I gaped at Donnie. “You knew of this agreement?”

He nodded. “When they told me, I was all in. Come on. Look at you. You’re gorgeous. If I have to spend the rest of my life with the same woman, you are the perfect candidate.”

“Holy crap,” I muttered, feeling like a used plastic bag.

My mother reached for my hand. “I’m sorry, Charlotte. I just wanted what was best for you. I never thought this would happen. I didn’t know what they were doing to keep our agreements.”

I pulled my hand away from her. “I can’t believe this. First, you want me to live a life I don’t like. Please, respect me. Learn to respect me, to respect who I am and what I like. Only this way we’ll be mother and daughter again. And you can start by sending these two out.” I pointed to Donnie and his father.

“Don’t underestimate me, girl,” Senator Williams said, his voice outraged.

I shook my head at him. “I don’t. I knew certain politicians used all the resources available to get what they want. I never thought you would be one of those. Worse of all, you went too far. I won’t let you or your son treat me like a doll that can be bought and used for whatever you like. I have my own dreams, my own path, and I want distance from both of you.”

My mother looked at them, and for a moment, I thought she wouldn’t do anything. “I lost my husband. I won’t lose my daughter. I’m sorry, Senator Williams, but I need to ask you to leave.”

The man glared at her. “You do know what this means? Our alliance will be compromised. You won’t have my support anymore.”

“And you won’t have mine,” she said. “I’m okay with that.”

Senator Williams punched the table.

“Don’t forget I have this recording,” I said, showing him my phone. “I can send this to the press at any time if you don’t leave us alone.”

With his fists clenched, Senator Williams stood. “You’ll regret this,” he barked. “Let’s go, son.”

With an uncertain frown, Donnie looked at me. “I’m sorry for having hurt you. It wasn’t my intention.” Really? Either way his plan went, I would end up hurt. “I just like you too much and I had to do what I could so I wouldn’t lose you. I hope one day you can forgive me.”

In his dreams.

The men left and I sagged in my chair, feeling as if a thousand-pound boulder had been lifted from my chest.

“Please believe me when I say this, I didn’t know they would go this far,” my mother said. “Though, I still can’t believe Senator Williams and Donnie would do this to us.”

“I know, but I also know that you made this damn agreement with them. You totally ignored me.” I should hate her right now, but she had also been hurt. Her beloved career had been tainted and I had to respect that. I guess we both could sympathize with the situation.

“I’m sorry.” Tears brimmed in her eyes. “Can you forgive me?”

“I’ll need a little time for that.”

“I understand.” She paused before putting on her business hat again. “We still have a big mess to clean up.”

“Well, if you let me help, I think I have an idea about that.”

She patted my hand. “How about you tell me about it over dinner?”

I wasn’t sure that was the best idea. I needed some time away from her. I wanted distance from everything and everyone. I wanted to dive into a bed, hug a fluffy pillow, and sleep for two weeks at least, while my mind healed of everything I had just learned. I had to figure out who I was and what I wanted without anyone’s influences.

I should go and leave the patching-up for some other day, but the hopeful shine in her eyes melted my resolve.

“All right. We can discuss it over dinner,” I said.

My mother squeezed my hand, and then reached for the wine.

Mason

I entered the diner and found David in the same corner booth as two days ago.

“Hey,” he said as I sat across the table from him. “How is work?”

“Good. Had a long meeting this morning about the new bridge project they are trying to snatch.”

“That’s exciting,” he said, looking up from the menu.

True. But having been accepted into an entry engineering job was the only exciting part of my life right now. Classes would start next week and I wasn’t even excited about that. Ever since the big mess with the photos of Charlotte and me two weeks ago, any excitement was gone.

After I had given the recording to Liana, I thought Charlotte would call me and tell me she understood I hadn’t done anything, that she still wanted to be with me. But she didn’t. I called Liana and she said Charlotte needed time.

Time for what? To process the fact that I wasn’t the one to blame?

I sighed. This project could raise my spirits a bit though, and I hoped my company snatched it.

“Are you ordering the usual?” David asked, returning his attention to the menu.

Probably out of pity over my state, David started meeting me for lunch. I guess he just wanted to make sure I wouldn’t become depressed and kill myself. I missed Charlotte; I loved Charlotte. I was dying that she was ignoring me, that this time she needed was taking too long, that maybe the time she needed had become permanent and she didn’t want to talk to me or see me ever again, but I wouldn’t kill myself. David and his paranoia.

“Yes,” I said, checking my phone. No messages, no calls, no emails. Not from Charlotte, at least.

I didn’t know the details, but three days after I gave the recording to Liana, Governor McClain and Senator Williams had an argument during an event, and rumor had it, it was because of Charlotte and Donnie. Two days after that, Charlotte and her mother had a press conference. They explained that a man who worked at the Executive Mansion had snooped through Charlotte’s things and he had been fired. To retaliate, he started following Charlotte and then sent the photos to the press in my name. Of course, the reporters wanted to know who the man was, but the governor said the police were dealing with him now.

Then Charlotte spoke, telling the public about her. She said she loved drawing and roller-skating, that she was applying to art school, though it was probably too late to get in this semester. Reporters asked about me and she said, “I was in love.” As simple as that, and it made my heart beat faster. Right then, I tried calling her. This time, it didn’t even go to the voice mail. It was as if the line had been canceled.

Four days later, Charlotte showed up at a fundraiser with her mother. It seemed the press had forgiven them, especially Charlotte, because being in love explained everything, didn’t it? Well, not to me.

“Earth to Mason.” David snapped his fingers in front of my face.

“Yeah, here. Sorry.”

“Thinking of her again?”

I shrugged. I was saved from saying anything else when the waitress appeared to take our orders.

“So,” David started, and I already knew it wasn’t a good thing. “I have this event on Saturday and I was thinking you could come with me.”

“Event?”

“Yeah. It’s at a museum and it’s probably boring, but there’s a girl who will be there …”

I smiled. “Oh, I see.”

“Yeah. But I didn’t want to be there alone like a lost dog, you know. So, I was thinking, you could come with me, stay for a bit. We can leave soon, or if the stars shine down on me, you can leave alone.” He wiggled his eyebrows and I laughed.

“All right, since I have nothing better to do, I’ll go with you. But be warned, if it’s too damn boring, I’m out.”

David nodded with a triumphant grin. “Deal.”

Charlotte

I fidgeted with the belt over my dress.

Liana slapped my hand. “You’re gonna rip the thing right off.”

“I can’t help it,” I muttered.

My eyes scanned the people walking around the gallery. Well dressed men and women with lots of pocket money. I had asked my mother to keep this quiet, but she insisted on inviting a few good friends—which meant at least a hundred people from the upper class. Whatever. As long as they didn’t behave superior.