"What would you like to see while you're here?" Leo asked. "I'll be in meetings most of the day and we'll have dinner with Mr. Kihoto, but there's no reason you can't explore. My assistant has arranged for a tour guide and interpreter for your convenience.""I haven't even thought about it. What should I not miss?"
"Depends on how adventurous you are," he said.
"I still need to work while I'm here, but I should be able to sightsee a little bit," she said.
"Do you ever take a vacation?" he asked.
"Do you?" she retorted.
"Good point," he said. "You'll probably want to go shopping for souvenirs. The tour guide can escort you there. I have a few things in mind for you."
"What?" she asked.
"Surprises," he said and grinned. "You trust me, don't you?"
Her stomach dipped. Yes and no, she thought, surprised in a way that she trusted him at all. As long as Leo didn't know the truth about her plans for their temporary marriage, she suspected he would take care of her. But if he found out too soon … She shuddered at the thought.
At their hotel suite, Leo allowed her extra sleep to recover from jet lag. The next morning, she awakened to find him gone and instructions for contacting her personal guide. She got up and spent extra time in the bathroom, fascinated by the TOTO toilet, which actually lifted its lid as she approached and closed it as she left, all the while playing Mendelssohn.
She forced herself to work, although she was distracted by the beautiful small garden view from the window. After e-mailing one of her assignments to her office, she called the guide, a charming woman named Nakato. She went on a whirlwind tour, taking in the narrow streets, sounds and smells of Tokyo with a few shopping stops along the way. Nakato took her to a six-floor toy shop and she picked up a silly gift for Leo.
She dressed for dinner, fighting a sudden attack of nerves. When Leo walked through the door, she felt a whisper of relief until she saw his brooding expression. "How have your meetings gone?"
"Could be better. I learned that my biggest competitor has already been here for a visit and Mr. Kihoto was impressed with him and his wife. I think Mr. Kihoto is a little put off by how young I am. At least having a wife means I've overcome one of his objections," he muttered under his breath.
Calista went very still, taking in his last comment. "Pardon me?" she finally said. "Did I hear you correctly? Are you saying you need to have a wife to get a business deal with this man?"
Still clearly distracted, he shrugged. "It's part of his expectations. My marital status doesn't have a thing to do with my business abilities, but having a wife smoothes the way."
"Are you telling me that you married me so I could smooth the way for your business deals?" she asked, shocked and almost hurt despite her own approach to the marriage. She couldn't possibly be really hurt because she didn't have any real feelings for him.
"I had several reasons for marrying you. I've demonstrated that," he said and flicked his gaze over her from head to toe. "I'll wash up and we can leave in a few minutes."
Calista paced from one end of the living area to the other, fuming. The more she thought about Leo's motivation for marrying her, the more upset she became. She remembered how he hadn't called her for weeks. He hadn't really had any feelings for her. He'd just been frustrated because his prospective business partners were reluctant with him because of his youth … and lack of a wife. So, what she'd really been was convenient. She wanted him to feel as vulnerable as she did.
"The limo's waiting," Leo said as he strode into the living area. "Let's go."
He took her elbow when they exited the elevator and she wrested her arm away from him. Despite the fact that she intended to divorce Leo in six months, she could barely swallow her indignation.
He shot her a look of cool curiosity as they got into the vehicle. "What's your problem?"
"You could have married just anyone," she said. "So, why me?"
"I told you before. You captured my attention."
"Plus I didn't want a big wedding. That was in my favor, too, wasn't it?"
Leo wiped his hand over his face in frustration. "Listen, there's no reason for you to pretend you're pissed off because part of the reason I married you was for practical reasons. You need to remember that you were very firm on getting married." His mouth tightened. "Despite the fact that you were not a virgin when we said our I-dos."
"I never said I was a virgin."
He lifted his hand. "This is nonsense. You and I have an explosive passion for each other. More than most married couples I'd say. You're getting what you want out of this bargain, and I am, too. If you wanted an emotional, romantic man, you picked the wrong guy. I never represented myself that way." He met her gaze. "Now, I want this deal. I don't want to feel like I've wasted my time by making this trip. So, just try to act like an adoring wife and you can resume your pissing fit after it's over. If it makes you feel better, I'll give you a blank check and you can shop off your anger tomorrow."
She stared at him in shock. "Do you really think going on a shopping spree is going to make me feel better about this?"
"Works with most women, doesn't it?" he asked as the limo pulled to a stop.
She would love to teach him a thing or two. After she secured her sisters' education and health care. She knew it was hypocritical, but his attitude still galled her.
"You're a jerk, but don't worry. I'll fake it," she said to him and got out of the limo.
Leo escorted her into the restaurant where a host greeted them.
"You're making a big deal out of nothing," Leo said under his breath. "Smile, darling. Here come the Kihotos."
The middle-aged couple approached and Leo made the necessary introductions. Calista smiled and nodded to each of them. "I have a small gift for you," she said to Mrs. Kihoto.
Mrs. Kihoto smiled shyly, but shook her head. "Oh, no, I can't accept."
Calista knew it was custom for the Japanese to refuse gifts up to three times. "Please do. It's very small and you would be doing me a favor."
Mrs. Kihoto gave a slow nod. "You're very kind and beautiful."
"Thank you. You're very generous to join us for dinner," Calista said and felt Leo's gaze on her.
When they sat down, he whispered in her ear, "Very nice. You surprised me."
She smiled, whispering in return, "Is this when you say 'good wife' and pat me on my head?"
She heard him smother a chuckle under a cough.
Calista successfully made it through the meal without stabbing Leo with her chopsticks and not pointing them in a culturally offensive direction. She even remembered to say the traditional "Gochisosama deshita" at the end of the meal.
Leo, again, appeared impressed. So did Mr. and Mrs. Kihoto. Calista collected her beautifully wrapped gift for Mrs. Kihoto and the woman also presented her with one.
"Oh, look at how beautiful," Calista said, admiring the gift. "You shouldn't have. Your company was a huge gift."
Mrs. Kihoto insisted and Calista thanked the woman and her husband again, relieved when she climbed into the limo.
"Very well done," Leo said. "I must show my gratitude. Since you're not interested in shopping one of my credit cards up to the limit, what can I get you?"
Calista leaned her head against the back of the leather seat and closed her eyes, the fiery brunt of her anger at Leo fading a little. She shouldn't have been surprised that his motive for marrying her was mercenary. And how could she blame him when her motive was almost as bad as his. The only thing that made her motive more honorable was that she was doing it for someone else, her sisters. Others might see that as splitting hairs. "I'd like a cheeseburger." She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "And maybe one of those TOTO toilets with all the bells and whistles."
He chuckled and loosened his tie. "Liked that, did you?"
"I was like a little kid. I think I played with it for thirty minutes," she confessed.
"I was the same way my first time too," he said.
She looked at him and felt a slight softening warring with her resentment.
He moved closer to her and pressed his mouth against hers. "You're an excellent wife."
"You were just surprised that I got Mrs. Kihoto a gift," she said. "I told you I'd been taught etiquette for several different cultures from the classes I took."