“Yes, I do know, and there weren’t. But there were cameras positioned to show who came and went off the patio, just in case private meetings were taking place. Like the one you and Jules were holding.”
“We weren’t holding a private meeting that night. And we merely kissed. No big deal.”
“Really? Then why were you so concerned about whether or not you were captured on video?”
“Just safeguarding my privacy.”
“What about your privacy, Dalton?” Shana asked, joining them.
“Nothing,” Dalton quickly replied noticing, in his peripheral vision, that Jules, who’d been talking to Caden, was leaving.
At that moment, Sarah Pecorino, one of the executive administrative assistants, entered the boardroom appearing flustered as she approached Jace.
“Sarah, is there anything wrong?” Jace asked.
“Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Granger, but there is someone here to see you. Security has detained her, and I told them to let her know you were in a meeting. However, they say that she’s very insistent.”
Dalton turned his head to keep from chuckling, knowing immediately who was demanding Jace’s attention. Evil Eve had arrived in town. And Dalton could tell from Jace’s expression that he knew, as well, but his brother still questioned Sarah.
“Who is she?”
Ms. Pecorino raised her chin. “I spoke with her, and she told me to tell you she’s Mrs. Jace Granger.”
“Well, she told you wrong, Sarah. As you can see, the only Mrs. Jace Granger is standing right here beside me,” Jace said, indicating Shana.
“I know, sir, and she said you would say that. And she told me when you did to remind you that she was the first.”
Thirty-Three
“What are you doing here, Eve?”
She had been standing by the window and turned around. Dalton watched the smile on her face die when she saw that Jace hadn’t come alone. She lifted her chin. “Jace, didn’t Caden tell you I was coming?”
“I told him,” Caden said somberly, leaning against the door.
“Well, then,” Eve said, using her hand to smooth down the skirt of her designer suit. “I wanted this to be a private meeting between Jace and me.”
“You stopped getting what you wanted from me a long time ago. Anytime I deal with you from now on, it’s a family affair. You’ve met my brothers, and this,” Jace continued, pulling Shana to his side, “is the only Mrs. Jace Granger. So I wish you would stop using my name. Now, I’m asking you again on behalf of everyone. What are you doing here?”
Instead of answering, Eve smiled and took a chair at the table, one that was not offered to her. “Jace, I can understand your being upset with me. But why was I detained in security?”
“I don’t think you do understand. If you did, you wouldn’t be here. And as far as security goes, after your last visit I gave them strict orders not to allow you back inside this building.”
Eve chuckled. “Please don’t blame that nice young man sitting at the front desk. I tailgated another visitor,” she said without remorse. “But I didn’t get far. I didn’t even make it to the elevator before he caught me. And the reason I’m here is because I recently remembered something important. Something Vidal told me that you might find interesting.”
“I doubt I’d be interested in any of your and Vidal’s pillow talk,” Jace said.
“I think you might be interested in this since it’s about your precious Hannah.”
Caden, who had been leaning disinterestedly against the door, suddenly straightened. So did Dalton, who had been glancing periodically at his watch and wondering where Jules had gone. Now he, too, was at full attention.
Eve smiled at seeing the three reactions when the woman’s name was mentioned. “Ahh, so Hannah still has her tight hold on you guys. Like always, I see.”
“Whatever Vidal told you about Hannah is probably a lie, and you can keep it to yourself,” Dalton said angrily.