Page 103 of The Cinderella Secret
“What?” Both Jackson and Aiden looked like she had taken a side-step out of reality.
“I have exactly twenty more minutes before I have to meet my security detail at the front of Tranquility Day Spa. Since the bank robbery, even without your less than explanatory message, Uncle has been freaking out about security. Getting out for an extended meeting and, presumably, interaction with the police is not going to be easy. And I doubt that if I propose this to him that Uncle will be inclined to go along with it.”
“What if we have Evan call him up and offer to discuss things face-to-face?” suggested Aiden. “If he’s distracted and taking security with him, presumably it will be easier for you to disappear for a while?”
“That could work,” she said. “He probably would want to at least hear what Evan would say.”
“You think Evan can do it?” asked Jackson, looking worried. “Be in a room with a guy who hates him? Neither of us will be able to be there.”
“I know,” said Aiden, nodding and seeming to contemplate the skin of his knuckles. “But I think you were right. I think he’s stronger than I’ve been giving him credit for, and I think we can count on him.”
For a moment, Jackson’s face flashed with an expression that Ella characterized as triumph, and had she been in court with Jackson on the witness stand, she would have pursued it for an explanation.
“I think we’ll also need some of your police friends,” continued Aidan, finally looking up at Jackson.
“They are definitelynotmy friends,” said Jackson.
“Ella.” Aiden ignored Jackson’s interjection and turned back to her. “Can you meet with Charlie? If Jackson’s there as back-up? Is that going to be OK?”
“I don’t need back-up,” said Ella.
“I’m starting to think we all need back-up,” said Aiden, and Ella thought Jackson looked surprised.
The plan was simple: gain the assistance of the police, and she and Jackson would wear wires and hopefully catch Charlie saying something incriminating. If he didn’t, then Ella would appear to go along with Jackson’s offer, and everyone would go home and regroup. There really wasn’t much danger to it.
Other than facing her father’s murderer.
Jackson insisted on walking down to the cab with her. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. It was either chivalrous or demeaning, depending on which way she thought about it. She was fully capable of getting in her own cab.
“I wanted to talk about Aiden,” said Jackson as the elevator doors closed.
Or perhaps it was an excuse to talk about Aiden and she should stop noodling on feminist theory.
“What about Aiden?” she asked, trying to keep her face impassive.
“He…” Jackson trailed off, seeming to search her face. She waited. “He’s very important to me. My cousins are the only family I have.” His tone seemed intentionally soft, as if he were making an effort to not sound aggressive.
“That’s good to hear,” she said, since some response seemed to be called for.
“Aiden doesn’t often admit to wanting things,” he said, and Ella frowned, uncertain of what he was trying to say. “If he admits that something is important to him then that makes itveryimportant.”
Ella felt a blush creep up her cheeks.
“I’m simply asking if he is as important to you as you are to him? Because if he’s not, I would really prefer that you leave now.”
“Aiden is very important to me,” she said, feeling that she sounded silly. “I’m not going anywhere,” she added raising her chin. “And I assure you that I’m extremely hard to get rid of.”
“You’re used to getting what you want.” Jackson didn’t sound angry. Again, she sensed that he was trying not to aggravate while asking extremely aggravating questions. He was not succeeding.
“Yes, I am,” she snapped.
“And Aiden is what you want?”
“Aiden is everything I want,” she said firmly.
Again he searched her face, but she thought he looked pleased. “Good,” he said at last. “I have the feeling that you are going to run circles around him. It will be hilarious.”
“Aiden is very smart. I don’t think anyone runs circles around him,” said Ella, still annoyed. The elevator doors opened, and they walked out into the lobby.
