Page 43 of Celebrity

“You told him.”

“Yes, Sami. He needed to know what was going on under his nose.”

“And?” I probed, sneaking a quick look at Jacinta, who was wringing her hands together.

No one seemed to notice her agitation at the mention of Decker’s name.

“I’m going to meet with some of my colleagues to handle it my way,” the senator stated.

“Meaning?”

Devin answered, “Decker made an enemy when he went after you to get back at Dad.”

I bet it had less to do with me and more the fact Devin was associated with an alleged scandal of a secret marriage.

“I will make his life a living hell for trying to orchestrate a scandal with one of my children. His son’s arrest will be the least of his worries. I was hoping to let Jacinta run this election her way, but after this, I’m going to use every connection I have to make sure Jaci gets the party nomination.”

I couldn’t believe the reason he was going to openly support Jacinta’s run for Senate was that Decker pissed him off. As a father, I’d expect him to be one of her biggest supporters, but I should have known better. He hadn’t given Tyler an ounce of recognition when he’d run for the United States House of Representatives. He’d said he wanted Tyler to run on his own merit, but then he’d taken all the credit once Tyler won.

Jacinta was her party’s darling and the up-and-coming hopeful for the highest office in the nation. Her popularity was higher than her father’s, and instead of helping his daughter, he’d used her status to benefit his campaign. Richard had so many traits that reminded me of my own father, but I kept those thoughts to myself.

Jacinta adored her father. He was the reason she’d entered politics. She’d tell me he wasn’t the typical conservative. I never had the heart to tell her she viewed him through rose-colored glasses.

“Spencer Miller broke into our house to make money from the pictures Decker hired him to take,” I said. “Miller was planning to double-cross Decker up until his arrest. I had him investigated. A tabloid had offered him six hundred thousand.”

A look passed between Dev and Richard.

“Both Dad and I agree with you,” Dev said. “It was too much of a coincidence that Decker was available to help Miller. There is no way to cover up an incident like yours without long-term planning. That’s way I had Tyler do some digging. Tell her what you found out.”

Tyler stopping pacing and leaned against the back of a recliner in the corner of the room. “I used my contacts to trace what accounts paid for the bail. Decker has had Miller on a ten-thousand-dollar monthly stipend from before the break-in. I believe he made plans starting from the time Dad won Senate Majority Leader. Your marriage is public record. It just wasn’t acknowledged. And if spun correctly, a perfect scandal.”

“I’ve dealt with the manipulation and double-talk of politicians and celebrities over and over again, and now I’ve been a pawn in one of their schemes.”

Jacinta winced at my words, and I cringed inside. I was in a room full of politicians and would become one soon.

“You better get used to it. If Devin is giving up his judicial prospects for a political bid on your part, you’ll have to face the fact that anything and everything about you is fair game,” Richard said.

“Since when is breaking into someone’s house, taking nude pictures of them, and threatening to rape them fair game?” I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to soothe a headache that had flared to life. “If I were a man, this type of tactic would never be considered or tolerated.”

Richard shrugged and then said, “It all comes with the territory.”

I couldn’t believe my violation was something he viewed as par for the course. And I thoughtmyfather was ruthless and manipulative.

I lifted my chin and stared Richard in the eyes. “My question to you is, if this were Jacinta in the same situation, would you feel the same way?”

I didn’t dare glance at Jacinta. I’d see pain etched all over her face. Her father’s answer would seal his fate in her eyes.

“If you can’t handle it, then I suggest you learn to keep a lower profile. This is only the beginning, little girl. Let’s hope you don’t have any scandalous pictures other than you sitting on the floor of a shower. The media will have a field day with pictures of you with a past lover.”

“Dad, watch it,” both Dev and Tyler ordered at the same time.

“Don’t ever speak to her like that again.” Dev moved behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “She’s my wife, and you will show her respect.”

“I’m telling her the truth. Politics is ruthless,” Richard challenged. “She needs to learn. She’s about to enter the big leagues, and her gender doesn’t mean anyone will take it easy on her. I wouldn’t.”

“So, what you’re saying is that you’d hire someone to take compromising pictures of all your opponents, male or female, to win an election. You’d condone it as collateral damage if in the process the victim was assaulted?” My gaze bored into the senator’s.

“I said no such thing. Don’t you dare question my integrity, girl.”

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