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She had flown in on her plane and landed thirty-eight minutes ago. The disembarkment and car ride over from Hobby Airport had taken twenty-one minutes. Then she had waited fourteen minutes in the SUV before entering this building, checking in with security, and riding up the express elevator, which skipped floors two through fifty-five. The pro forma greeting with Pharmatech’s executive receptionist had taken three minutes, and then she had waited for only a couple of heartbeats for the executive assistant to bring her down here. The fact that there was staff on deck so early was not a surprise given how much work the company did with Japanese investors—
Behind her, the door opened, and in the glossy panes, she caught the reflection of the man who entered the conference room.
Pivoting back around, she said, “You’re late.”
Gunnar Rhobes, CEO of Pharmatech, shut them in and made a show of unbuttoning his pin-striped double-breasted jacket as he came forward. His suit was also Italian and so were his shoes. His attitude was gift-from-God.
“You were early,” he said in the same accent as the assistant.
“I was on time.”
Pulling out the leather chair at the head of the table, he sat down and crossed his legs knee to knee. Then he steepled his fingers and stared at her over the manicured tips. He was a lean man, but not because he was unwell. He was a triathlete, an internationally ranked amateur, even though he was how old? Forty? As a result, his already narrow features were whittled down to the point where he had hollows in his cheeks, under his jaw, and on either side of his windpipe. Adding to the austere look, his skin was leathery and prematurely aged, like he never wore sunscreen while he trained outdoors, and his hair was cut so short that it was but a shadow over his skull.
“So to what do I owe this pleasure, Miss C.P. Phalen.”
“You asked for this face-to-face, not me.”
“Did I? Perhaps your scheduling people were confused.”
“They weren’t, and stop playing games. It’s boring. You have the data. You know what the price is. What are you going to do about it.”
A brow rose. “Your arrogance is well known in our industry, but I find it a surprise nonetheless. Do you honestly think you can just demand whatever you want and someone will give it to you—”
“The protocol works. What’s your price, Gunnar.”
“It works in thelab.” His pale eyes narrowed in a way that emphasized his hawk-like features. “It’s early days for you, Phalen. And you’ve been in the R&D business long enough to not let optimism and a profit motive cloud your judgment.”
“What a relief for you, then.”
The left eye twitched. “How so.”
“There are many ahead of you in line, so you don’t have to get tangled up in my delusion. Or did you think you were the only one who’s interested in Vita.”
“I am the one who can pay the most.”
“Money isn’t everything.”
“Then why did you come down here to talk to me.”
“Due diligence. I wanted to see if you were still the asshole I remembered.” She tilted forward and lowered her voice for a beat. “You haven’t disappointed me. Guess I’m one of the first women who’s been alone with you to say that.”
“Petty insults are beneath an intellect like yours.”
“If it’s so petty, why are you flushing like that? And I know what you’ve been saying about me behind my back. I’m flattered you want to comeon my tits, but I’ll turn down the kind invitation. Thanks.”
During the pause that followed, she was glad to get the sexual shit out of the way. Misogynists usually led with either a you’re-stupid or a cross-the-line-with-harassment move. Maybe now the two of them could get down to the substance.
“Tell me, Phalen,” he murmured. “Why are you selling such a valuable piece of business?”
C.P. crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s just one more drug in my pipeline.”
“I think you’re lying.”
He was right, of course.
With a shrug, she said, “And you have an easy solution here. Don’t make an offer. It’s just that simple.”
“You’re punching over your weight.” He mimicked fisticuffs. “And before you argue with me, I wouldn’t have come to this meeting if I were you. Don’t you know the first rule of negotiating? ‘He who states his terms first loses.’?”
