His Fall From Power

by Fawkes, Tasha

  They shouted questions, but I ignored them as I worked my way through the crowd. Thankfully, the guards at the building had already been notified and were refusing to let them in.

  I took the elevator up and sighed in relief at the quiet on my floor. For the first time in days, I felt a little at peace. Returning to work was a good decision. I needed some semblance of normalcy again.

  It was early, and the rest of the staff would be trickling in soon. I hadn’t told anyone that I was returning this morning, but I would make my desires clear. We had a job to do. We would focus on that.

  My meeting in Jacksonville about the Clean Water Act wasn’t going anywhere, and the representative who’d filled in after I’d returned to blast the press for their lies hadn’t made much headway either. This was still priority on my agenda.

  Sitting down my briefcase, I glanced out the window. There were already protestors gathering. Most were calling for my resignation. Some were protesting against my resignation.

  One apparently wanted to marry me. How flattering.

  Grimly, I turned away. The truth was that the outrage wasn’t as big as I was expecting. If the police department did come out and state on record that I was a suspect, everything probably would blow up. For now, they were agreeing to keep any official comments about their suspicions in-house until they had more evidence. They had a time of death, but it didn’t help me any. Since it was an hour after the pizza deliveryman left, my only alibi was still Blythe.

  The time of death was a full hour after I was supposed to meet her, though. What had she done in the park that whole time? Sherry was not a patient woman. She wouldn’t have waited an entire hour for me. I knew that for certain. So, who else had been in that park with her?

  And one of the most haunting questions, if I had met Sherry, would I be dead as well?

  Neither Klaus nor my father had brought that up, but I knew they were thinking about it. How could they not be?

  The leak at the police department was plugged for now, so at least I didn’t have to worry about anything else getting out. The detectives kindly asked me not to leave the country, but they didn’t take my passports, nor did they bar me from traveling. That meant that I could keep working for now.

  I couldn’t afford to be distracted. The work had piled up in my absence, and I needed to catch up if I was going to keep this from ruining me.

  There was a soft knock on the door, and when I looked up, I froze. A familiar face strolled in and smiled grimly at me. “Drayson.”

  “Senator Carin.” Respectfully, I rose and shook the old man’s hand. For a man in his eighties, he was in remarkably good health. Despite his thin frame, he carried himself with a straight back, and his head held high. The lines on his face had deepened, and his snow-white hair was neatly combed. The gray suit he wore was tailored for him and fit his trim body. He still held an air of power and authority.

  He deserved it, too. The patriarch of the family served for twenty-four years and only stepped down when his son decided to run. Now ten years into his term, Sherry’s father was just as popular as his grandfather. There were already whispers that her brother would run after his father’s reelection. And since Sherry’s brother was married and had a son of his own, he would no doubt be groomed into politics as well.

  “I hope you don’t mind that I’ve ambushed you at the office. Your father’s estate is rather impregnable.” Despite his firm handshake, the old man’s eyes looked frail as he sank into the chair. “This is a mess. My granddaughter is dead. My daughter-in-law isn’t speaking to me. My grandson is calling for your head.”

  “I didn’t kill Sherry,” I said evenly.

  “I know you didn’t.” He met my gaze, and I could tell that he believed his own words. “I followed your career even before you and Sherry got together. I knew that you were destined for great things. You’re a man of morals and strength. I admired that about you. I’m not ashamed to say that I turned her your way.” He shook his head. “The detectives told us that it was all a ruse. You two were not as close as we once believed.”

  Carin might not have been ashamed, but I was. The last thing I wanted to tell the old man was that his granddaughter was better suited for the bedroom than at a place by my side. “I had no idea you thought it was serious between us. She and I had an understanding. I assumed that she’d communicated that to you. I’m sorry for any trouble that it’s caused you.”

  “I believe you,” he murmured as he sighed and looked out the window. “Sherry was a rebellious girl. Oh, she was all smiles and waves in front of the camera. She was trained to say all the right words, and she delivered them eloquently, but in private, she railed against her upbringing. After the two of you broke up, she called me. She needed money. She’d already blown through her trust fund.”

  That revelation wasn’t surprising. Sherry had always been a big spender, needing things like most people needed oxygen to breathe.

  The old man sighed. “She had no plans for the future, and I questioned her motives. I was furious that things had ended between you. Did that play a role in my decisions or did I really want Sherry to do something with her life? I question that now. I guess I’ll never know, but it doesn’t change the past. I called my son and told him that enough was enough. We cut her off. We hadn’t heard from her since.”

  “I’m sorry.” I truly was. I had no idea that Sherry had fallen so far. Maybe I just hadn’t looked at her hard enough.

  Tears filled his eyes for a moment, but he blinked them away. Carin was a hard man. “The detectives let my family and me walk through her hotel room. She was still living a high life. She had cash in her room. I think…” He shook his head, his fingertips pressing together until the tips turned white. “I have to know, Drayson. Was my granddaughter trying to blackmail you? Did she hold something over your head?”

  I leaned forward, meeting his gaze full on. “She didn’t want money, and she didn’t know of any scandals. She showed up unexpectedly after my reelection. She wanted back in my life. It was unlike her, so I put her down gently. I told her that I was seeing someone.”

  Carin gripped the arm of the chair and leaned forward. “I looked into your girl. This Blythe Hemsey. She’s doing good work, but she’s in trouble.”

  Because of your damned granddaughter, I wanted to shout.

  “Sherry leaked false information,” I said instead, keeping my voice under control. “That’s when she asked me to meet her at the park. She was threatening to do worse. I don’t want to speak ill of your granddaughter, but I have the texts to prove it.”

  Nodding, Carin slowly stood. “I’ve asked my grandson to cease his rampage against you. You’re not the kind of man to spill blood to solve a problem. In the meantime, we plan to fully support the detectives in their investigation. My son is already releasing a report in our support of your innocence. I know only too well how this can rock an office, and I don’t want to do that to you.”

  He shook his head, his face a mask of bleak sadness. I stood as well. “Thank you, sir.”

  “My son is also preparing to distance us from the situation if things continue to turn up distasteful things about our granddaughter. It may seem cold, but it’s what we have to do. Make no mistake, if they uncover evidence that you did have a hand in her death, we will bury you, Jack.”

  I believed him. “I understand. I’m sorry for your loss,” I said quietly as I shook his hand. “I’d offer to walk you out, but…”

  He chuckled, but the sound held no amusement. “No worries. I arrived undetected. I’ll leave the same way.”

  Watching him walk away, I swallowed hard. He was a hard reminder of how a political life can interfere with a personal one. Just days after her death, he was prepared to disown his granddaughter. Could I ever be that hard?

  Another voice filtered in down the hall, and I realized that David had arrived. I headed over to his office and found him with his back turned and his voice low. “I’ve got you covered, darling.
Don’t worry.”

  Really? He was in the office flirting with a woman on the phone, today of all days?

  After a second, he chuckled. “Blythe, please tell me that you won’t say that to Jack. I’ll be out on my ass in a heartbeat.”

  Blythe? I’d often heard the term of someone “seeing red,” but I’d never had that very thing happen to me. Until that moment.

  “Say what to Jack?” I asked coldly.

  David’s eyes widened as he whirled around. “Blythe, I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.” Hurriedly, he hung up. “Jack, I—”

  “You’re a piece of work, David,” I ground out. “She’s vulnerable, and you’re fucking flirting with her.”

  To my surprise, David didn’t shrink back or apologize. In fact, he looked at me with fury. “You’re damn right that she’s vulnerable. She’s fucking vulnerable because you left her as bait for the wolves. So yes, I’m flirting with her a little. I’m flirting because she looks like she’s on the verge of crying every second. I’m flirting because she’s out of her mind with worry for you. I’m flirting because she’s desperately trying to learn how to handle the media, so she doesn’t let you down again.”

  Dumbstruck, I stared at him. “That’s why you’re talking to her? She thinks she let me down?”

  “I don’t think I’ve said this before, but you’re a fucking idiot, Jack.” He wrapped his knuckles on the desk, his eyes blazing white hot fury. “You’ve got a lot on your plate today, but you better find the time to make things right with that girl because she’s going to bat for you. She’s not ready for that, but she’s doing it anyway.”

  “I will,” I said hoarsely.

  I would.

  God help me, I didn’t care what my father said. Blythe’s reputation could survive this. I would make sure of it, and I would do it with her by my side.

  Eight

  Blythe

  My stomach rumbled angrily. It wasn’t the first time it had announced its unhappiness in the last hour. It was getting a little embarrassing.

  “Carl,” I looked up from my desk, “how much would it cost me to convince you to get me something to eat? I’m thinking spaghetti. With garlic bread. It sounds good, right? I know you’re in.”

  He didn’t even blink. “No.”

  Ugh. He was a brick wall. “You do realize that I’m not paying you, right?”

  “Uh-huh, Jack is paying me. He doesn’t pay me to get you spaghetti.”

  “Yeah, well, he’s starting to get a smaller say in what happens in my life,” I grumbled before I closed my eyes.

  That wasn’t true. I was angry with him, but I still loved him.

  My stomach growled again in a frustrated reminder that I hadn’t even grabbed breakfast this morning. Rachel only worked a half-day, so she was already gone. If Carl wasn’t going to feed me, I’d have to call it a night and get my own dinner.

  I had a feeling that was part of his plan.

  “All right.” I sighed and sat back. “I guess I can pack it up, but only if you promise to escort me some place where I can get spaghetti. You can guard me while I eat.”

  “I don’t think that I can agree to that either.” He pulled out his phone and texted something.

  “What?” Perplexed, I stared at him. “If you take me home without food, I’ll be forced to eat bread. I don’t even have any more cheese for a cheese sandwich. It’ll just be a bread sandwich.”

  He gave me a mysterious smile. “You’ll still get your spaghetti.”

  “What?” Just then, my phone buzzed, and I stared down at it. After reading the text, I looked up and glared. “Did you just text him and tell him that I was done for the day?”

  Standing, he just shrugged. “Are you unhappy?”

  “I don’t know yet,” I whispered as I stared at Jack’s summons. I was happy that I would get to see him again, but I was more than slightly worried that this was it. He’d been pulling away for the past couple of days. Now, I feared he was going to break up with me officially.

  “Come on.” Carl’s voice was gentle as he motioned for me to stand. “You don’t want to keep me from my needlepoint, do you?”

  I still hadn’t figured the man out. He didn’t seem like he had a sense of humor, but still…needlepoint? Not that I could judge the guy. He looked like someone who could be lethal with a needle.

  “All right.” I didn’t bother texting Jack back. Carl would obviously do that for me. Packing up my things, I left the office in the sports complex and followed the giant out to the parking lot. Once again, I wasn’t allowed to drive. It seemed a little unfair, but I was too nervous to argue with him.

  After he parked outside of Jack’s building, he turned his head and looked at me, eyebrow raised expectantly. What did he want from me?

  My shoulders sagged. “You aren’t going to come up with me, are you?”

  A small smile played on his lips. “No. This is one conversation I don’t need to be a part of. The press can’t get into the private parking garage, so you’ll be fine. I’ll still walk you to the elevator.”

  I had questions. Was he just going to sit in my car while I spoke to Jack? Was he going to go home? Was he driving my car home?

  It was obvious that I was focusing on all the wrong things, but it was easier than focusing on the terrifying things, like what would happen once the elevator reached the top floor.

  The doors opened. “Good luck,” Carl said gently.

  The elevator went straight to Jack’s penthouse. As soon as I stepped out, all of my nerves were replaced with fury. If he thought this was the best way to break up with me, he had another think coming.

  “Blythe…”

  There he was, standing in the kitchen. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. My heart hammered in my chest. God, he looked both amazing and terrible. His handsome face was drawn, and his dark hair was swept haphazardly around his face like he’d been pulling on it. Those hazel eyes, the ones that always drew me in and took my breath away, were filled with pain and anguish.

  “Thank you for seeing me,” he said finally.

  Thank you for seeing me? Thank you for seeing me?

  “No,” I ground out as I tossed my purse on the floor. I wasn’t having it.

  His eyes widened. “No,” he echoed slowly.

  “No. We’re not doing this. You’re not going to stand there all stiff and polite and act like we weren’t screwing our brains out not two days ago. You’re not going to pretend that you didn’t tell me that you loved me. I won’t have it.”

  “Blythe…”

  “I’m not done.” I was just getting started. Pulling the hairband off my wrist, I angrily swept my hair up and tied it back. “First of all, did you really think that this was the best place to break up with me? This was the first place that we made love. Remember that, Jack? Remember what we did right in front of that window while we enjoyed your fucking ridiculous view of the city? So, no. You’re not breaking up with me here. And really? Is that spaghetti and garlic bread I smell in those bags on the counter? What, did Carl tell you that’s what I wanted, and you thought your little break-up speech would go down smoother on a full stomach?”

  He threw up his hands. “Jesus…”

  “Stop interrupting.” Seriously, the man needed to learn some manners. “I’m just commenting on your little set-up here. I haven’t even gotten to the biggest issue. You’re a fucking coward. You’re going to break up with me because things are getting a little tough? You didn’t kill Sherry. No one will be able to prove that you did because you didn’t do it. And yes, as your alibi, I suck. I’m not great with the press. I can get better. I will get better. I realize that it’s suspicious that we’re together and I’m your alibi, but breaking up with me won’t change that. I’m not going to get angry and change my story. I’m not that kind of woman. I wouldn’t do that. I can’t stand the thought that it might have entered your mind…”

  Before I could say another word, I was pressed against the w
all, and Jack was kissing me like his life depended on it. Stunned, I felt all the anger drain from me as his tongue swept in. With a groan, I hooked my arms around his neck and slid my hands in his hair. I knew that I’d missed him, but now that he was in my arms, I realized how empty I’d felt without him.

  “Blythe,” he whispered as he pulled back for just a second and then leaned down to whisper his lips gently over mine. “Christ, I’ve missed you, baby. I’ll never turn my back on you. I couldn’t. I swear.”

  “You won’t?” A little dizzy, I couldn’t release my hold for fear that I would slide into a puddle on the ground. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

  Chuckling, he ran his hands up and down my sides. Heat moved with him and spread throughout my body. “I deserve to be yelled at. I wanted to protect you. Instead, I abandoned you.”

  “I don’t need protecting, Jack.”

  “No.” He grinned and leaned down and rested his forehead against mine. “You can stand all on your own. I need you.”

  Desire burst inside me. Hell, I needed him. “Right now?”

  With a hum, he skimmed his hands over my hips and tugged at the hem of my dress. “I meant every day, but I definitely need you right now. I like the dress.”

  No longer trapped by the confines of the fabric, I widened my legs and shuddered as his hands skimmed up my inner thigh. “You should have seen the one I wore yesterday. It was orange.” His fingers pressed against my panties, and I gasped. “Rachel thought…oh god…she thought the dress would be distracting.”

  His fingers stole beneath the fabric and skimmed over my wet center Pleasure pulsed inside of me. “I don’t know about yesterday’s dress, but this one sure as hell is distracting me. You’re wet, Blythe.”