Page 116 of Executive Decision

“Why are you so sure?—”

“Because no man in his right mind babysits his ex’s kid unless he himself wants them. You always have. You always loved me, brother, and took such good care of me. You deserve to have that for yourself. And Daphne wants the same. Don’t let it pass before you get too old to actually enjoy it!”

She stood to leave. “Now, I am supposed to meet someone for a beer.”

I wrapped her in a hug.

“You are so wise sometimes, kid. Where did you get it from?”

“Sometimes, I learn something from my elders,” Chloe laughed. “I’m not always so wild.”

I looked at the street below, then back to my laptop. Today had been about speech preparation, denial, and endlessly scrolling social media in hopes the tide would turn and they’d announce Chandler Walker had been arrested on revenge porn charges. Instead, slightly blurred, grainy photos of Daphne met my gaze on every page.

Thatwasn’tDaphne. I longed to run to Daphne but feared Jo’s retribution. Every press conference or appearance came back to Daphne—my “dirty little secret” in the worlds of theDaily Tribune. The press swarmed her doorstep. I settled for a phone call, unsure if she’d answer.

She did, sounding sleepy. “Hello?”

Relieved, I choked, “Hi, Daph.”

“I’m okay, alright?”

“Okay,” I agreed. “And… I’m sorry for anything?—”

“You did nothing wrong, Cal. And I think… I don’t even know.”

I leaned back on the couch, feeling the need to tell her everything but unable to utter much.

“The words I said to the press aren’t the truth. Daphne, I didn’t want to add more fuel to the fire.”

“That and you have a speech coming up?—”

“I don’t care about that.”

“Lying isn’t your thing. It’s okay to want to give a keynote.”

“Daphne, when the dust settles, Iwillhave you,” I said. “I will show you that I’m the one person who never leaves.”

“Even if it kills all your chances for a second run?”

“I still think that’s hyperbole. Chloe says the truth will come out. I must trust her. She’s the media-savvy one. And I know this wasn’t your doing. I know you don’t deserve any of this, baby.”

She wavered from tears, “I just wanted us to be happy. I’m so sorry.”

“We will be. I promise you.”

“Uh… I must go away for awhile. Don’t be alarmed. Thank you for checking on me while giving me space. I… I have a plan, and it might be my last chance to clear my name, Cal.”

“Okay, Daphne. What do you need from me?”

“Just your undying support and all the good vibes,” she sniffled. “I will call you when I can.”

40THE SCHEME

Daphne

I didn’t seea swift trip to London to convince an MP to roll on his buddy in my future, but it was my best hope. If stage one was rallying my family, reclaiming my family name was stage two. Todd Deyoung—the man desperate to serve as Home Secretary—was hungry for power and one of Chandler’s best cronies. If anyone knew where the bodies were buried but longed to steal Chandler’s sunshine, it was Todd.

The timeline was tight. I’d arrive Friday morning, meet with Chandler’s frenemy, and return to the States within hours. While I’d be jet-lagged the day I made my save-my ass board presentation, this was the only way forward. Lanie rode with me, despite her frequent refrain that politics “bored her to tears”.

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