Chapter Thirty
Reagan
“You look happy,” Dana said as I made my way to the counter to order some coffee.
It had been a long day, and I’d spent most of it out of the office in meetings and doing various research for the campaign. I wanted to go back to the office to show Josh what I had come up with, but I decided to quickly pop in to see Dana beforehand. Maybe it was because it was the last week, or just because I was in such a good mood, but I had decided to finally let Dana in on what was happening. I wasn’t sure if I was going to tell her that I had slept with him, but I felt that I needed to at least tell her what was going on.
“Can we talk?” I said as I sat down.
She frowned. “Of course, is everything okay?”
I looked around at the café, surprised but pleased to find that there was barely anyone inside.
“Where is everyone?” I asked.
“They’ll be here. This is always a quiet time of the day for us. But enough about that, what’s going on? You look guilty about something.”
I laughed. “My face always gives it away. I thought I had a really good poker face.”
“You do. But it just doesn’t work with me. You forget that I’m your best friend and that I know you too well.”
I smiled. “That’s true. Which is exactly why I’ve decided to tell you what’s been going on.”
“You’re falling for your boss,” she said, and I looked up in surprise.
“What? How did you know?”
She rolled her eyes. “Uh, earth to Reagan, I’ve been telling you that for ages already, remember? You just would never admit it to me.”
“But you did know.”
“I knew. Of course I knew. I’ve never seen you talk about anyone like that before. And I saw the two of you together. There was obviously something going on. So, does he feel the same about you?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I think he does.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shrugged. “I’m sorry. We both promised not to tell anyone. It wasn’t supposed to happen in the first place, and when it did, we decided to keep things on the down low. Just until the election is over. I suppose it doesn’t really matter, but you know how the media can blow things out of proportion. Just now they wrote this whole article about how Josh was sleeping with a member of his staff.”
“You’re sleeping with him?”
So much for not telling her that part. I smiled guiltily at her. “Uh, can we have that conversation another time? I feel like I need to talk to you about that when it’s just the two of us sitting at your house or mine.”
She smiled. “Oh, trust me, we’re definitely going to have that conversation. You’ve kept me in the dark for far too long. You’re going to have to make up for it by telling me every single detail there is.”
“I’m looking forward to it. I cannot tell you how much it’s been bugging me not saying anything to you. It’s been driving me crazy. I feel so much better now that I’ve told you. Please don’t say anything.”
She rolled her eyes. “Seriously? Of course I won’t say anything to anyone. You’re like a sister to me, Reagan. Our bond has always been strong. I’m glad you told me. And I’m so happy for you. Also, I take back all those horrible things I said about him at the start. He really does seem like a nice guy.”
“He is.”
“And you seem happier than I’ve ever seen you before.”
“I am.”
She chuckled. “You know, Reagan, this is the first time I’ve seen you look this way. He must really be something in bed.”
“Dana!” I said, but I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Oh man, I’m so looking forward to sitting with you next week and finally telling you everything.”
“I’m looking forward to it too. So, is work over for the day? It’s strange to see you here at this time.”
“I’ve been out of the office all day. I went in this morning for a meeting, but otherwise all my meetings have been out. I’m going in soon though because I want to run a few things by Josh.”
“I’m sure you do,” she said and grinned.
“Now this is why I didn’t say anything. I really need to keep this on the down low. It’s very important to me that nobody finds out right now. Just in case. I’ll never forgive myself if I do something to get in the way of the campaign.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Okay, no more teasing. I just couldn’t help myself. I’m so happy for you. I can’t believe you’re going back into work, though. The day is over. Why don’t you just stay here and have some dinner?”
“I wish, but I’m too busy. I think the only thing we’re all going to be doing is working. I’m almost certain I’ll get back to the office and see that everyone is still there. Which, trust me, is very unusual for some of the people in that office. They’re not exactly all workaholics like me.”
“Uh oh,” Dana said suddenly.
“What?”
“Uh, your friend has just walked in.”
“My friend?” I turned around half expecting to see Josh walking through the doors. But it wasn’t Josh. It was Frank, and he was heading right for me. I groaned. Frank was the last person that I felt like talking to at that moment. I had actually liked him until he started pestering me to work for him, and spoken badly about Josh at his own press conference.
“Hi, Frank,” I said in what I hoped was an overly friendly voice. I wasn’t going to get nasty with him, but I wanted him to know that my smiles were also not real.
“Reagan, as usual, it’s good to see you. I walked past and saw you in here and just had to come in and say hello. I notice you haven’t called me yet. I did give you my business card the last time, didn’t I?”
“You did. Thank you very much, but there just has simply been no need to call you.” My voice was extra sweet. My smile extra big. I heard Dana snickering softly nearby.
“Look, I’m going to be blunt here,” he said. As if he hadn’t already been! “I want you on my team. You’ve done wonders for Josh, and that’s the sort of person I want on my side. Come to my side and sway things over to my direction. I promise you one thing; I’ll pay you more money than you would’ve ever dreamed of getting paid. I said I’d pay you twice what Josh is paying. Well, how about we make that three times the amount? Think about all you can do with that money. You won’t regret it. It will literally change your life.”
“I don’t need to change my life, though. I’m perfectly happy as I am.”
“Oh, come on—nobody can turn down money like that. You can buy yourself a big house, a big car, and you can do all of that while having the best job in the world. I promise you now; I’m a good boss. I’ll make sure that all your needs and desires are attended to.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that last sentence, but whether he meant it in a sexual way or not, I still felt sick to my stomach.
“Once again, thank you so much for asking me, Frank. But I have absolutely no desire to join your team. Clearly you’re not nearly as confident in your abilities as you tell me you are. You shouldn’t be this desperate for the votes. Also, I am loyal to my team because I believe in them.”
“You believe in that idiot?” he growled.
I glared at him. It was one thing asking me to work for him; it was another turning against the man that I was slowly falling in love with.
“I believe in Josh,” I replied.
As I said those words, the door swung open, and Josh himself walked through the doors. I was surprised to see him, and even more surprised by the hatred on his face. He was obviously upset to see me with Frank, although there was no way that could know what Frank had been saying to me. I was so confused.
“Ah, I thought I’d find you here. I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” he said.
“Me?” I asked. I wasn’t sure why he looked so angry or why he was talking to me with a tone that seemed unlike the lovable Josh I had grown to love. “What’s wrong, Josh? Did something happen?”
Josh laughed, but it wasn’t the sort of laugh I was used to hearing from him. It was a short, ugly laugh. A laugh that meant he wasn’t laughing at all.
“Did something happen? Let’s just say that all the spies on my team had been removed.”
“Spies? What spies?” What on earth was Josh talking about and why was he looking at me like that? My entire body was trembling.
“Also,” he said as he glared at me some more. “I’d like to inform you that your time on my team is now over.”
“My time is over? What . . . what does that mean? What’s going on?”
Josh threw down the papers that he was holding down onto the table in front of me so hard that I jumped. “I hope you got what you were looking for, Reagan,” he said and stormed off.
I picked up the paper and saw that they were the notes that Mack had sent me about his mother. Of all the ways I wanted Josh to find out, this was not one of them. And the fact that he had just ousted me in front of his opponent was even worse. I felt my heart sink, and for a moment the entire world began to spin around me.
“Are you okay?” Dana asked and snapped me out of my reverie.
I was just about to say something when Frank interrupted.
“Uh oh. Looks like you’ve been caught. Are you sure you don’t want to take me up on that offer now? I have a feeling you need this job now more than ever.”
I looked up sharply at him. “You want me to work for you? Really? Frank, you better step down and let Josh win, or else I’m going to bring everything that you’ve said to me out in public.”
Frank laughed. “Oh yeah? And what about the mess you’re in?” he said and pointed to the paper in my hands. “Sounds like you don’t even trust your own boss.”
He walked out, and I looked toward Dana, tears streaming down my face.
“Oh, Dana, what have I done? I’ve messed everything up. Everything.”
Dana didn’t anything. She walked over to the only couple in the room and politely asked them to leave. She told them that they didn’t have to pay and gave them a bag of muffins to take home with them. Then she called her staff and told her that they were closed for the night and to not mention a word of what they had seen or heard. She promised to pay them double for their cooperation that night. Once they were all out the café, she put the closed sign up and locked the door. Then she walked up to me and took me into her arms.
“Everything is going to be fine, Reagan. I’m not leaving you.”