“You know I’ve known him most of my life.” That alone should be reason enough for me to run away.
“All the more reason, then. You’re already friends. He’s one of the most beautiful men I’ve ever seen. And together…” Fiona pauses dramatically. “You two are sizzling hot.”
I consider expanding on the complexity of the situation, but keep my mouth shut. It would make me sound too pathetic to explain I’ve wanted him most of my life, but I gave him my virginity and he dumped me.
“I’m sure you have some stories,” Fiona prods after a moment.
If she only knew. My call waiting begins to sound, and I recognize the caller. “I should take this. It’s my mom. Do you want to meet later today?”
“Let’s have drinks tonight. How about Acquerello at six? Greg’s supposed to have an offer for you today.”
“He leaves by six, but he’ll put off the call until the last minute. The man hates confrontation, which means he’s a terrible managing partner.”
“Good to know. Let’s meet at five thirty.”
“I’m glad you’re working with me and not against me.”
“Always,” Fiona says.
I call my mom back.
“I saw the news in the paper,” she says in greeting. “What is going on? Why didn’t you tell me yesterday?”
“My firm owed me a lot of money, and they thought the best way not to pay me and keep it for themselves would be to let me go.”
“That’s terrible. But I know you’ll land on your feet. It’s just a job, right? You’ll find a new one. I also read that Walker and you were cozy together yesterday. He called you his girlfriend.”
Since when is she so optimistic? I smell a rat. “Mom, don’t believe everything you read,” I warn.
“Oh baby, that man has been in love with you since you both started school. He cried to his mother that he wanted to attend public school with you. He held your hand, and he was the only one who could console you when your papa was killed.”
“I had forgotten that,” I whisper. “But Mamma, he’s not my boyfriend. He went out with me last night because I wanted to be a bigger threat to my old firm.”
“I feel it in my bones that you two are going to get married,” she singsongs.
There’s no use fighting with her about it. “I’m free for lunch today. Would you like to join me? But only if you promise not to talk about Walker.”
“I can’t. I’m getting my hair done. And I promise you will be a topic of conversation at the salon.”
Great. A bunch of old Italian women gossiping about my love life. How little they know.
Chapter 6
Walker
My phone rings mid-morning at the office, and it’s a number from Sacramento.
“Walker Clifton,” I announce as I answer.
“Can you hold for Governor Henry Darlington?”
“Of course.”
I set the timer on my watch. He always makes you wait three minutes. It’s an irritant at best—some kind of power play.
I stare beyond my desk and out the window. If I can just convince Marcella to join me in Whistler, I think I can get her on board with the rest of my plan, though I know her mother will be the hardest to manage. I forget what it’s like to have parents whose feelings you consider.
My parents were never around much growing up. My father was on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and is credited with bringing the Giants stadium into the city. He worked on that for over two decades. He didn’t accomplish much else while in office except sleeping with a bunch of women around town. Rumor has it I have two half-siblings out there to show for it.
When Marcella and I were young and getting serious, my dad once caught me sneaking into her room. He brought me into his study and told me Marcella was fun to play with, but to make sure I always wore a condom and pulled out before I came, just in case she was trying to trap me.
“Marcella is the help, and Cliftons don’t get the help pregnant.”
My dad’s an asshole.
That wasn’t why I broke it off with Marcella, but it was part of the reason. I knew my father would go out of his way to make her feel less than what she was, and she was a brilliant star. I didn’t want him to burn her out. Also, I didn’t trust my dad. I didn’t think he’d seduce her. But I figured he’d do something else, and I couldn’t risk losing Nonna Peterson and her family. They were the only ones that loved me.
At three minutes, I’m still waiting for the governor, and I’m almost ready to hang up at five minutes when he finally comes on the phone.
“Walker, thanks so much for waiting. Linc is here with me, and we’re going through some of my transition materials. I understand from Jenna, Christina, Nicolette, and Mimi that you’ve not called them.”
“No, I’ve been seeing a woman off and on who I’ve known my whole life. I’m talking to her about making it official.”
“Would that be Marci Peterson? She was just fired for lying on her timesheets. She’s probably not a good choice for you.”
“I believe those charges are false. She’s smart, beautiful, honest, and adored by all that meet her. She’d make an excellent First Lady of California.”
“I don’t think you’ve thought this through,” Linc interjects. “If her firm pursues this, it could take attention away from you, and you’d be linked to a liar and a cheat.”
They’re up to something. “Every member of her firm, minus the partners, joined her for drinks last night and begged her to take them with her. She’s hired Fiona McPhee to negotiate this. I think she’ll be a perfect complement to me. She’s not on board yet, but we’ll be talking about it this next week. I’m taking her away—”
“We need you here. Where are you going?”
“I have plans with some friends to go skiing for the week. I won’t be out of touch, and if anything is urgent, I can take my plane back.”
“Tahoe is beautiful this time of year,” the governor says.
He’s fishing for where I’m going, but I’m not going to share. I don’t want them to know anything more about this. “Tahoe is quite beautiful this time of year,” I agree. “And they have a great start to their base.”
“We’d like you to consider one of the women in the folder I gave you,” the governor says. “Those women will come back absolutely clean and are loyal to our party.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I assure them. “I should have an answer for you after I return.”
I hang up and feel like I need to take a shower. I don’t understand why they’re so intent on these women. And given that they’ve highlighted the four who align most with my personal proclivities, I can’t help but feel set up.
I look around at the mess on my desk and my mostly wasted morning. You wouldn’t know that today I have three cases requiring my attention. My mind keeps drifting to last night and Marcella. She was so sexy. I’d hoped she’d invite me up to her place. It’s been a long time, and I’d love to see how she’s blossomed into the confident woman I saw address the group. She doesn’t know I’ve snuck into courtrooms where she was presenting her cases. Outwardly, I’ve tried to avoid her, but she has an incredible legal mind.