Page 109 of Not the Plan

“Seems strange to do that then make a change unless he wanted to look like an asshole.”

Isadora had to concede.

“Maybe he just made an honest mistake,” he said.

“I guess that’s possible.”

“Focus on that, please. Glenna will be really disappointed if things don’t work out between you two.” He winked at her and left.

He knew? This whole time?

After giving herself a few minutes to calm down, she returned to her office to follow Daniel’s orders. The chimes began ringing, calling the members back to the floor after their recess for lunch.Leaving the office while they were in session felt like slipping into an alternate reality, but she was going to do as Daniel asked. She’d log into the internal channel from her laptop and listen in while she prepared for the next day.Could be fun in my pajamas. She paused a moment.Okay, maybe RJ’s right, I work too much.

Grabbing her phones to slide them into her pocket, she took a quick glance at both screens. Nothing on her work phone, but her personal phone indicated five messages from Karim. She took a deep breath through her nose, scrunching her lips together.Julian knows about my tattoo. I’m not reading these, answering and giving him the chance to learn anything else.She jammed the phone in her purse, messages unread. Walking around her desk to grab a couple of files from Daniel’s office, a worry cropped up. What if he sent something she’d regret not knowing about? She returned to her chair and checked. Three of the messages weren’t much help, but two set off her antennae. Two more senators had gone to Julian’s office, wanting him to delete something, or talking about privacy violations, getting attorneys involved.What could be so serious that one senator threatens another with legal action?The idea brought back the shivers from earlier in the day. She scrolled down to the last message and her heart broke.

Karim:I need you to know that I would never try to deceive you, never try to hide something from you. If I were in your shoes, I’d be wary right now, especially of anything I have to say. So instead, I’ll show you. I’ll keep telling you what’s going on, even things I think are unimportant, and even if Julian finds out and I lose my job. I don’t care. I’m on Team Isadora and your happiness is what matters most to me. If I can’t make you happy by being with you, I’ll do my best to help you be happy reaching your goals. You don’t have to reply.

Don’t start crying again, don’t start,she told herself. Go get the files from Daniel’s office and get out of here.

She locked the legislative office door and went into his separate majority office. She and her tears were at a stalemate, so shehurried to reach his desk. Daniel always left the door ajar; she put it back the same way once she was inside. His desk looked tidy, but that was a disguise. The file folders in his drawer were never in order because Daniel had a bad habit of refiling things in front. Back hurting, Isadora got down on her knees to flip through, trying to keep her thoughts at bay. But they didn’t want to stay put….“Never try to hide something from you…” Why did he ask me to stay when Julian called if he had something to hide?She paused and reconsidered. It made no sense for him to ask her to stay and hold her as close as he did, knowing how loud Julian talks, if he had something to hide.Is Daniel right? Did he just make a mistake? Or is RJ right? Could Karim have been set up?A familiar voice reached her from the hallway.

“…waiting for my insurance bill to pass,” Peter said.

Why isn’t he on the floor? They’re in session right now. There shouldn’t be any members up here.There was a pause; he was on the phone.

“No, the amendment is on the bill. Once it passes, we can call for a vote on the senate officers twenty-four hours later,” he said.

He was silent a moment, then cleared his throat before continuing.

“Oh, it’ll pass, no problem. It’s guaranteed with our intel.”

Intel?Isadora crouched all the way down behind Daniel’s desk.

“Yeah, we were concerned about drawing too much attention after Julian’s aide—”

After Julian’s aide, what? Dammit Peter. You always say too much, why are you stopping now?

“Exactly,” Peter said. “Then I’ll call for a vote and Julian becomes pro tem.”

Isadora was afraid her heart was going to shoot out of her chest.

“React? He won’t be able to do anything but sit there and take it. I cannot wait. It’ll be so good to see him get taken down a few notches. Him and that haughty bitch. She is going to have alotof groveling—”

This haughty bitch will do no such thing.Isadora tried to take a silentdeep breath. All she wanted to do was launch herself into the hallway and tear Peter to pieces. That would be satisfying but wouldn’t get her the result she needed.

“Oh? Okay. I’ll keep you in the loop.” His voice disappeared, though the swish of his pant legs remained audible as he walked down the hall. Her calves ached, but she waited before leaving the office. She slipped her phone out of her pocket to text Daniel.

Isadora:Can you come back to the office?

Daniel:Not the best time. You’re still here?

Isadora:Peter and Julian have something on the others. To force a vote on Julian as pro tem.

Daniel:You sure?

Isadora:Positive. Let me look at some things. Text me when you can leave the Floor?

Daniel:K

---