Damn it. He was right. The timeline didn’t support her claim.
“It was right after the show. I didn’t get to research about the rest of the Stirling family until after that episode because I simply didn’t have the time. Turns out, you’re their only other child. I was shocked. Probably just as shocked as you were when you saw the program.” God, she hated lying to him like this. “I’m really sorry we both found out the way we did, Xavier.”
“So what else did you find out about me?”
She took a deep breath. “That you seem to have helped look for evidence against Ross Anton that led to his arrest.”
Xavier nodded. “And what else?”
“Nothing much, at this point.”
“You didn’t seem to want to talk to me afterwards.”
She widened her eyes at him. “I could say the same about you. I was expecting you to at least text and demand answers after the Stirling Mortgage Brokers episode.”
“I was trying to figure out how I felt about all that. You sounded excited about the show, like you couldn’t wait for me to see it. Then imagine my surprise when I saw you questioning my parents’ integrity on TV.”
Eve looked down the cutlery arranged on the table at the hint of bitterness in his voice. “So why did you still want to see me?”
“I could ask you the same thing, especially since you appeared to suspect my parents of dishonesty.”
She forced herself not to squirm. Xavier was giving her a dose of her own medicine—asking hard, direct questions. She’d no idea if he was being genuine or if he was trying to throw her off so she wouldn’t be able to proceed with her own interrogation. She hoped he was innocent, but it was impossible to tell.
No, that wasn’t quite true. She felt he was completely innocent, but her brain was ordering her not to be foolish and gullible.
“My parents weren’t Ross’s cohorts, Eve, nor were they slack in protecting their clients’ personal information.”
“But those clients I interviewed, don’t they have the right to continue asking questions if they’re not getting satisfactory answers?”
“The answers have been provided,” Xavier said insistently. “Truthful answers. Two independent software experts plus the police’s own experts have combed through my parents’ computer systems to look for signs of tampering, suspicious logins, or any movements not relating to actual business usage. None of them saw anything out of the ordinary. Those clients just keep choosing not to believe the proof given to them out of fear. They keep focusing on the remote possibility that staff at Stirling Mortgage Brokers who were authorised to use the system could have shown Ross their computer screens or could have verbally given out the information. But no one can prove that anyone in my parents’ company has any motive to do that.”
“I see your point. But Ross wasn’t a small-time thief. He stole artwork and jewellery, some of it valued over the million-dollar mark. He couldn’t have done something like that by himself, so it’s reasonable to believe he has partners still on the loose. Isn’t that a big red flag in itself? The height of his crimes was during his directorship at your parents’ company. While you say there’s no proof anyone at Stirling Mortgage Brokers handed confidential information to Ross, there’s also no proof that it didn’t happen. Can’t you see why those clients are still angry and afraid, especially when they’re only given canned response by the company every time they try to air their grievances?”
“I do. It’s just damned frustrating that people can’t see that my parents were Ross’s victims, too.”
Guilt hit Eve. She was one of those people who had never seen the Stirlings as Ross Anton’s victims—until now. Xavier looked so defeated and dismayed that her heart went out to him.
“I’m sorry, Xavier. It’s my job to give those with less power a voice. Your parents… They’re the institution in this case. They’re the ones with the responsibility. They might also be victims, but they were the ones who partnered with a criminal, not their clients. And the way they’re responding to some of their clients’ concerns isn’t satisfactory. The clients’ frustrations keep building up because they keep getting the same scripted responses every single time.”
“I know,” Xavier said with a sigh. “I guess I’m just venting a little here. I’m not trying to attack you personally.”
She gave him an understanding smile. What else could she say? She was a major cause of his frustration.
“So what do you want to know?” Xavier asked quietly. “Anything you want to ask about me or my parents, I’ll answer to the best of my ability. I promised you I’d cooperate fully.”
She took a deep breath. Any journalist or investigator would kill for opportunities like this, when she could ask anything of a suspect. But she didn’t feel the least bit victorious.
“Your parents ordered their staff to follow a script regarding client complaints. I understand they’ve given full cooperation to the police, but that’s not the point. The clients remain suspicious because they perceive the company is hiding something. So I’d like the opportunity to interview some of the staff members where they can answer freely.”
“The only reason for the scripted responses is my parents want to protect the majority of their employees who didn’t want to have anything to do with this whole mess. Like in any organisation, there are a handful who’d love to talk to the press so they could see themselves on TV. But most have voiced their concerns about constantly being hassled by reporters. So my parents came up with the script and ordered everyone to stick to it so reporters won’t be encouraged to keep on bugging their employees every time they enter and exit their office.”
Eve considered the answer. “Okay, that’s understandable, but I promise not to pressure those who don’t want to be interviewed.”
“Okay. Then I’ll talk to my parents and persuade them to let the keen ones have a chat with you.”
Eve sat back, surprised. That was the easiest negotiation she’d had to do. “Thank you.”
Xavier nodded. “What else?”
Eve paused. Okay, time to ask the big question. “I have it on good authority that the police are investigating the possibility that Eugene Barker, one of the world’s most wanted criminals, has been to your gym recently.”
Xavier’s brows rose and he let out a mirthless snicker. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that journalists like you find out this kind of information.”
She merely smiled.
“Yeah. In fact, detectives have been coming and going to the gym, interviewing my clients and staff. I’m a bit pissed off because some of my customers have stayed away since. But the police won’t find anything, no matter how much they look, because Eugene Barker has never been to my gym at four-thirty in the morning to see me. I’ve never even met the man. Whoever gave the cops the tip was just plain wrong, or lying.
“First, the gym doesn’t open till five a.m. Second, I don’t open the gym, one of my staff does. I don’t get there until eight most days, or seven on rare occasions. Third, I don’t think there’s any clear CCTV footage showing Barker in the vicinity at the time. The cops are suspicious because my front security camera was vandalised the night before, so they think I might have done it so no one would know Barker came into the gym. But why would I bother destroying my camera when I can easily meet Barker somewhere more private? It simply doesn’t make sense. But the cops are persisting. Frankly, I think it’s because I’m the son of the couple who made another criminal their business partner. They must think the Stirlings are stinking to high heavens.”
Guilt poked Eve yet again. Wasn’t she investigating Xavier for precisely that reason?
“Eve,” Xavier said, his gaze troubled. “I swear I’m telling the truth. I don’t want you to think badly of me.”
Her heart constricted. She wanted to give in and believe everything he’d just said, because from where she was sitting, he looked totally sincere.
But great conmen are also great actors!
Yes, she’d learnt that from having reported on so many of them—and from her Aunt Tammy’s experience.
But what about her own instincts, skills and training? Didn’t they hold weight? Everything about her was screaming that Xavier wasn’t lying. Problem was, she knew damned well her emotions might be colouring her judgement, so she might only be seeing what she wanted to see.
Argh, she had no idea what to think!
“Ready to order?” the server interrupted.
“Can you give us a couple more minutes, please?” Xavier asked.
“Sure.”
“This whole conversation robbed you of your appetite,” Xavier said dejectedly. “Sorry. I should have waited after dinner to start it.”
Oh, God, why couldn’t she bear seeing him so dispirited? She found herself reaching over the table to squeeze his hand. “I’m still starving.”
Xavier brightened, and he gave her the sweetest, happiest grin. He lifted her hand to his lips before grabbing the menu. “So what do you feel like? I’m starving, too.”
She gulped. This was turning into a date.
She removed her hand from his grip and consulted the menu. “Did you say you’ve been here before?”
“Once. Their food’s great.”
They decided on their dishes and made their orders. Then Eve steeled herself for her covert interrogation.
“As you know,” she said lightly, “I love checking out new restaurants. I’ve been asking my officemates for recommendations and they named a few. Which are your favourite ones?”
Xavier paused to think, then rattled a few names.
“What about outside of Sydney? I’d love to explore wider, when I have the time.”
“You’ll need a tour guide, won’t you?” Xavier said.
She chuckled. “Perhaps. What do you think of Forest Bay Restaurant?” she asked, scrutinising him.
There was no flicker of recognition on Xavier’s face, and she suddenly felt lighter. “Can’t say I’ve even heard of it. Where is it at?”
“The Entrance at the Central Coast.”
Xavier shook his head. “I haven’t been to The Entrance in years, so I’m pretty sure I haven’t been to that place. Hey, wanna go there sometime? I wouldn’t mind trying it out with you.”
She sat up straighter. That might not be a bad idea. Appearing in person would make it easier for the restaurant owner to determine if she’d seen Xavier there before. “Okay,” she answered.
“In the next couple of days? Say, Wednesday?” Xavier asked keenly.
Even better. “Sure.”
“It’s a date, right?”
She smiled. “I guess.”
“Great. Can I pick you up from your place? It’s a fair drive, so it won’t make sense to go in separate cars.”
Hours of being alone with Xavier? Did she feel threatened?
Not one bit. In fact, she was already looking forward to it.
God, she hoped her instincts were right. “Okay.”
Xavier lifted his glass of water. “Looking forward to it, Miss Eve Marrin.”
She touched the tip of her glass with his. “Me too, Mr. Xavier Stirling.”
Argh, she was in a losing battle with her emotions. But she had to keep fighting, because she couldn’t afford to lose the war.
Chapter 13
Eve came out of the nail technician’s shop—her fingernails and toenails beautifully manicured—and made her way to the spot where she’d arranged to meet Xavier for their trip to The Entrance.
She hadn’t needed to get her nails done yet, but she’d used it as an excuse so Xavier could pick her up from the shopping mall, rather than her new apartment. She might believe him to be far from dangerous, but she hadn’t entirely lost her cautiousness. No need to provide him with her address at this point in time.
Her heart skipped at finding him exactly where he’d said he’d be, lounging on a waiting chair and playing with his phone.
She approached, aware she was already smiling. “Hi.”
Xavier looked up, a bright grin appearing on his face. He stood up and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Then he lifted one of her hands. “Let me see.”
She presented all ten fingernails to him. “You like?”
“Beautiful. Just like you.”
“Always full of flattery, aren’t you?” she asked dryly.
Xavier touched her face. “No. Just stating it as it is.”
She couldn’t help but sigh. Damn this man. Why was he so good at disarming her?
“Ready to go?” Xavier asked.
She nodded and took Xavier’s proffered hand.
Well, this really felt like a date, the two of them walking hand-in-hand to his car. If only she could completely switch off her journalist side and simply enjoy this day. There was nothing she wanted more.
But she couldn’t.
To her delight, though, their car trip to the Central Coast was fun and informative. Like always, Xavier was an open book, happy to answer her multiple questions about him, his family and his business. It did seem that he was treating this like a date where they were getting to know each other, for there were also lots of things he wanted to learn about her.
She hadn’t answered his questions as thoroughly as she could have, but she was truthful, nonetheless. And she found herself relaxing more and more. Xavier truly didn’t appear to be hiding anything.
By the time they reached their destination, she was struggling to put her walls back up. She even leaned against Xavier as they walked to the Forest Bay Restaurant, their arms around each other’s waist.
She’d truly missed him, and it was bliss being this close to him again. The possibility that he’d been at Forest Bay Restaurant with Barker had been scaring her since last night, but that fear was almost gone. He couldn’t have been here with Barker. There was nothing at all cagey with how he was acting.
Still, it was her job to make sure.
“You look lovely,” Xavier murmured, kissing her forehead as they walked along the foreshore towards the establishment.
She wanted to melt and felt embarrassed as two men wearing baseball caps appeared to switch directions to give them plenty of room.
They got to the restaurant, and a server led them to a window seat with a view of the ocean.
“This is wonderful,” she gushed, taking a photo with her phone.
“Would you like me to take one of the two of you?” the server asked.
“Oh, uh…” Eve glanced at Xavier, then handed her device to the waiter. “Sure. Thank you.”
Xavier grinned and leaned across to be closer to her.
She copied him, and their heads touched, sending warmth throughout her body.
They thanked their volunteer photographer and she instantly checked the picture. Her heart galloped. Wow, they looked good together. And she hadn’t realised how widely she’d smiled.
She handed the phone to Xavier, who sent a copy to his phone.
“Hello, Miss Marrin, sir,” greeted a well-dressed woman who appeared to be in her fifties.
“Hi,” Eve and Xavier said together.
“I’m so sorry to interrupt. I just want to say welcome to the both of you. I’m Helen and I own this restaurant. I watch Your Eyes and Ears all the time, and I’m just so excited to see you here, Miss Marrin.”
Eve’s breath hitched. Was this the woman who’d called about Barker? “Thank you, Helen. You have a lovely place here.”
“Oh, I’m glad you like it. Is it your first time here at The Entrance?”
“It is. I can’t wait to have a look around some more.”
Helen nodded. “Make sure you wander down the foreshore before three-thirty for the pelican feeding. It’s one of the things The Entrance is known for.”
“We will, thank you.”
The owner smiled at Xavier. “Is it your first time here, too, sir?”
“First time in your restaurant. But I’m looking forward to the pelican feeding too. I think t
he last time I was here for that was more than ten years ago.”
“Oh, that’s too long ago,” Helen said with chuckle. “I’m sure you’ll both enjoy it. Do you have any questions about the menu?”
“What would you recommend?” Eve asked, looking at the board for the day’s specials. She was so relieved that Helen hadn’t seen Xavier before.
Helen suggested the chef’s specials, describing them in detail.
Eve and Xavier decided on two different dishes, then they were alone again. Thankfully.
“You can’t go anywhere now without being recognised,” Xavier commented.
“Does it bother you? I know you said you hate the limelight.”
“No. They’re mostly paying attention to you, not me. Besides, this is very different from what Holly gets. You’re not getting mobbed—not yet at least,” he teased.
“I doubt I’ll ever get mobbed.”
“So what’s the best and worst experiences you’ve had with fans?”
Eve laughed as she recalled some of her memorable and dreadful fan interaction.
As always, time flew by quickly when she was with Xavier, and before she knew it, they’d finished dessert. But she had to speak to Helen privately before they left for the pelican show. “Do you mind if I go talk to the owner? I just want to thank her and all that—make sure she continues to be a happy Your Eyes and Ears viewer.”
“Wait.” Xavier motioned for the bill. “I don’t want you going there to pay.”
She laughed. “I wasn’t, but didn’t we agree to split the bill?”
“I recall nothing of the sort.” Xavier handed his credit card to the waitress. “Now you can go see Helen. The pelican feeding is not far from here, so we have plenty of time.”
“Thank you,” she said with a chuckle, touching his shoulder as she made her way to the front counter.
“Miss Marrin,” Helen said. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
“No, thank you. We’re stuffed. Everything was wonderful. I just wanted to ask if you ever made a call to Your Eyes and Ears?”
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