Page 121 of Not the Plan

“There’s just one thing,” Karim said. “I don’t think we can delete the videos. There’s some sort of formatting that prevents transfer of the videos. I bet it prevents them from being deleted too.”

That put a wrench in Isadora’s plans. If the videos couldn’t bedeleted, the situation probably couldn’t be handled in-house. Daria spoke up.

“Would the police want them as evidence? As much as I’d like to have those videos wiped off the face of the earth, can we do that?”

“Karim, you’re our resident lawyer,” Daniel said. “What’s your take?”

Focused on Daniel, Isadora hadn’t realized that Karim was watching her until she looked at him and caught him glancing. He cleared his throat and answered Daniel’s question. Then Isadora noticed he hadn’t shaved. What had he said before? He didn’t shave because she’d said she’d be sad to see it go. She’d run away from him, turned her back, but…Had he intentionally kept his appearance the way she liked it?

“…what we’ll do then,” Daniel said. He stood. Isadora blinked. Karim and Daria were also on their feet. She shot to hers too quickly, her chair thudding against the wall behind her. Daniel raised an eyebrow but said nothing as he led their guests to the outer office door.

“Thank you again, Daria,” Daniel said, shaking her hand. “I doubt it will be a problem, you taking a couple days off while this explodes, but if your boss gives you any trouble, let me know?”

“Thanks, Senator,” she said, slipping into the hallway.

“And we’ll see you at nine thirty?” Daniel asked Karim, offering his hand.

“Yes, sir,” Karim said. “He was so excited about today, he’ll be in the office on time. Might take a strong nudge to get him to come to yours, but he’ll be eager to get his drive back.”

Isadora followed Karim’s nod toward her assistant’s desk. She’d forgotten that she’d asked him to bring the drive and had no idea when he’d put it there.

My God. I am messed up. Can I make it through today?

—

“I don’t respond well to threats,” Julian growled.

“But you expected everyone else to?” Isadora asked. Shehadn’t planned on it, but she’d taken over the showdown. She caught Daniel’s lip dance out of the corner of her eye. “And no one is threatening you. Out of courtesy, we’re giving you the chance to do the right thing and tell your colleagues you will no longer blackmail them.”

“Cute,Isadora,” Julian said. He turned to Daniel. “I’m here for my drive. Karim said you have it.”

“I do,” Daniel said.

“And let me guess how you got it,” Julian said, looking Isadora up and down. “Sent your little spy to seduce my new aide?”

Karim jerked straight in his seat, but Isadora shot him a glare and shook her head.

“Funny,” she said, clicking Daniel’s laptop awake. “That you would accuse Daniel of taking a page from your book.”

Julian eyed her but didn’t say anything.

Daniel leaned against his desk, his hands in his pockets.

“Julian, last chance,” he said.

“This is pitiful, Daniel,” Julian said. “So scared of losing the presidency that you set up this fake—”

“I don’t want to do this anymore.” Daria’s voice wavered, but the sound was strong from the speakers on Daniel’s bookshelf.

The color drained from Julian’s face.

“Daria,” Julian’s voice came from the speakers. “We had a deal. What’s a couple more times? Is it more money? Fine. Two hundred for a blowjob, five for the whole thing. Or, I’ll make sure everyone finds out just how helpful you’ve been to me.”

Isadora paused the video and folded her hands at the edge of Daniel’s desk.

“You were saying?” she asked.

“What the fuck?” Julian huffed. “I…” He raised his chin. “That’s not me.”

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