Page 127 of Pandora's Pleasure
“In what respect?”
“It’s all in there.”
“Make a deal with Galante.” I threw the folder of potential staff back on the desk. “Once you’re in the White House give him some extra access for his channel.”
He tapped the folder I’d just handed back. “Break it off with Pandora.”
“What are you talking about?”But I knew.
“That folder contains prospective girlfriends.”
“What the fuck, Dad? No, you’re not doing that to me again.” I flicked the file his way. “Fuck off.”
“A scandal like this…”
I pushed to my feet. “I’m not calling it off.”
“We’ve discussed this with her parents. They’re going to explain it to Pandora.”
“You don’t get to make that decision for us.”
His fist thumped the desk. “We’ve come too far to have our chances ruined now.”
“I’ll find another way.”
“Your Fairfield Project. How much do you want it?”
The air crackled with tension; his threat weaving around a punishing promise. The truth of what he’d done—and what could be undone—reflected in those dark irises.
“What are you saying?” I asked softly.
“Family comes first.”
How could it be worth it? To gain the highest office but lose your soul.
“We can’t be seen as weak, son.”
“I know that.”
“Maybe construction will resume on Fairfield.” he said with the calmness of a sociopath. “If you do the right thing.”
The right thing…
What was this? Blackmail? Yes, that’s exactly what this man was doing…to his eldest son…to the boy who’d grown into a man feeling nothing but admiration for his father.
Until now.
My mouth went dry and I couldn’t form the words to respond to his abhorrent offer.
“You have until the end of the day.” He shooed me away. “Send in Theo.”
Fetch Theo yourself.
You’re not the President yet.
I walked out of his office, my gut twisted and wrenched, fearing they had already gotten to Pandora.
Had he forgotten his key? Or maybe because of the downpour Damien didn’t have time to dig for it, I thought, listening to the insistent rapping. I rushed to the front door to let him in.
