Page 77 of Since Always

"Oh, for God's sake. She is not a child. She is 23 years old."

"So, are you like in love with this kid? Or, what's the play here?"

"My relationship with Cassidy is none of your fucking business."

"Be that as it may, I think I'm going to let our constituents decide whether she is a child. I don't have to blackmail you, Owen. This will destroy you without me lifting a finger."

"You are leaking these," I say matter-of-factly, already knowing it to be true.

"Of course I am. I'm giving you the head's-up for Cassidy, mostly, and her family. Sloane Tech is important for the Colorado economy. I'll wait until tomorrow morning, so they have the day to prepare."

"Your humanitarian award is on the way. So, this is it, huh? You put this picture out, you condemn me publicly, and then you sit back and watch the witch-hunt take me down. That's how you want this to end?"

"What did you think was going to happen, Owen? You two would live happily ever-after? Everyone would swoon over what a good-looking couple you make?"

"Are we done here, Mark? Does this make us even?"

He laughs, but it sounds hollow. Empty.

"You don't have a sister, Owen. We will never, ever be even."

"Right," I say, my voice full of venom. "Got it. Well, if you'll excuse me, I need to go prepare Cass for what you've done to her."

"Oh, make no mistake. This is what you've done to her. Not me."

I hang up the phone then, not able to stand hearing his voice for another second. My pulse pounds in my neck and chest. Is this what a heart attack feels like? I throw the phone down and grip the edge of the counter, trying to pull myself together and catch my breath. Finally, years and years of training to work under pressure take hold, and I draw myself up.

I am now in crisis mode. I text the photos to Lisa, my chief of staff, with a quick explanation of what is happening, an apology, and a promise I will call her as soon as I talk to Cassidy.

She responds so quickly I'm not even sure how she could have read the entire thing yet.

Lisa: Okay.

Next, I pour two cups of coffee and head back upstairs, and into the room, now bright with sunshine. Cassidy has clearly gotten up and pulled back the drapes. She is coming out of the bathroom, wrapped in my robe, when I walk in.

"Took you long enough. I am dying for coffee. You should see some of the pictures people posted last night. So many things were going on that I didn't even know about."

I smile and hand her the cup. "It was a great night."

She purrs as she takes her first sip. "It ended well. Oh! And I forgot to tell you something important. I got a little distracted, but, when I talked to my mom, I told her about the job opportunity and that I thought I was going to go for it."

"What?" I say, momentarily distracted by her news. "That's amazing, Cass. What'd she say?"

We sit back on the bed, both of us leaning against the tufted headboard.

"She was really supportive, actually. I mean, I had already told her about, well, us, so I think she was still reeling. But she was supportive, for sure. She said my dad would have been thrilled I had found the thing that made me feel alive like Sloane did for him."

"That's incredible. And I agree completely. So, does this mean you're gonna do it?"

"I think so, yeah."

She looks so happy that it absolutely destroys me to say what I have to say next. "That's really great, gorgeous. Um. Hey, I have something to tell you about last night too."

"Hmm?"

"So, I just got a call from Mark Reynolds."

"Oh? He actually calls you?"

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