Page 108 of The Cinderella Secret
“Sounds genius,” agreed Jackson. “What do you need me for? I’m kind of busy.”
“You can’t possibly be that busy. Just meet me out there. Because I think if I go digging in the warehouse, security is going to get a tad squiffy. But you’re an actual owner and whatnot.”
“Ah, yes, the whatnot that I’m responsible for,” murmured Jackson.
“And the other things,” said Aiden, and Ella could practically hear his smile through the phone. “I fully intend to rely on you for the other things.”
“Iamgreat at gum-chewing,” agreed Jackson.
“It’s either you or I have to pretend to be Evan and I can’t be that big of a dick. Anyway, I’m on my way over there now. Just meet me out there, kay?”
“I will definitely do that,” said Jackson.
“Cool. See you in a few,” said Aiden.
Jackson shut the phone off and looked at MacKentier. “Was Bo an employee?”
“Of course, he was,” snapped MacKentier. “How else do you think I ever got information on what Randall was up to?”
“The Deveraux are notoriously secretive,” agreed Jackson with a nod.
“The Deveraux are notorious liars,” said Ella, feeling that now was the time to spin a new narrative. Maybe they could still get the answers they needed. “You said if I helped you, I could get the shares out of MacKentier’s portion.”
“I may have exaggerated,” said Jackson.
“Feeling the sting of betrayal?” MacKentier hissed at her.
“Oh, don’t take the high road,” snapped Ella. “My entire family knows that you and Dad were selling Department of Defense secrets to the Chinese.”
“And then Bo thought he could just quit,” growled MacKentier. “You don’t get to just quit!”
“He used you,” said Ella. “Is that what you’re pissed about?”
“I used him,” said MacKentier.
“If you say so,” said Ella with a shrug. “I don’t really give a shit. Homeland Security probably will, of course, but that won’t be a problem if one of you coughs up the shares I need.”
“Did you tell anyone you were coming here today?” asked MacKentier pleasantly.
“You just said you talked to my uncle,” she retorted. “Don’t be an idiot. If I don’t turn up in one piece, they will come straight here.”
“You sound just like your father,” said Charlie. “He thought he could walk out too. Never quite made it home though, did he?”
“Charlie,” said Jackson, “I think maybe we’re all getting a little ahead of ourselves here.”
“You don’t get to have cold feet now,” said Charlie. “You wanted this problem to go away. You asked for my help, you don’t get to decide what kind of help I give.”
Out in the hall, they heard a door slam open and the sound of someone whistling in an off-key cheerful way. Ella had never heard Aiden whistle, but she would have bet a stack of greenbacks that it was him in the hall.
“Sounds like our favorite lawyer has arrived,” said MacKentier. “Foss, go fetch him.”
Foss jerked his head at the other two security officers and then left the conference room with a cracking of knuckles and an eager look on his face.
“If you hurt him, you’re going to regret it,” said Jackson, flicking the lighter off and on with hard ratcheting clicks. He had finally lit the cigarette, but she noticed that he hadn’t actually taken more than a drag on it. The tip was a glowing red dot.
“They’re not going to hurt him that much,” said Charlie. “Probably. But I’m sure it’s no more than you’ve wanted to do.”
“Think you’ve got us all figured out, don’t you, Charlie?” asked Jackson, taking a drag with a smirk.
