Page 115 of A Secret and a Lie
My gaze lingers on that last picture, seeing the version of the man I was messaging with back then for the first time. I swallow hard as my heart rate hitches. Forcing myself to look away, I muse, “You need an updated family photo.”
He reaches over and slides a drawer open, producing a picture and sliding it across the desk with a smile on his face. “I had Edward order me a frame, but it hasn’t arrived yet.
Lifting the photograph, I find that it’s the two of us, outside the courthouse steps. My hand is on his cheek, my wedding band glittering in the sunlight with our lips locked.We look…in love.
“Where did you get this?” I ask, my words barely audible.
“Paid the tabloid photographer for it. I can print another one, if you want to take that one with you.”
I smile, slipping it into my purse without a second thought.
Once we finish our lunch and tidy up, he asks, “Are you all set for your meeting on Saturday? You know, I still think you should let me come with you.”
Standing, I round his desk, my lips curled into a salacious expression. “We’ve already discussed this.”
I hoist myself onto his desk, my legs dangling between his spread knees as I face him.
“Outing York to that man is a huge risk. They technically work together, Gen.”
“Feel free to continue to talk about this,” I purr as I spread my legs until it’s obscene, placing my heels on the armrests of his chair, shutting down his line of questioning. “But could you do it with your head between my legs?”
His pupils dilate, and I know I’ve got him where I want him. “It’s cute that you think you’re in charge.”
“You should remind me who’s boss.”
He chuckles, shaking his head, but leans forward, nonetheless.
Genevieve
The news of Henry’s body being pulled from the Potomac has been all over the news for the last couple of days, every outlet speculating on his murder and the fact that there aren’t any leads on a suspect. What I haven’t been able to figure out is why Percy York hasn’t outed Henry’s ties to Kazakhstan. It can’t be because he didn’t want to sully the reputation of a dead man. A man willing to extort someone isn’t concerned with their honor.
Which has led us me to deduce that York is avoiding the mention of Kazakhstan to allow the conflict there to die down, so no one notices thathe’sstill in their pocket until it’s too late. But by then, war will have been declared, innocent lives will have been lost, and Percy York can be as outspoken about the conflict as he likes, and no one will notice that he was taking money to ensure that things escalated.
Dropping into the vacant chair, I smile. “Thanks for meeting me in person.”
He nods, his kind brown eyes sparkling. He looks different than he does in my playroom, and it has nothing to do with the fact that he’s fully clothed. The powerful, polished aura that radiates from him whenever he’s on television emanates from him now like a glowing vapor.
I didn’t want to do this at my office, but now that I’m sitting across from Elliott Leplee, I regret that, even if there’s a chance myoffice is bugged. Although, Marcus has assured me that he’s removed any and all bugs the FBI left behind after Ford disclosed to him the location of those. I tend to believe him since no one has slapped cuffs around my wrists for killing Henry.
A waitress appears to take our drink order. The moment she’s gone, I pull the paper from my purse and slide it across the table. His eyes scan the page, a shrewdness pinching his eyebrows.
When his gaze hits mine again, he shakes his head. “Why did you bring this to me?”
“This isn’t just a scandal, it’streason.” Sure, I’m a criminal, too, but this is different.
Percy York made an unfortunate enemy in me, and it’s a silver lining to stop someone that’s scamming the citizens from multiple countries into awarthat will bankroll him for life.
He sighs. “I don’t disagree, but I think you underestimate my reach, Allison.” Lowering his voice an octave, he adds, “He’s myboss.”
The waitress reappears, delivering a ginger tea for me and a black coffee for Elliott. When she’s gone once more, I tell him, “You’refriendswith the president. You have political capital, others don’t.”
“I’ll try,” he says, lifting the coffee cup to his lips. “But Percy York is still in charge of the Justice Department. It won’t be easy taking down the person tasked with prosecution.”
“Thank you, Elliott,” I tell him as we get to our feet, a smile on my lips.
He nods, slipping his phone back into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. “My deputy director’s been notified.”
I fall in step with him as we make our way to the door, his hand finding my back. It’s an intimate gesture, but not one that makes me uncomfortable, given our…relationship.
