Page 64 of Treason's Temptation
“Navie doesn’t even like you right now. How the hell will you convince her to cook for my girlfriend?”
“You forgot how good a wingman I am?”
“That was in college, and Navie isn’t easily swayed.”
“Still helped you bag plenty of bitches. Have faith.”
“Good luck getting your girl on board, but we have more important issues.”
The issues Fallon wanted to discuss weren’t important at all. She was just tired of discussing her relationship. After reviewing my upcoming schedule, I rushed to a meeting that should’ve been handled via email.
When I reached the final meeting, I checked my phone, hoping for a message from Navie. There was nothing new in the thread. Only my response to her asking when I would be home the other night. Now I had nothing to distract me from Victor’s smug tone, rallying to shut down the co-op.
“It’s bringing in fresh capital and local ownership. Real partnerships. That money’s already funding a new workforce center on East Monroe and mobile mental health units. We’re building structure and opportunity, not just reacting to symptoms,” Zoe championed.
There were plenty of surprised looks because nobody expected my plan to work, including Victor.
“And how long does that last?” he said smoothly, allowing a pause. “There’s ex-cons, gangsters, and dealers all tied to asingleinvestment pool. What happens when trust runs dry or worse?”
“I’d rather take a calculated risk on people trying to rebuild than playing scared. Pushing people out of their homes to build a golf course they won’t even get to enjoy isn’t a price the city should have to pay.”
Victor stiffened, running out of points on his mental cue cards. He wasn’t worried about the co-op collapsing. He was petrified that it would succeed, making him expendable. The meeting wrapped up, and I left. I wasn’t sticking around to rehash the same shit we just discussed. Especially since Navie and I had an obligation tonight.
My bedroom was silent as we navigated getting ready for the gala like a true married couple. I thought the punishment was over until Navie decided on a last-minute wardrobe change. My lips quivered with the desire to ask why. Instead, she slipped out of my favorite look for a runner-up that she needed help to zip. Navie was too stubborn to ask, but I didn’t have the willpower to let her struggle for long.
“Thank you.” She muttered as I walked up behind her, securing the zipper.
“Welcome.”
Those were the only three words shared before stepping on the elevator. None was said as we walked through the lobby to the car either. Navie’s eyes were glued to her phone as silence third-wheeled on the drive to the venue.
“Why did you switch dresses?” I asked, unable to hold back any longer.
“Undercard can’t look better than the main event. That’s bad for business,” she replied.
Fuck business, I preferred the velvet one-shoulder gown with a high split. I was looking forward to the cut-out sides giving me access to her skin all night. With no public obligations and being at odds, I hadn’t touched Navie in days. She was so close but so fuckin far that days felt like years.
Was Lorenzo to blame for her settling on the champagne spaghetti-strap dress?It looked good, just not as good as the one she took off in my bathroom.
We arrived on the red carpet wearing broad smiles and plenty of affection that shocked me, considering the daggers she shot at my hand before climbing out of the car.
My lips met her ear, standing on the carpet waiting for the line to move, “You’ll never have to dim yourself with the right man. Don’t let it happen again.”
We entered the venue, running into Governor Webster and his wife, which made it easy to check him off my to-do list. His wife complimented Navie’s dress, then whisked her away. Sheusually hated being separated at these events, but tonight she enjoyed it.
“Treason Westbrook,” Winston smiled, parking his feet next to me. “You’re a hard man to catch.”
“We don’t have shit to catch up about.”
“Quite the contrary.”
“Nothing, I’m interested in hearing. Especially with an empty glass in my hand.”
“I think you’ll make a great politician. You have an aura that people will follow blindly, but timing matters. Right now, it’s not on your side, but prove you can be a team player, and after Victor’s term, we’ll fully fund your campaign as his successor. He’ll be on to bigger things, creating the blueprint for you to follow.”
“Follow Victor? Fastest way to end a conversation with me.”
“I can see how that sounds, but Victor understands the bigger picture. That’s something you could stand to learn if you want a lasting career in politics. You have to give to get. That’s how it works.”
