Page 38 of Courting Gossip (Courting)
Chapter Six
‘It’s over, Samuel,’ Brody said as he closed the door of the senator’s office. It had been days now since the break-in at the Emissary Hotel – days that seemed like weeks since he’d taken in a tempting and forever surprising roommate. It was time to get things moving again. They needed to lead the press along on their merry way and get the senator back to the campaign trail. ‘The contract you have with Genieve and Luxxor has been nullified.’
Gunderson took the news about as well as expected. His cheeks reddened, and he pounded his hand against his desk. ‘That can’t be. I’m supposed to have a say in it.’
‘Genieve had hers.’ Brody faced off with the man, his feet spread wide and his arms folded. He was not moving on this.
‘You told me you needed that contract for safe-keeping.’ Gunderson pointed at him with one of those strange politician hand gestures that was half-fist, half-thumb. ‘This is your doing, Haynes.’
‘It is,’ Brody said, accepting full responsibility. He wanted the pair split apart and Gunderson’s attention back on his polling numbers – which were doing rather well since the incident. ‘I spoke to her, and she saw the light. She asked that the contract be ended, and you know that Nina is not going to let you overrule that.’
Gunderson muttered and walked over to look out the window of his office. The Russell Senate office building was on the corner of Constitution and Delaware Avenues, offering a prime view of the Capitol grounds. The lights had come on along the walkways, and the statues and fountains glowed.
‘She doesn’t like being in the spotlight,’ Brody said quietly. It was the truth. ‘She doesn’t want her life opened up to the scrutiny of your world – and you don’t want to do that to her.’
‘No,’ the senator agreed. He pulled at his cufflinks. ‘You’re right. Now’s not a good time to have a contract like that floating around.’
He cocked his head as he looked at his reflection in the window. ‘But maybe there’s a middle ground we could find…’
Brody’s fingers began tapping against his elbow. ‘No.’
‘She and I could have one-off dates.’
‘And you’d pay her by the hour?’ he asked icily.
The senator’s face fell in the reflection. ‘You’re right. Luxxor doesn’t work in that manner.’
Damn straight they didn’t. Say what you would about the company, but Nina ran a high-class operation. Her escorts were just that – escorts for events – unless a client wanted a longer term, more personal arrangement. Genieve had been engaged with the senator exclusively for a while.
Until now.
There wasn’t going to be a middle ground. Gunderson would have to go cold turkey.
‘You’re not going to see her again,’ Brody said flatly. ‘And tonight’s event would be a good time to start letting the press know that.’
The senator smoothed his silver hair and nodded. ‘Their very tactics were what led to the breakup.’
‘Precisely,’ Brody said. ‘Put the fault back on TMI News and the break-in.’
And keep those poll numbers rising. The public viewed the senator as a victim right now, but they liked fighters even more.
‘They’re the reason for my broken heart,’ the man continued.
Brody rolled his eyes and turned to get the senator’s tuxedo jacket. ‘That’s right, play it up.’
The senator was deep in thought as he slid his arms into the sleeves of the formal attire. He smoothed the lapels, but his nod soon morphed back into a shake of his head. ‘I need to talk to her, Brody. I can’t let it end this way.’
Brody braced his hands on the desk and dropped his head. As easily as Samuel wandered into trouble, he was usually very good at following instructions to find his way out. Only this time trouble came with big green eyes and a killer body. He was having problems seeing the exit sign.
Brody could understand, if not sympathise. He lifted his head and pinned the man with a look. ‘Just to say goodbye.’
‘Yes.’ The bobble-head came back.
‘You won’t whine or make her regret her decision.’
‘No.’ The older man stood up straighter, the tuxedo lending him a more confident air. ‘You’re right, this is for the best. It will help our story.’
A story that was now getting more basis in truth.
