Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Then I get up and fix my pants, making sure to get the important parts hidden, and straighten my tie. To be sure, we both look a little ruffled. My hair’s mussed and Katy’s make-up has worn off, but no one should notice. Everyone’s going to be so pumped up from this successful Town Hall that we’ll just slip out and be on our merry way.
“Ready?” I ask my girlfriend with a wink. She giggles and pats her curls once more. Then with one smooth movement, I open the door and step into the hallway. Perfect, no one’s here. I gesture for my girlfriend to follow along behind me, but just as Katy steps outside, who but Senator Mellon appears at the other end of the corridor.
Fuck! He’s already seen us, and he clearly also just saw us coming from the same room. What can I say? What excuse can I make?
As the older man approaches, his blue eyes narrow. He looks from me, to his daughter, then back again, and obviously that keen gaze misses nothing. He sees how rumpled we are, and how Katy’s even standing a bit askew because she just got pounded hard. Not only that, but to my horror, I see a small bit of fluid running down the inside of my girlfriend’s thigh. Oh shit, it’s my seed! Katy realizes this too and quickly crosses one foot over the other so that her thighs are pressed together, but it’s too late. Senator Mellon’s seen everything he needs to, and the man fixes us with an expressionless gaze.
“Brad, Katy,” he says in a smooth tone. “I’ll see you later at my office.”
“Yes, of course Daddy,” his daughter replies in a small voice. “We’ll be there.”
Then without another word, Senator Mellon moves on. It’s only at that moment I realize that there were two other people trailing behind Joseph. Oh fuck. Did they figure out our secret as well?
But our problems are more serious than that. Instead, after the trio disappears, my girlfriend turns to me, her eyes wide with shock.
“What do we do?” she whispers.
I shake my head, my expression dark.
“I don’t know, honey. I just don’t know.”
After all, the Senator’s discovered our secret, and now, not only is my career doomed, but so is my relationship. Yet, I can’t stand the thought of losing the woman I love. So what do I do? Grovel and beg, but for what exactly? Heart in my throat, I take Katy’s hand even as a feeling of doom crosses my soul.
10
Katy
The next day.
I stare at the sidewalk in front of my dad’s penthouse, working a crack with the toe of my shoe. After my dad bumped into us yesterday, I was sure it was the end of my relationship with Brad. But instead, my boyfriend told me to be brave. He scheduled a meeting with the Senator for today, and now we’re meeting at Joseph’s penthouse to talk.
Inside, my heart feels like lead. Oh god, this is going to be so horrible because what can Brad and I say to justify our relationship? Yes, he’s twenty years older than me. Yes, I fell in love with one of my dad’s employees. In fact, I haven’t even told my boyfriend that I’m pregnant yet, but that’s just another item making the situation worse. My insides tremble and tears spring to my eyes. This is going to be so painful.
But then Brad shows up, and he’s gorgeous even during these dark times. His black hair is pushed back from his forehead, and he’s casually dressed in a white button down and jeans that emphasize his long legs. He looks solid and comforting, and I practically run into his arms.
“Hey, hey, hey,” he says, pulling back after a moment to gaze into my eyes. “It’s not so bad, is it? It’s going to be okay, baby.”
I sob brokenly.
“I’m sorry, Brad. I was so selfish. I didn’t think about what might happen to your career if my dad caught us. I couldn’t see past wanting you and now, look what’s happened. If I hadn’t been so careless—”
The older man shushes me gently.
“Hey,” he says. “Look at me.” I meet his eyes. “You have nothing to apologize for, and if this ends my career with your father, then so be it. There are worse things in life, and besides, I have a solid resume and I’ll be fine. This,” he takes my hand and puts it against his chest, over his heart, “is what’s important. How we feel about each other, sweetheart. If I have to get another job, that’s what I’ll do and so be it. But I don’t regret anything that happened between us because you’re the right woman for me, and you’ve been right from the very beginning.”
I look at him through bleary eyes.