Page 22 of Wicked Scandal

I keep my lips sealed, though, because it’s a battle I don’t want to fight, and one I won’t win either.

Instead, I opt for a more positive conversation. “How has the campaign planning been going?” I ask, lending him the opportunity to talk about himself.

“Marvelous. Couldn't be better. You know, I thought it would be stressful having an opponent this term, but it turns out, it’s enlightening. It will be all the more satisfying when I win.”

“Absolutely,” I agree with him. “You’re a brilliant mayor, Troy. I have no doubt you’ll come out on top.” Lie. Troy has done nothing for this town but make the rich richer and the poor poorer. Then he takes those said poor people and forces them to move to the neighboring town where violence and gangs cause many issues.

He calls it “cleaning up the city” whereas everyone else calls it prejudice.

“We,” he corrects me. “We will come out on top. I couldn’t do this without your support, Catherine. I know I don’t say it enough, but I’m extremely grateful for you.”

His words touch a spot in my heart that I rarely feel. A lonely corner that begs for adoration and praise. This is the man I fell in love with years ago. This is the man who saved me.

“That means a lot to me,” I tell him truthfully. It’s moments like these that I mourn the loss of the man I once loved. It hurts so much and it leaves me with so many questions that have me second-guessing my feelings and our marriage.

Maybe Troy really does love me and he’s just overly stressed with work. He wasn’t abusive until after we moved here. Maybe something happened that he isn't ready to talk about. Maybe something changed him.

I can help him. I can change him. I can love him.

Maybe it really is my fault and I deserve to feel his wrath on occasion because it puts me in my place. Troy grounds me.

I can do better. I can be better. I can be worthy of his love.

He squeezes my hands, his eyes looking tenderly into mine. “I love you, Catherine. So much.”

“I love you, too,” I whisper, and in this moment, right now, I think maybe I do love him.

He releases my hands and unravels his silverware. “I know you do.”

The waitress returns with our food, placing our dishes directly in front of us.

“Thank you, Hillary,” Troy says as he fluffs a napkin and rests it on his lap. “This looks delicious, doesn’t it, Catherine?”

He eyes me, and I clear my throat. “Most definitely. Thank you so much,” I tell her as I mirror Troy and rest my napkin in my lap.

Troy watches as Hillary walks away, his eyes on her ass. Once she’s out of sight, he returns his attention to me. It makes me want to call him out, but he is trying, so I want to try, too. Anything to make this lunch peaceful and not a total shitshow.

He takes a bite of his salad and I do the same. I used to save the salad for last in my meals. There is something about ending the meal with a belly full of veggies that made me feel good. However, Troy helpfully informed me that that’s not proper, so I just do what I can to mimic him in hopes that he will stay calm.

When Troy looks up at me, he smiles. Victory in his gaze. It’s candid and I can’t help but smile back.

“I had a call with Dean Hathaway, the police chief today,” he says, the change of topic throwing me off a bit, but I go with it.

“Oh?” I say, waiting for him to elaborate.

I remember Beth mentioning he was on a call with the police chief when I arrived at the city hall.

“Let’s just say, my win is the bag. Dean is faxing over some info on one of those bratty Cromwell kids and let’s just say, boy do I have some dirt on him. Not to mention, the adored district attorney.” He makes a face and my brows pinch slightly.

Oh no. I remember hearing about some trouble Rome got himself into, but I’m not sure what he could mean about the district attorney. Everyone loves Celia Cromwell and she is practically a saint.

Troy continues, “Once I threaten to expose his son and his wife, I guarantee Grant will be dropping out of the race.”

“That good, huh?” I ask, digging for more information. As much as I want Troy to win and save me from having to deal with who he becomes over a loss, I also don’t want Wilder’s family thrown under the bus if it can be helped.

“Good?” His tone shoots up. “It’s great. Celia Cromwell, Grant’s wife, is the district attorney and she worked the case that had her stepson’s charges thrown out. Now if that isn’t a conflict of interest, I’m not sure what is.”

This is bad. This is very bad for Grant, Celia, and Rome. I can’t allow Troy to do this. I’m not sure how conflicting it is, but blackmail is not the way to win an election. At least, not in my eyes. I’m not sure how other politicians deal with this sort of stuff, but it’s wrong.

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