Page 63 of Hidden Gem
As if on cue, her phone rang on the kitchen counter. A blocked number. Marnie set down the bowl she’d used for mixing the eggs and wiped her hands.
“I’ll take this upstairs,” she told Jason, who responded with a faint nod. There was a hint of disappointment in his eyes. Maybe she should have been as open as he’d been. If it had been Tanya or Shasa, she could have done the same. But this blocked number... she had a bad feeling, one that was confirmed as soon as she accepted the call.
“Marnie?” Kathleen’s voice brought with it a familiar chill.
Marnie bristled. “Yes.”
“I’m very disappointed.”
“Why? What happened?”
Kathleen cleared her throat. “Reporters are at my door, asking questions about my health. Do you think that’s fair? Is this what wanted, to take down another woman?”
“No! I mean—”
“I thought we had an understanding”
Marnie rubbed her burning hot neck. What had she done? “I’m sorry. It’s not like that—”
“Did you get my chocolates, Marnie?”
The thinly veiled accusation in Kathleen’s voice sparked the small flame in Marnie’s chest. This is what Jason had talked about. She couldn’t let herself be manipulated. She drew a breath, summoning all of her resolve. “I don’t owe you anything.”
Kathleen sounded taken aback. “That’s not what I said.”
“And why would you hide your health condition?” Marnie pressed on. “You won’t get the help you need, and it will come out sooner or later anyway. Secrets don’t stay secret!”
“No, they don’t, Marnie.” There was a chilling edge to her voice.
“What do you mean?”
“I can tell you’re not doing this on your own. You’re under Jason’s spell. It’s very understandable. He’s a clever guy. But you know you’re not helping his career, right?”
“Why?” Marnie’s voice faltered, and she hated the panic that strangled her throat.
“Well. Secrets don’t stay secret. You and Jason. A 39-year-old divorcee and the New Zealand’s rising political star. I’ll find out everything there is to find out about you, and when the time is right, that story will hit national news. I already found the perfect picture to go with it.”
Her phone pinged and she knew Kathleen had sent her something. She took the phone off her ear and saw the horrible photo from the community house website. Oh, God. Not that one. Next to Jason’s polished headshot, she’d look ten years older, like a deranged con woman who’d bedazzled him for millions of dollars.
Marnie took a deep breath. That fire in her belly, whatever was left of it, she needed it now. She wouldn’t go down like this. She wouldn’t take Jason down with her. “Jason has nothing to do with this and I’m not in touch with him.”
“Are you really expecting me to believe that? I saw a video of Jason and a woman who looked awfully lot like you.”
“What can I tell you? It wasn’t me and you won’t find any evidence to support that story. I don’t want to get mixed up with politicians. But if you start releasing rumours about Jason and me, I will have no choice but to go to the media and give an actual statement about what I witnessed in that bathroom, and how your memory failed last time we spoke on the phone. I’m sure they’d be very interested, especially as there seems to be another source already leaking similar stories.”
Kathleen’s voice betrayed her uncertainty. “Okay, Marnie. I can see you’re very determined lady. There’s no need to go that far.”
“Good.”
“If you say you’re not in this with Jason, I want to believe you. If it turns out you’re lying, I’ve got my story ready to go. There are consequences, Marnie.”
Kathleen ended the call and Marnie slumped on the bed, nausea welling inside. Oh, God. She was really going to be sick. She rushed into the en-suite and kneeled over the toilet bowl. Two painful gags brought up a little stomach acid. She hadn’t eaten anything yet. Leaning on the cool edge of the toilet seat, she went through the phone conversation. No. There was no way around it. She had to get out of Jason’s life. Otherwise, she’d destroy his career. She’d destroy those dreams she’d tried so hard to help him achieve.
