CHAPTER 37
Jason looked around The Shades, trying to pick out where Mrs. Swiss was. The place wasn't so packed full, but he couldn't find her. "Spence. Call James." The android connected him with his security detail. "Where is she?"
"Oh! She came with her husband. Ten 0'clock?"
Jason turned to his left and looked slightly up. "Seen." He disconnected the call and approached the table. "Good evening Mrs. Swiss and?" He asked, trying not to give himself away. He appraised the older man. This is Evan's dad. When he looked at the man, the apparent recognition hit him.
Robert Swiss smiled. "Yes. I know. She's a chip off her old man." They shook hands.
"Meet my husband." Mrs. Swiss teased as they didn't need any introduction. "Please sit."
The waiter was instantly on their table. Jason placed his order, as did the older couple. The man went away to get their meals. White wine was sent over to their table as another waiter filled their glasses and went away. Robert sipped his and looked through the glass at the man sitting opposite him. He was well built and looked like he could handle this. He didn't expect less from a man who had been forced to hold his family's empire at such a young age. He dropped his half-full glass.
"You must forgive my wife for giving you such a tough time." He could feel his wife's burning gaze. "She's worried about our daughter's dignity as well as the press."
Jason looked from him to Mrs. Swiss, who looked like she was going to murder her husband. "I'm sorry too. I should have let you both be aware of this decision before going ahead with it."
"Oh! Don't be modest." He sipped his wine again. "Considering everything, I'm glad she's helping in a way."
He nodded and smiled, "Yes, she is. It means a lot to Ellen and me. We wanted a child for so long, but fate dealt us a bad hand." Smiling, he added, "Then Evan came along."
Mrs. Swiss saw the smile and frowned. Did she detect affection for her daughter in those eyes? "Still, did you consider the press? When they find out she's on the way without being married? They will chew her."
The whole place was silent. The waiter came then with their order. Even he could sense the discomfort. He hurriedly placed the food tray down and left. He didn't try to take the food plates out of the tray.
"Honestly, I didn't think of that. Nobody did." He hated his reply, but it was the honest truth. Mrs. Swiss was correct; the press would make so much deal out of this when they find out. Why didn't he think of this when Ellen suggested it? But Mrs. Swiss was wrong in thinking Evangeline couldn't handle the press. She was one of the strongest women he knew. But that wasn't in his place to say right now. "What do you suggest?"
"The deal is done." Robert took out his food and his wife's. He set it in her front then passed Jason his. "We can give our story before they get wind of it."
"Or make her stay in Miami. We can control the press here. But LA?" Shaking her head, she reached for her cutlery and started to eat. She took a spoonful and closed her eyes to savor it. Jason smiled. Evan always does that, too, when she loves the dish. "Knowing that stubborn being I gave birth to, she will insist on going back to LA before the child is due."
"Yes. She's staying just the first trimester."
"I knew it." Mrs. Swiss said, dropping her cutlery, "What is her excuse."
"Work." He said blandly and grabbed his own cutlery. "I've tried to convince her."
"Try more." Mrs. Swiss said and shook her head at her husband who gave her a stoic look.
The three ate in silence before Robert Swiss thought of a possible solution. "I think we can do either two things; make her stay here or get our story out there before anyone gives any false story."
"Okay. I'll try to see if I can get her to stay. I doubt it, though." Jason said.
"That being said." Robert said, holding his wife's hand.
Jason began eating. The moment he walked in and saw Robert Swiss with his wife had been thinking there was more to this dinner. He waited patiently for them to spill whatever it was they had to say. Something tells him it had to do with the men tailing him. He dropped his cutlery and filled his mouth with wine. As he swallowed, the older man looked at him. "Did I do something now?" He asked knowingly.
"There's another reason for this meeting." Said Robert.
"I know that already." He lifted his drink in salute when Robert asked how. "Doesn't it have to do with the strange men that have been following me?"
"You're being followed?" Mrs. Swiss asked, looking surprised.
"Yes. I thought that's it. Shouldn't you have been seeing them too?" He asked the older couple. They gave him a blank loo. "Then why the hell am I their target?"
Nobody spoke until Robert said, "Because they already assume you're our ally."
"Ally? What's that to do with this?"
"A lot." Mrs. Swiss said.
"Then, I'd like to know what this is about. But first, let me get me PI" Jason called James and told him to stay on the call. "I don't want to repeat this." He said to him, "Okay."
