Page 49 of Dirty Secret

CHAPTER 17

Heidi

"There's my perfect daughter." My father was all smiles with his arms wide as I maneuvered past the Washington elite. They swarmed around a multitude of tables decorated with white tablecloths and glass vases filled with yellow flowers.

My father held court in the center of the room—the best place to keep an eye on everyone.

It's all for show, though. An act to fool the big influencers and donors that Senator White was a loving father. "Is that a new fashionable look? Wearing wet hair for a night out on the town?" My father pointed to my updo that had frayed and dampened from the kitchen plumbing problem.

Sliding into the seat next to him, I tried to explain, "No, there's a leak in the kitchen. I was helping Max—"

"Oh, yes, the plumber." My dad's lips thinned as his eyes slid to Attorney General Fitzwilliam, who was sitting on the other side of him. "Don't tell me you brought the plumber? After what he did to his poor wife."

"Ex-wife. And she's anything but poor," I said finding it difficult to keep the irritation out of my voice.

Ever since I met Max, it has become harder and harder to tolerate my father's treatment.

"Excuse me, Senator, but I see someone I need to speak with." Attorney General Fitzwilliam stood and made his way toward the door.

That's when I saw the reporter. His dark eyes scanned the room. The attorney general walked up to him and they began to chat.

"What would the attorney general want with a lowly journalist?" I mumble but realized too late that my father heard me.

He swiveled uncomfortably in his seat to set his sights on the man capturing the attorney general attention. "How do you know that man's a reporter?" Even though he didn't turn back around, I could feel my dad's focus on me.

This was the moment of truth. Should I do what I usually do when confronted by my dad and lie and pretend that I knew nothing? I could say I overheard someone speaking with the guy and he mentioned working for the Washington Tribune.

Or, should I be the real me?

"He asked me about my marriage."

In my head, I sounded like a lioness chastising the lion, but in reality, I spoke slightly above a whisper.

My dad turned back to face me. "He knows about that? Heidi, what did you do?"

For the first time in my life, my body didn't shrink as my father's voice grew louder. His face reddened, but I wasn't that little girl who spilled her juice on the Vice President's rug at a dinner party. I wasn't that little girl who cried as her father announced how ashamed he was of me.

I was a woman with a man who loved her for who she was, not for what he wanted to mold her into.

"I didn't do anything. The reporter already knew about it, Dad."

Wiping his hand over his face, my father groaned, "I can't believe my daughter would make such a mistake as to marry a stripper. I thought I buried that story. The owner of the club and your ex-husband got enough money to stay quiet for decades. It seems you can't keep away from dirty men, Heidi. I thought for sure when I contacted Gerald Willis to find any dirt on Max, you'd run from him for good. But I guess slumming it is your thing." He rubbed his temples. "How are you to make a good political match being with these men, and now you're going to school for baking? No politician marries a baker. They'll eat their dishes but never be seen publicly with them. It's time you grew up, Heidi."

I knew how unladylike I appeared with my mouth hanging wide open, but my father's words were disgusting. As terrible as my father had treated me in the past, he never verbalized his actions. Hearing it out loud did something to me. He was a master at making me feel like a scolded child, causing me to hide. As if I deserved his wrath.

But his words were the shot of caffeine with a side of empowerment that I needed. I was awakened from my manipulated slumber.

I stood. "Thanks, Dad, I needed that. You're right. I need to grow up."

"Where are you going? I'm not done talking to you, Heidi."

"Don't you know? I'm taking your advice. What was it you said back in May when I begged you to help me, which you used as an opportunity to take advantage of my vulnerable situation? Oh, that's right . . . You told me how I was never good under pressure. Well, now is a great time for me to work on that, Dad. I'm walking away instead of making a scene."

"I never used you, Heidi." My father tried his best to laugh but it was obviously forced.

"I was lost for so long. I was a daughter who needed a loving father to help her through life. But I got you, instead. I reached out to you so many times, but you would only ever lend a hand when you could gain something from it. Here's the thing, Dad, I'm not lost anymore."

I turned, and after a few steps, I noticed Attorney General Fitzwilliam and a few men in suits move toward us with eyes set on my father.

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