on her grandmother.
She’s really the only one who might be able to help , Bradford had said.
Jo was here now and glad she had come. But did Bradford mean that Jo should tell the woman everything?
She didn’t see that she had much choice. Her grandmother was the matriarch of the family, not to mention the major shareholder of Bosworth Industries. If there was something funny going on in the family or the company, as Bradford had implied, then her grandmother needed to know about it more than anyone.
Swallowing her pride, Jo told her grandmother everything, starting from the moment Bradford arrived at the Marriott and announced that he had been paid to marry her.
Eleanor’s face remained impassive throughout the story, which would have seemed odd considering all that Jo was telling her—except that Jo knew that this was her poker face, perfected through a lifetime of sitting on the board during business negotiations and corporate maneuvers. Just by looking at her, you’d never know what she thinking, or even if she was even fully absorbing what was being said.
When Jo was finished talking, however, it was evident that her grandmother had, indeed, taken in every word. She asked a number of questions, zeroing in on the details, trying to get a handle on the situation.
“Jo, I don’t know what to tell you,” she said finally, her expression guarded. “I think our first step should be to contact your father and get him here as soon as possible. Perhaps he can shed a light on things.”
“Let’s call him right now.”
Eleanor pursed her lips for a moment, thinking.
“Why don’t we wait until morning? If we call him over now, he’ll know something’s up and that might give him a chance to cover his tracks and put a spin on things. You know my motto: Give away nothing and always hold onto the upper hand.”
Good grief. Was that her grandmother’s philosophy even when dealing with her immediate family? No wonder the woman was so successful—and so cold.
“Yes, I’ll call him first thing,” Eleanor continued decisively, “and get him over here on some other pretense. Then when he arrives we can confront him together. Let’s hear his explanation for all of this face-to-face. Paying a man to marry his daughter, indeed. Even I wouldn’t stoop that low.”
Jo ran a hand through her hair, more tears threatening at the back of her eyes.
“Gran, are you positive you have no idea what Bradford was talking about when he said my life was in danger? He told me that there are people who need me ‘out of the way’ at Bosworth Industries. How could I possibly be in the way if I have nothing to do with Bosworth?”
Jo looked imploringly at the older woman and was startled to see a flash of something in her eyes. She did know something, but she wasn’t saying what.
“Darling, you’re exhausted,” she said, ignoring the question. “Why don’t you go on to bed and we can pick this up in the morning? I had Consuela prepare the Rose bedroom for you. It should be ready by now. In the morning we can send for your things. Is there someone you could call at home?”
“Danny—” Jo started and then stopped. Her first thought was Danny, who always stepped in when she needed help. Unfortunately, right now he was on the other side of the world, wrapped up in his own life. “Um, I mean, we don’t need to send for them. I’ll go home tomorrow and get what I need myself.”
“Not without a bodyguard, you won’t.”
Bradford had also wanted her to get a bodyguard. Right now, that sounded like a good idea.
“Do you know how to get one?”
“Of course. I’ll make a call right now. In fact, I think I’d like someone in place tonight, posted outside your door.”
“Oh, Gran, I don’t think that’s necessary. Bradford said I would be safe here.”
“Bradford’s half dead in a hospital right now, Jo, injured while trying to protect you. I’m afraid he’s not the best judge.”
Jo shuddered,
She’s really the only one who might be able to help , Bradford had said.
Jo was here now and glad she had come. But did Bradford mean that Jo should tell the woman everything?
She didn’t see that she had much choice. Her grandmother was the matriarch of the family, not to mention the major shareholder of Bosworth Industries. If there was something funny going on in the family or the company, as Bradford had implied, then her grandmother needed to know about it more than anyone.
Swallowing her pride, Jo told her grandmother everything, starting from the moment Bradford arrived at the Marriott and announced that he had been paid to marry her.
Eleanor’s face remained impassive throughout the story, which would have seemed odd considering all that Jo was telling her—except that Jo knew that this was her poker face, perfected through a lifetime of sitting on the board during business negotiations and corporate maneuvers. Just by looking at her, you’d never know what she thinking, or even if she was even fully absorbing what was being said.
When Jo was finished talking, however, it was evident that her grandmother had, indeed, taken in every word. She asked a number of questions, zeroing in on the details, trying to get a handle on the situation.
“Jo, I don’t know what to tell you,” she said finally, her expression guarded. “I think our first step should be to contact your father and get him here as soon as possible. Perhaps he can shed a light on things.”
“Let’s call him right now.”
Eleanor pursed her lips for a moment, thinking.
“Why don’t we wait until morning? If we call him over now, he’ll know something’s up and that might give him a chance to cover his tracks and put a spin on things. You know my motto: Give away nothing and always hold onto the upper hand.”
Good grief. Was that her grandmother’s philosophy even when dealing with her immediate family? No wonder the woman was so successful—and so cold.
“Yes, I’ll call him first thing,” Eleanor continued decisively, “and get him over here on some other pretense. Then when he arrives we can confront him together. Let’s hear his explanation for all of this face-to-face. Paying a man to marry his daughter, indeed. Even I wouldn’t stoop that low.”
Jo ran a hand through her hair, more tears threatening at the back of her eyes.
“Gran, are you positive you have no idea what Bradford was talking about when he said my life was in danger? He told me that there are people who need me ‘out of the way’ at Bosworth Industries. How could I possibly be in the way if I have nothing to do with Bosworth?”
Jo looked imploringly at the older woman and was startled to see a flash of something in her eyes. She did know something, but she wasn’t saying what.
“Darling, you’re exhausted,” she said, ignoring the question. “Why don’t you go on to bed and we can pick this up in the morning? I had Consuela prepare the Rose bedroom for you. It should be ready by now. In the morning we can send for your things. Is there someone you could call at home?”
“Danny—” Jo started and then stopped. Her first thought was Danny, who always stepped in when she needed help. Unfortunately, right now he was on the other side of the world, wrapped up in his own life. “Um, I mean, we don’t need to send for them. I’ll go home tomorrow and get what I need myself.”
“Not without a bodyguard, you won’t.”
Bradford had also wanted her to get a bodyguard. Right now, that sounded like a good idea.
“Do you know how to get one?”
“Of course. I’ll make a call right now. In fact, I think I’d like someone in place tonight, posted outside your door.”
“Oh, Gran, I don’t think that’s necessary. Bradford said I would be safe here.”
“Bradford’s half dead in a hospital right now, Jo, injured while trying to protect you. I’m afraid he’s not the best judge.”
Jo shuddered,
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