Page 27 of The Cinderella Secret
“Nice to meet you,” said Ella, keeping her face impassive. She and Bai would have words later.
“I’m following the DevEntier case with interest,” said Granger. “The Deveraux need to be taken down a few notches.”
“You dislike them?” she asked.
“You’ve been out of the country, so maybe you didn’t notice the queen bitch Eleanor trying to use her seat in the Senate to interfere with my company.”
“Ah,” said Ella. “Yes. Absolex.” She didn’t add that she’d seen enough of the hearings and read enough of the news articles to believe that Eleanor Deveraux’s crusade against Absolex had been absolutely justified. J.P. Granger had sold PTSD medication to the VA based on falsified research. “The hearings didn’t come to anything?”
“They’re still wrapping up their report or whatever,” said J.P. dismissively. “Who cares? Politicians should stay out of business. But trust me, every single one of those Deveraux are lying snakes. I mean, hell, one of them has even done time and she’s got him running security. What does that say about them?”
“I couldn’t speculate,” said Ella.
Granger laughed. “Lawyers. All the same no matter what size or how pretty they are. But trust me,” he said with a smug grin, “you are going to love me.”
“Lawyer,” said Ella. “Remember? We’re all the same and we don’t love anyone.”
Granger laughed heartily. “Your uncle has my info. Give me a call sometime.” With a cocky little salute Granger showed himself out.
Ella waited until the door was firmly closed before turning to her uncle. “What the hell was that?”
“I’ve known J.P. for years,” said Bai. “
“You’ve bumped into him at parties for years,” corrected Ella. “Why was he here?”
Bai looked a little guilty. “Well, he obviously doesn’t like the Deveraux and when he heard that we were going after them he called me.”
“And?” demanded Ella.
“He’s offering us his opposition research,” he said.
“No,” said Ella firmly. “We do our own research. That way we know where it comes from and we can assess the risks. Granger is poison.”
“He could have good information!” objected Bai.
“If he had anything legal, he would have been using it already,” said Ella. “We don’t need his kind of help.”
“We need any kind of help,” snapped Bai.
“No,” said Ella. “No, we do not. I want to win as badly as you do, but I am not going to align this family with someone like Granger.”
“I make the decisions for this family!” barked Bai.
“Then get yourself another lawyer,” said Ella. “Because I won’t do it.”
“Nihao,”called Liu, cheerfully, entering the foyer through front door. “We’re… back.” Liu paused, surveying Ella and Bai with a wary look. Behind her, Bai’s mother entered slowly, walking with her cane and bundled up to the ears.
“Bai,” said her grandmother in Mandarin, “Leave Ella alone and come take my coat.” Nai only spoke Mandarin, although she understood a fair amount of English.
Bai grunted and went to do as ordered. Liu gave Ella a questioning look. Ella grimaced and headed for her room. His anger at the Deveraux was starting to complicate matters. Her phone beeped in her pocket and she pulled it out to check the text. It was from one of her fight friends. Althoughfriendwas a loose term. Reluctantly, she opened the message.
Just got a last minute invite – Number Nine is fighting tomorrow night in Jersey. Thought you’d want to know.
Ella’s heart took a giant leap in her chest. It seemed like a sign. The trainer had to have told him about her. He was fighting in the States. It had to be for her. He wanted her to find him. This time she would not be late. This time she would get to him in time and then she could stop thinking about Aiden Deveraux.
11
Aiden – Jersey
