Chapter 5 V

"I've already made up my mind. My response is no," he replied with a muscle flickering in his cheek and dark stubble roughening his jaw.

"But before you had a chance to talk to me, you made that decision," Miss Smith refused to let him dampen her optimism and wiped her skirt with a damp hand. "I'm hoping that once I've explained what's going on, you might reconsider."

However, he didn't reassure or encourage her, leaving no hope. Elsa squinted as she turned her head towards the thick forest that surrounded them. After the helicopter had left, she suddenly noticed the constant background noise. The jungle chirps, warbles, yells, shrieks, and calls made it seem like the entire forest was alive.

"It sounds like someone is being killed there," she said, trying to connect with him emotionally but failing. There was no relationship or response or smile, and his face didn't reveal his thoughts.

"Are you afraid of the jungle? Or is there something else causing you anxiety?" Miss Smith asked.

Another thing? Like the fact that she was alone in the rainforest with a man who clearly detested the entire human race, or that her entire life was on the verge of being ground into dust? Elsa pushed aside the mental image of jaguars, snakes, and two thousand insect species. She didn't know where to start since he wasn't exactly a man who invited confidences. "I'm not anxious..."

"Is that correct?" he asked, giving her a brief glance before closing his eyes. "Let me provide you with some pointers on how to conduct business with me. Don't waste my time, lie to me, or cheat. I never say yes to anything when I'm irritated because these are the three things that are certain to annoy me."

She realized that she hadn't been entirely truthful with him either when she took out his loan. She hadn't shared everything about herself, but there was nothing in the contract that required her to do so. Guilt and discomfort slithered down her spine as she reminded herself that she had made it clear that her personal history had no bearing on her ability to run her business. Despite this, she saw him smile, and her cheeks betrayed her with color.

"You are a woman, Miss Smith. Lying and cheating are ingrained in your DNA. When you're in my company, the best we can hope for is that you try to fight against thousands of years of evolution." He moved to one side and opened the door for her to enter.

"I won't be bullied, Mr. Walsh," she said, forcing herself to speak despite the husky and slightly shaky quality of her voice. "Don't try to intimidate me because my business isn't doing well, and I know we have things to talk about."

She vowed to never allow such an incident to happen again. "Do you perceive me as intimidating?"

She wagered that he instilled fear in everyone he encountered. "At a minimum, it wouldn't hurt for you to attempt to display more amiability."

"Amiability?" He spoke with a hint of derision. "You're requesting that I be friendly, correct?"

She had to concentrate to keep her attention on him. "I fail to comprehend why every business meeting must be formal and devoid of personal touch."

As he drew nearer, she instinctively pulled back. "Miss Smith, do you want to become acquainted with me on a personal level?" His eyes locked onto hers, and the oppressive heat and humidity of the room seemed to intensify.

"How personal?"