Page 77 of Cruel Dominion

I piled some more berries on my plate. “Sure, fire away.”

“The guy in the black suit driving the Mercedes with the blacked-out windows,” he said, trailing off. I sipped my coffee.

“That’s not a question.”

“Is that one of the perks of being the governor’s daughter?” he asked.

“I guess. He’s not my personal driver, though. He drives my dad and mother around too sometimes.”

“Of course, a driver just for you would be way too extravagant. Sharing one with your family is so much more economical.”

I laughed. “Touché. I don’t make the rules. I just live there. Truly, I’d rather get around alone, but it’s not up to me. Security, you know?”

“I’m surprised he’s that worried about threats. Governor Vaughn’s pretty well-liked.”

By some people.

But I knew James was right, as shocking as it was.

None of Hudson’s misdeeds had seen the light of day and his competition was comparatively worse. He had curated his life so carefully that even his approval rating and credit score didn’t ever dare to disappoint him.

Instead of explaining that my driver was really just a babysitter, Dad’s little way of controlling me after the disappearing act I pulled six years ago, I said, “Did he have your vote the last time he ran?”

James laughed.

“I was out of state then, so I didn’t get the chance to, but if he was running again, he’d have it for sure.”

Maybe James wasn’t perfect after all.

“He’s gonna try for the presidency eventually so maybe you can make good on that promise then,” I said, hating how the words left my mouth so easily. The perfect response from the perfect daughter of the perfect future POTUS.

“Oh really?”

“Yeah. Career politician. He doesn’t really have the skills to do anything else.”

“Not like Anna,” Summer said proudly. “I can’t wait to see the photos from this morning. I wish you’d show me some of the ones you took in Malawi.”

I looked down at my hands. I still hadn’t told Summer the truth. Part of me was scared she’d be pissed at me for lying to her, but another part was afraid she’d judge me. Where I came from, women didn’t grow up to work at cocktail lounges.

They studied medicine or law or journalism with very little variation and when the time came, they shelved that achievement for their real life goal: trophy wife.

The worst part was, I wanted to show Summer my photos. She’d been so supportive of me since I got back. I wished I could pull out my portfolio and show her everything.

Wishing got me nowhere.

You know what? Fuck it.

Why couldn’t I show her? Why couldn’t she know the truth?

Olivia Wu knew. Jaden Austen knew. Why stop there?

I suspected Summer and James could handle the truth and keep it to themselves.

If they didn’t?

Oopsie. Guess Daddy wouldn’t be able to use me as his precious doll anymore.

“Okay, so don’t hate me,” I said cautiously, earning myself a wrinkled look from Summer. “But I can’t show you any photos from Malawi…because I never went.”

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