Corrupted Union(7)
Author: Jill Ramsower

 

I kept my worries to myself and nodded. “You’re probably right.” I smiled weakly, hating the helplessness that filled my veins with lead, weighing down my entire body.

 

You’re overreacting. You don’t even know if someone’s actually up there.

 

I know what I heard.

 

You know what you think you heard.

 

Whose side are you on?

 

I made a mental promise to the wailing phantom that I wouldn’t forget her and tried to carry on with our evening.

 

An hour later, we sat at the dining table with Stetson’s father as we finished eating dinner. I’d hoped Stetson and I would have dinner alone, but that wasn’t to be. Instead, the three of us sat at a table for twelve beneath a crystal chandelier and a blanket of silence.

 

“I’ll be back in Norfolk this week,” Mr. Wellington said, placing his napkin on the table. “I told Hannah not to worry about coming over until Thursday. I wasn’t sure what your plans were.”

 

He didn’t usually tell the housekeeper to stay away when he was gone, which was often. Had something happened between them, and he was giving her time away as an apology? It was a possibility.

 

Stetson took one more sip of wine before setting down his glass. “That works for me. I don’t think I’ll have any need of her while you’re gone.”

 

Lawrence Wellington nodded, his gaze shifting to me. “So, Rowan, are you still planning to graduate in December?”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

“And then you’ll join your father’s campaign staff?”

 

“That’s the plan.”

 

“You’d do well handling the press. Not sure what Evan thinks, but a girl as pretty as you would be an asset in front of the cameras. Everyone loves a pretty face, and when you smile, they’ll forget whatever they meant to ask.”

 

Damn, this was awkward. I wanted to shove his chauvinism up his ass but knew he thought he was relaying a compliment, so I just smiled thinly.

 

“Dad, come on. Ro is way more than a pretty face,” Stetson chided. “One of these days, she’ll be the queen of New York society.”

 

All my gratitude toward my would-be champion soured. The last thing I wanted for myself was to be the ringleader of a bunch of socialite housewives. I knew I’d signed up for that by dating one of the richest men in the city, but I didn’t have to like it.

 

“She’s certainly suited to the role.” Mr. Wellington raised his glass toward me and winked. I suddenly felt the need for a scalding-hot shower. “You two both have class in the morning?”

 

“Yeah,” Stetson answered. “But my first class doesn’t start until nine, so I think I’ll stay here one more night.”

 

I set down my napkin and stared at him. “You’re not going back with me?”

 

“Nah, I’m already here, so I might as well stay another night. You okay going back alone?”

 

“Of course.” Getting around the city at night didn’t scare me. I was more bothered by Stetson’s lack of interest in joining me than anything.

 

“I can always have my driver take you back to campus, if you’d like,” his father offered.

 

I’d rather have walked the entire distance than sit in a car with his creepy driver for half an hour. “That’s not necessary, but thank you.” I forced a smile. “And I actually think I’ll head on out now. I still have some studying to do.”

 

“I’ll walk you out.” Stetson placed his white linen napkin on the table and joined me with his hand at my lower back. “Shoot me a text when you get home,” he said when we reached the front door.

 

“I will.” I grabbed my purse from the entry table and gave him an uncertain smile.

 

Stetson cupped my jaw, angling my face to his, and placed a quick kiss on my lips. I was out the door and two houses down before I realized two things. One, I was headed north to my parents' house rather than south to my apartment, and two, I felt absolutely nothing when Stetson kissed me.

 

Granted, it wasn’t a passionate kiss, but Keir hadn’t kissed me at all, and my insides had swum with feeling.

 

That’s how you wanted it, remember?

 

Yes. This was the path I’d chosen for myself, and I’d done so intentionally. I needed to remember that feelings weren’t supposed to play into the equation.

 

 

 

 

 

My parents lived a short ten-minute walk from the Wellington mansion. When I rounded the corner onto their block, I realized I was scanning the area for a short-haired, tattooed version of Thor lurking in the shadows. Even more unexpected was the disappointment that tugged at my shoulders when I reached the front entrance without any sightings.

 

Had I honestly expected him to be chilling on the sidewalk outside the house? Of course not. That would have been ridiculous. Why would he show up again one day later?

 

I took a deep breath and rang the bell. The security guard on duty answered, greeting me with a smile.

 

“Hello, ma’am. Come on in. I believe your father’s in his office, and last I saw your mother, she was cleaning up in the kitchen.”

 

“Thanks. I’m just popping in to talk to my dad for a minute.” I smiled and made my way upstairs to the room Dad used as his office. The governor’s title came with a home we could have moved into when he was first elected, but my parents had declined. They insisted on staying for the same reasons I couldn’t wait to leave. Too many memories.

 

“Well, isn’t this an honor,” Dad beamed. “Two visits in a row. What did we do to earn such a treat?”

 

I crossed the room to hug him, not entirely sure how to answer the question. “I was over at the Wellingtons with Stetson and thought I’d stop by.”

 

“Works for me. Have you eaten?”

 

“Yeah. We had dinner with his dad.”

 

“How’s Larry doing?” Dad sat on the corner of his desk, motioning for me to take one of the chairs.

 

“That’s actually who I wanted to talk to you about.”

 

His brow furrowed with concern.

 

“Nothing bad, I don’t think. I mean … I heard something strange at his house and wanted to run it by you.”

 

“What did you hear?”