Page 16 of The Senator's Wife

“Great. If you’re able, I’d like you to start as soon as possible, and get up to speed on what she’ll need you to do as far as the foundation work goes. Her surgery is a week from today. Assuming of course that Mrs. Montgomery agrees, after she’s conducted the final interview.”

“Thank you, Senator. I’ll do my very best to help Mrs. Montgomery.”

“Wonderful. I’ll call the agency to let them know we’re close to a decision,” he said, rising. “Could you come by the house to meet Mrs. Montgomery in the morning? Say, eight o’clock?”

“Yes. Eight is fine,” Athena said, getting up from the chair. “I look forward to meeting her.”

Whit spoke into the intercom. “Linda, we’re finished, but I promised Ms. Karras a tour of the building. Would you ask Rolandto show her around?” Without waiting for a reply, he came around the desk to where she stood and handed her a card. “Here’s my mobile number and our address. Enjoy your tour, and we’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, leading her to the door. Athena was perfect, he thought.

- 12 -

ATHENA

After the tour, Athena descended the grand marble staircase to the Rotunda level and exited the building. The interview had gone well, she thought, and her nervousness had evaporated quickly. The senator was charming, and oozed charisma from every pore. He was even better-looking in person than the handsome and vibrant image he projected in photographs. Thick dark hair, warm brown eyes, a straight nose, perfect white teeth, and dimples combined in classic good looks. He could easily be a model or an actor—which, she supposed, being a politician, in a way he was.

She pulled her phone out, tapped Clint’s name, and raised it to her ear as she walked to the Union Station Metro.

“Hey.” His deep voice came over the line. “How’d it go?”

“It went well. We’re one step closer. The senator is smooth. And he’s whip smart. I can see why he is where he is.”

“Well, we knew that, didn’t we? Where are you headed now?”

“Back to my place,” Athena said, stepping onto the down escalator.

“Okay. I’ll be over later.”

“All right. Gotta go. I’m at the station.”

Three minutes later, she took a seat on the Red Line to her Woodley Park stop, going over in her mind what the senator had told her about the job. Athena would be with Sloane pretty much 24/7, and she’d have access to the foundation offices as well. There would also be that slice of time during Sloane’s surgery, when Athena would be in the house alone. This was all good. Now the only thing standing between Athena and the position was the interview with Sloane, but the more she’d learned about the woman, the moreconfident she felt. They had a lot in common, actually, despite the fact that Sloane came from ridiculous money, and Athena’s background was humble.

For a start, they’d both experienced the death of a husband. And in an old magazine interview that Athena had read, Sloane talked about her honeymoon in Greece with her first husband, and how much she loved the country where their daughter, Emmy, was conceived. Athena’s Greek heritage would definitely be a plus in her favor. She planned to build on that and establish a connection that would make Sloane trust and confide in her.

She rose as the train approached her stop and headed to the doors. As she walked from the platform to the escalators, she heard the senator’s words in her head:She hasn’t had a flare in almost two years now, but since lupus can involve the central nervous system, her condition can turn urgent very quickly, and her organs can be affected. She’s always been worried about it attacking her brain.

As well she should, Athena thought.

- 13 -

SLOANE

Sloane reviewed Athena’s résumé over breakfast and was impressed with her background. She jotted a few notes, put down her pen, and looked at her watch when she heard approaching footsteps. She was right on time. Good.

“Miss Karras is here to see you, Mrs. Montgomery,” Doris, the housekeeper, said.

“Thank you, Doris.” Sloane rose as Athena entered and tried her best to keep her expression impassive as she took in the woman’s stunning looks. Sloane felt a moment of anxiety at the thought of this gorgeous young woman living under the same roof with her husband. She immediately regretted the thought. What kind of person was she to judge someone on her looks? Athena’s beauty was irrelevant.

She reached out to shake her hand, noticing Athena’s short nails with approval. Sloane disliked overly long fingernails, an image of Madelyn’s blood-red claws forming in her head. “So nice to meet you. Please come sit down.” Sloane took the file and led Athena to the two club chairs in front of the window. As they sat across from each other, Sloane sensed the woman’s nervousness and decided to start by trying to put her at ease.

“I love the name Athena. The goddess of wisdom.” Sloane paused before continuing. “And war. I see that your parents were born in Greece.”

“Yes. My father was born in Athens, and my mother is from the island of Crete.”

“Crete, yes. I’ve been to Greece but haven’t visited Crete.”

Athena nodded. “My family is from Chania on the northwestcoast of the island—it’s a paradise. The harbor with its waterfront cafés has touches of Venice and Egypt. The old lighthouse dates back to the fourteenth century. It’s an intoxicating place.”

“You make it sound enticing enough to plan a trip.” Sloane shifted in the chair, feeling the discomfort in her hip grow stronger. “I’ll be glad to get this surgery over with. I think my husband told you that I’m looking for help not only postsurgery, but also with administrative duties.”

---