Page 12 of Hot Momosa

Dahlia

On a good day,it took approximately fifteen minutes to drive from the Marchionnis’ Garden District mansion to my place in Marigny. Unfortunately, it was anything but a good day. I needed to contact my father before the photos of me and Leo hit the internet. He’d have a coronary no matter how he found out, but I wanted him to hear it from me.

I’d dealt with reporters most of my life. It came with the territory when growing up the daughter of a prominent politician. However, the paparazzi hadn’t started shoving cameras in my face until my father announced his run for the White House. Since then, I could barely walk out my front door without unflattering pictures ending up on the internet.

I should have known better than to kiss Leo. No place was safe from the freaking media.

I glanced between Stuart and my phone. He’d worked security for the Marchionnis for years, but I wasn’t sure I could trust him. With my luck, he’d report everything I said back to Leo, or worse, Evelyn.

Stuart fiddled with the GPS. “It looks like there’s an accident on Canal, and the side streets are jammed. Could be a while.”

“I need to call my father, but…” I frowned trying to think of a diplomatic way to explain my situation.

Stuart nodded. “You’re worried about your privacy?”

“Yes.”

“I won’t repeat anything I overhear to the Marchionnis. I learned that lesson the hard way.” He frowned without taking his eyes off the road.

I’d heard something about him reporting Marco’s personal business to Evelyn, but it couldn’t have been too bad if he still worked for the Marchionnis. Still, I needed to watch what I said.

I glanced at the clock and counted backward to the moment the flashes had gone off. Almost two hours had passed. Long enough for the photographers to find buyers for the juicy pictures.

“Thank you.” Gathering my courage, I dialed my father’s personal number.

“Dahlia, I was just about to call you.” His voice sounded smooth as honey and almost as sweet. Too sweet. He wasn’t alone. “Hang on for a minute, darlin’. There’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“Sure.” I turned and stared at a couple walking hand-in-hand down the sidewalk. He leaned in to kiss her cheek, and she laughed.

Were Leo and I ever like that? So carefree?

A rustling sound came over the phone, followed by the thud of a door closing.

I braced myself for the disappointment in my dad’s voice.

“Dahlia.” Robert Becker, my father’s right-hand man for as long as I could remember, made a tsking sound. “Would you care to explain to me how you let this happen?”

The fact he had my dad’s phone didn’t surprise me. I’d grown up with two fathers—the one responsible for creating me and the one who managed his affairs. Nothing got past Robert. He’d run background checks on my friends and their parents. He’d hired image consultants to dress me. Hell, he’d personally gone out and bought feminine hygiene products the first time I’d gotten my period.

“I didn’t see them. It was careless, but I have an idea of how to fix this.” Actually, Leo had the idea, but I wasn’t about to tell Robert that.

He huffed out a humorless laugh. “Careless? You allowed yourself to be photographed with a known mobster.”

“Maybe it’s time we were honest about me and Leo.” I didn’t dare mention Leo’s relationship to Gunnar in front of Stuart. “College sweethearts reuniting.”

“The devil will open a snow cone shop in hell before that happens. No. Your father and I are already brainstorming ideas to fix this.” He lowered his voice. “Do you realize the potential scandal you’ve caused? You were told to stay away from those people.”

“It was Maggie and Gabe’s son’s first birthday party.” My throat tightened. “I didn’t mean for this to happen, but now that it has, the truth is bound to come out. Isn’t it better if we get in front of it?”

“We are getting in front of it, and whatever story we tell the press, it will not involve admitting you spread your legs for that piece of trash.”

My blood ran cold. Robert was like family, but at the end of the day, he was my father’s employee. He’d crossed the line. “How dare you speak to me like that. Put my dad on the phone.”

“The governor is busy.” I could all but hear his eyes shifting back and forth. He had to know he’d gone too far.

“Then this conversation is over.”

Robert sucked in a breath. “Forgive me. It’s been a long day. Hold on while he finishes his other call.”

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