Page 57 of Resisting Temptation

“That’s what I’m worried about. Why did he just come out and loan you all that money? Did you ask questions? What are the terms of the agreement?”

“Noah. Please stop worrying. I have it all under control.” I kiss him once more, then I walk out of the room. It’s getting late inthe morning, and I have a truckload of stuff to sort out today. I also don’t want to ruin my happiness of finally being with him by talking about Beckett. It’s one of those things we will need to agree to disagree on, because we will never see eye to eye.

As I reach Beckett’s office in Savannah, I feel a flutter of nervousness in my stomach. It feels like a whirlwind of events has taken place since the last time I was here. I catch the receptionist’s attention, and she gestures for me to take the elevator. I called ahead and warned Beckett I was going to be dropping in this morning. He must have given her the heads up. I make it to the sixth floor and stride out of the elevator with purpose, a small thrill of excitement running through me. I can’t ride one the same again after my steamy time with Noah locked up in one. Of all the things, a fucking broken elevator was what brought us back together, even if it was some massive set-up by him and Emerson. I’ll have to thank her later.

“Miss Whittaker, if you can just take a seat, Mr. Prescott will see you shortly,” the fashionable girl on reception tells me before I even have a chance to say my name. This place is run like a well-oiled machine. I’m not surprised; for all his shortcomings, Beckett is very organized.

I sit with one leg crossed over the other, my body aching deliciously from a night of Noah. I glance around the space to distract myself from the inappropriate slideshow of memories I have playing on repeat in my head. Everything looks so expensive. Glass offices that look out over the park, well-dressed people in their expensive suits and dresses. The place even smells good, vanilla or something. Then I spot Beckett’s office. He’s in there with someone, an older gentleman in a black suit. It looks like they’re in a heated discussion. The man opens thedoor to leave, and the two of them come out into the hall still arguing. Beckett’s face changes when he spies me. “Paisley.” He comes toward me, all smiles, and I stand. “This is Mr. Prescott, my father,” he introduces me, his tone polite but with an edge that tells me he’s having a bad morning.

His father scrutinizes me, then his lips twitch into what I guess you could call a smile. “So this isthePaisley I’ve heard so much about. I understand you’re keeping my boy in line. We might just have to keep you around once he’s won the campaign. No one’s been able to do it before.”

I laugh lightheartedly and shake his hand, not sure what to say. I’m suddenly out of words. Even though he would be in his sixties, he’s tall and imposing, a no-shit look about him. And Beckett’s words come back to me. I know what this asshole did to his kids. The thought makes me feel sick. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Prescott.” I force out a grin.

“I’ll be with you in a second if you want to wait in my office,” Beckett tells me, but he’s not his normal self, he looks rattled.

I take the hint to exit and casually stroll into his office. I’m curious about the intense conversation he was having with his father. Especially after what Noah told me this morning. Could his father really be involved with the Rebel Raiders somehow? And even with what my father was doing, I can’t see it. He’s been a pillar of society around here for years. Very well respected. His company is worth billions; I’m sure he would have no need to mar his reputation by getting involved with the most notorious gang around. But I wouldn’t have thought my father would either, and I was dead wrong about that.

Taking a seat at his desk, Beckett joins me. Looking tense, he runs his fingers through his hair.

“Is everything alright?” I ask, worried about him.

“Yeah, fine,” he lies. It’s obvious it’s not, but I don’t want to push it if he’s not up to talking about it. I’m surprised headmitted to me what his father was doing to him and Hamilton when they were kids. For a guy like Beckett to open up like that, he must really trust me. He will talk to me if he needs to.

“Sorry to interrupt your morning, but we have a giant problem. And I don’t know how we stop it from getting out, but when it does, I’m scared it will affect your campaign,” I tell Beckett with sickness in the pit of my stomach. I’ve felt like this since Noah told me yesterday. All night I tried to come up with a solution that would stop this coming back on Beckett, but I can’t think of any. First my daddy pledges a huge sum of cash toward his campaign, and now we find out he’s been involved in all sorts of criminal activity, including working for a gang. Could it get any worse?

With curiosity, he scans me from head to toe. “You went home with Noah last night,” he says, a bitterness to his tone I was expecting. It prickles my skin. I don’t like letting people down, and the way he’s looking at me, I know I have.

I examine him, feeling unsure about what words to choose. He was already stressed, and now I’m here to make it so much worse. “That’s not what I’m talking about. But that could be a problem as well,” I admit, the guilt eating at me.

“What’s the issue you’re talking about, then?”

“My father. Apparently, he was messed up with some biker gang, the Rebel Raiders. Have you heard about them? I’m sure Prescott Media would know their names. I don’t know what to do, Beckett. If this gets out, and I’m sure it’s about to now that he’s been arrested, what will it mean for you? I’m so sorry. If you need me to quit to save your campaign, I will, and I’ll find someone perfect to replace me. Me staying could be detrimental to you.”

His face remains unchanged, like this isn’t new information to him, and that thought makes me feel even more uneasy. Can I trust him? Or is Noah right, and he’s keeping stuff from me?“You’re not quitting. We can work this out. I’ll get a hold of Hamilton, make sure no stories run about your father.”

“It’s that simple?” I ask, confused. “I thought you didn’t have any influence at the moment?”

There’s a menacing smirk on his face. “Don’t believe everything you hear. I stepped down from the company for the meantime, but I still have the same influence. Hamilton will sort this all out for us. Don’t you worry about a thing.” He dismisses it as if it’s insignificant, but he should be raging right about now. This could literally end his chances. Why is he so calm about it?

“Okay,” I say, unsure. “I’m glad, I was so worried it was going to be me who messed this all up for you.”

“Not a chance, kitten. And that’s why you understand you need to keep your distance from Noah while we wrap up the campaign, right? It’s a massive conflict of interest for you, hopping into bed with the opposition. You were supposed to cause a scene, not go home with him,” he says, a little more seriously.

I feel like a child being told off. And I’m sure he has every right to be acting that way, but it gets my hackles up. “Maybe I need to quit. I really don’t want to cause a problem for you,” I say, with more of an edge to my tone.

His eyes meet mine. “You’re not quitting. I’m relying on you to get me through all this, Paisley. Think about how strong you’ve become working on this campaign for me. You’re not the girl who started the journey off with me. I’m so delighted with your performance. Now let’s finish what we started together. I’m sure if there really is something between you and Noah, he will wait for you at the end of all this. You can be his shoulder to cry on when we beat him.” He offers a cheeky wink.

I swallow the lump in my throat, not so sure about all of this anymore. Last night, I convinced myself that I could do this, just keep pretending, but how am I supposed to stay objective whenwe’re competing against the man I’m in love with? I don’t want to be the one to rip his dreams away from him. Not really. This is so messy, and it’s all my fault. I wanted revenge, but I’ve landed myself in an impossible situation. I believe in Beckett; he’s been so damn good to me, why shouldn’t I? But I love Noah, and the truth is he would make an amazing mayor. He would also get the chance to make all his father’s wrongs right, and I know how important that is to him.

Beckett’s hand comes to my shoulder, and I flinch. I hadn’t realized he was standing. “Didn’t mean to scare you, I was just going to say we need to get going.”

I turn to face him. “Yes, of course.”

“Are we still on the same page? I believe in you, Paisley. I know you can help me win. Just like I knew you would be a great business owner. And you are because I’m always right.” He grins at me, all cocky.

I can’t help but laugh at his confidence. “You’re so conceited,” I tease, but he knows it’s all in good fun. “Thank you for giving me a chance. Most people underestimate me.”

“They’re idiots. I know potential when I see it.”

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