Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
What the hell is his problem?
I acknowledged a few members of my team with a nod and took a seat beside Savanna. We hadn’t worked together since New York, back when I’d first met Will. Last year, we combined our resources and worked together on a story. The attention we garnered had brought us both to Washington, D.C.
“We need to talk, Mrs. Roman,” Savanna whispered into my ear.
I turned my head to see the smirk on her lips. “Shut up.”
“I can’t believe you married your booty call.”
I shook my head.
“Okay, people,” Mark said as he stood at the head of the table with his arms crossed over his suit-clad chest. “What do you have for me?”
Once a week, we had to pitch new story ideas to our boss. I wasn’t sure I wanted to tell him about what I saw in the lobby with Will. Everyone on our team was cutthroat, and even though political scandals weren’t uncommon in DC, I was hesitant to share this one. The last good idea I pitched went to Zane Tucker, Mark’s golden boy. Mark ripped the rug right out from under me in the middle of a meeting, acting as if I’d never presented the story.
Mark went around the table, adding his input to the seven people before me. Some people he dismissed, while others were told to pursue their leads. When he got to me, I debated whether to tell him about Ted Fairchild. What if he gave away another one of my stories to his boys’ club?
I sucked down the fear and went for it. “I’m working on a lead,” I told Mark. “Possible political scandal.”
He propped his dress shoe up on the chair beside him and leaned forward. “Let’s hear it.”
“Ted Fairchild. He’s running for—”
“Yes, we’re well aware,” Mark cut in.
“Did you know he likes the company of high-end call girls?”
Mark craned his head with interest. “Do you have proof?”
I nodded. “I spotted him this morning with a woman who lives in my building. She’s a prostitute.”
“You know this for sure?”
“I do.”
“This could be huge.” Mark’s devious grin stretched up to his dark irises. “Chase it down. See where this takes you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He nodded. “Good work.”
I let out a breath of relief. This story could catapult my career into the spotlight.
Savanna patted me on the back. “Girl, meet me for lunch. Seems we have a lot more than Romeo to chat about.”
Chapter Twenty
CLARKE
I sat in the car with Savanna, shoveling a wrapped burrito into my mouth. She picked at a salad with a plastic fork and stared down at her phone, typing a message with her free hand.
I pointed a finger at her salad. “You gonna eat that?”
She glanced up from her phone. “Yeah. Just trying to get more info from my source. He’s hiding something from me.”
“Is he reliable?”
“He was until last week. Something has changed. Someone got to him. I don’t know if I can trust what he’s telling me.”
She shoved her phone into her bag and took a bite of her salad. “So what’s with the shotgun wedding in Vegas?” Savanna asked between bites. “I thought you hated him.”
I rolled my shoulders against the seat. “It’s complicated with Will.”
“I never thought you’d see him after that night at the club. Leave it to you to turn a one-night stand into a three-year stand. This marriage is bullshit, right?”
I shook my head. “No, it’s real.”
I hated lying to one of my few real friends, but both of our careers were on the line. Will was one mistake from getting traded to another team. And who would believe anything I had to say if they found out I lied to protect Will? I’d lose all credibility as a reporter. So I had to sell the shit out of our fake romance.
“Why now? I thought you stopped talking to him after you moved from Philly.”
“Honestly, we were drunk. We didn’t plan it. But I don’t regret marrying him.”
Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “Really? You once told me you would never get married again. And that you couldn’t stand the sight of him. After you found him at that hotel bar with that woman, it devastated you.”
The memory stung a little, but I pushed my emotions to the side. She needed to believe my marriage was real.
“I can change my mind.”
“Yeah.” She laughed. “I never thought you would. You were so adamant after the divorce about never settling down again.”
“We’re meeting with The Gossip Queen to talk about our marriage. She’s doing an exclusive on us. Does it get any more real than that?”
Her eyes and mouth widened.
“This changes everything,” she said with a mouthful of food.
“How so?”
“I won’t have my wing woman anymore.”
I chuckled. “Not that I was much of one before I got married. You know I hate going to bars and clubs.”