vidal dealt in corporate banking. Theirs wouldn’t be the first one in trouble that he had bought. They were talking about a merger, but Elena knew very well that if Vidal got his hands on it, it would be the end of the road for them. All she could hope was that he was offering them a fair deal. Though why she had to become a part of it Elena had no idea.
‘So,’ said her father firmly a few seconds later, ‘you will do this? It’s not only for ourselves, you understand, but our employees too. Some of them have been with us for a very long time. We owe them to do the best we can.’
Elena screwed her face up and shook her head. ‘I can’t, I’m sorry, but you’re asking the impossible.’ Surely they realised the absurdity of her marrying a man she did not love, a man she hadn’t seen in years, a man who did nothing for her whatsoever?
What she could remember of Vidal Marquez was that he had always thought himself a cut above everyone else, even as a child. Therefore it went without saying that he would be unbearable to live with. No wonder Reina had got out while she could.
Her heart felt heavy when she saw her father’s arms go round her mother as she almost collapsed. They were making this so very difficult. She loved them to death, didn’t want to do anything to hurt them, but marrying a man she didn’t even like was too big an ask.
When she saw that even her father, usually such a strong man, had tears in his eyes, she said quietly, ‘Are you sure there isn’t any other way of saving the bank?’
Her father shook his head. ‘None at all.’
She closed her eyes and let her breath out on a deep sigh. ‘I really don’t want to do this,’ she said quietly, ‘but—I don’t like seeing you two so worried either. I’ll give it some serious thought. Though I’m not actually promising anything, you understand.’
Faint relief shone on their faces and they both put their arms around her.
Elena did not see how she could do as they asked, though. It would mean putting her whole life on hold, maybe even cancelling it altogether. She loved what she did and had thought when her mother called and said she was needed at home that it was to help plan her sister’s wedding—not her own!
Tension reigned in the Valero household for the next few days. Elena hated seeing her parents’ distress, but she hated even more the thought of marrying a man she did not love. There must be some other way to save the bank.
Vidal had always looked down his nose at her. There was eight years’ difference between them and as a child he had always considered her of no consequence. Vidal’s younger brother, Fernan, was more her own age and he had been her constant companion, while Reina had been friends with Vidal. It was why she had not been surprised when their engagement had been announced. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that it was not a love match.
‘You are coming tonight?’ asked her father over breakfast on Saturday.
‘To the charity dinner?’
He nodded. ‘Your mother and I think it important that we go. We need to keep up appearances. We don’t want anyone to know that we’re in any kind of trouble.’
‘Of course I’ll come,’ she said immediately. ‘Will the Marquezes be there?’
‘I imagine so,’ said her father.
Her heart did a little hop, skip and a jump. It meant that Vidal would be there too. Was he aware that her parents were attempting to pair her up with him? And if so, what were his thoughts on the matter? She imagined that he would be as horrified as she was. Unless getting his hands on their bank was far more important than marrying for love. He’d done well for himself, she’d heard. His banking organisation was now the biggest in Spain. And she would face the man himself in just a few short hours.
Vidal could not take his eyes off the strikingly beautiful young woman who had just entered the room. Of its own accord his heart leapt and he instantly wanted to get to know her. She was tall, slim and very, very elegant, confident in the knowledge that she looked good.
Her short, dark hair revealed a long, slender neck around which a choker glistened with black gemstones. Her skin was soft and honeyed and he knew that he had to hold her, to touch, to feel—to enjoy!
Two thin straps that matched the necklace held up a black dress that moulded her body in such a way that each movement she made showed off the rounded curves of her breasts, each sway of her hips emphasised the pertness of her bottom.
He felt himself growing hard. This woman needed serious investigation.
She slowly circled the room, talking and laughing as she met people she knew—and was introduced to those she did not. She was vivacious and exciting, confident in her skin, walking with the grace of a female panther. He wondered if she had claws to match. There was something about her that was oddly familiar. Yet he could not recall ever having met her before.
‘She’s grown into quite a looker, hasn’t she?’
Vidal turned and realised that his father had been watching her also.
‘Who is she?’
‘Why, Elena, of course. I’m surprised you didn’t recognise her.’
Elena! Elena Valero! Surely not? ‘I thought she lived in America?’
His father nodded. ‘She does. She’s home on a family visit.’
Now he knew who she was he could see the young girl she had once been. But what a transformation. From gauche to graceful. From plain to sensationally, heartstoppingly beautiful. From stick thin to enticingly slender with curves in all the right places.
Dios! His heart tapped out a rapid tattoo. She had turned into a magical creature who was in danger of sliding beneath his skin with the stealth of a viper. Reina had rarely spoken about her sister so he’d not really thought about her in all these years. Now she filled his mind and he couldn’t wait for her to finish circling the room and reach his side.
Would she fail to recognise him? Or had he perhaps not changed as dramatically as she had? How many years had it been since he’d last seen her? Six since she went to America. But even before that he’d been too busy getting on with his life to take any notice of her. As far as he was concerned she’d been a wild child. Thoroughly spoilt, totally conceited, no interest in anything except herself.
He could not take his eyes off her, though, and suddenly she turned and looked at him, nothing more than a fleeting glance before she resumed her conversation.
