Her voice trembled.
“But somewhere along the way, I stopped asking whether they were happy.”
Before I could respond, the elevator doors opened.
A breathless blonde woman in her early thirties hurried toward us.
“Grandma!”
Eleanor turned.
“Claire?”
The woman rushed into her arms.
Daniel immediately approached.
“Claire, how did you know she was here?”
Claire pulled back.
“Marcus told me.”
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Daniel’s voice became careful.
“When did Marcus tell you?”
“This morning.”
“What time?”
“I don’t know. Eight? Eight-fifteen?”
Eleanor stared at her granddaughter.
“Claire.”
Claire looked confused.
“What is happening?”
Daniel asked another question.
“How did Marcus know Mrs. Halston had collapsed?”
Claire opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
“I…”
No one interrupted her.
“He said your security team called him.”
Daniel shook his head.
“We didn’t.”
Claire began breathing faster.
“Then maybe the hospital.”
“They didn’t have his number.”
She stepped backward.
