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‘Really? So why are your people scurrying around trying to buy up everything in sight?’

That stopped him.

‘Maybe it pleases me to know that I can.’

‘I’m very happy for you, but my life is rather more complicated. I have loyalties.’

‘You have an overabundance of pride…and a highly inflated opinion of yourself.’

‘That’s rich coming from you!’

‘And if the tables were turned, you’d treat me differently? No. So don’t expect any leeway from me, when you’d give me none yourself.’ He turned back to the path, forcing her to run after him again.

‘But you gave me your word that this week would be devoted to our negotiations.’

‘On my terms.’ He didn’t pause, or look back.

‘All right.’ Lisa stopped running. Resting her hands on her knees, she tried to catch her breath.

‘All right, what?’

At least he had stopped. He was standing a few yards away, waiting for her to say something. She fought for control. But as she straightened up her feelings erupted. ‘I suppose Arianna is happy about our little pleasure cruise?’

‘Arianna isn’t your concern.’

‘How convenient for you.’

‘Why are you worrying about Arianna?’

‘Someone needs to. I feel sorry for her.’

‘Why, exactly?’

‘I think you know why, Tino.’

‘No, I don’t. I’m waiting to hear what you have to say about it.’

‘All right, then… What the hell are we doing here?’ She gestured around. ‘We should go back to the villa and have our meeting under proper conditions. All this is far too distracting.’

‘I thought that part of our agreement was that I decide when and where our meetings are held.’

‘But we can’t have them here.’

‘Exactly.’ His voice was maddeningly controlled. ‘You’re becoming forgetful, Lisa. I already told you that we are not holding any meetings today.’

‘So, you’re breaking your word?’

‘I don’t remember saying we wouldn’t be holding any meetings this week. You shouldn’t have agreed to something before you were certain of the terms.’

‘Don’t you dare lecture me on business etiquette. I agreed to your terms before I realised how irresponsible you were going to be.’

‘Irresponsible?’

‘Yes,’ Lisa insisted fiercely. ‘Irresponsible. Now, can we stop wasting time, and get back to the villa? I want a shower—I’m all salty. We can still get in a couple of hours of discussions before lunch… What do you think you’re doing?’ She glared down at the hand on her arm. ‘Don’t you dare touch me!’

But he was already propelling her along the path.

‘I’m warning you—’