Chapter 17
Vic looked at her reflection in the mirror. The purple dress sparked the blond highlights in her hair and the green in her hazel eyes. She smoothed out the dress. It wasn’tnormallyone she would wear to a political cocktail party because it hugged her curves and stopped at mid-thigh. But her uncle had called and asked her to wear something that made her stand out. This dress had the distinct ability to fit the bill while making her look fabulous. The fact that Ryker was driving them was just a bonus. He’d see her in the dress and want her, and she would have theabsolutepleasure of ignoring him.
She let out a long breath and touched up her makeup. Wearing this dress would bring about her uncle’s ire, even though he asked her to make a splash with her attire. He would say it wasn’t appropriate, but she was just about done jumping through Austin Davis’s hoops. Time was winding down. She only had to survive the next few weeks, and shewas done. Maybe if her uncle hadn’t been so dismissive of what she’d been through, only to be so thoroughly shaken by the man in his bathroom, she wouldn’t feel this way, but she did. The underlying anger at him andatthe potentially lethal circumstances was still there. Lessened, somewhat, but still there. Vic knew she needed to deal with it in a far healthier manner than she was doing, but at the moment, this was what she could do.
Her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen. Her ride was here.They’d sent Tony to pick her up and she’d meet Austin at the party. Perfect.Thenitwould be too late to tell her to change. She grinned to herself as she slung a wrap around her shoulders. Who knew revenge could be this sweet?
Forty minutes later, she walked into one of the smaller ballrooms at the Jasmine Door in downtown D.C. She’d always liked this hotel. Whowouldn’t? The five-star rating didn’t do it justice. The floors were Calcutta marble and the furniture and decor had been featured in all the magazines, industry and fashion alike. It didn’t hurt that Jameson Drake owned it and he had to be one of the sexiest men ever to walk the face of the earth.
She let out a small sigh as she handed her wrap over at the coat check, pasted a neutral smileon her face, and then ventured into the crowd. Within seconds, she saw Cal Wallingford. He was a few inches taller than her, and his blond hair was graying at the temples. She guessed he had to be in his mid-fiftiesbuthe looked at least a decade younger. His lean physique was probably courtesy of all the swimming he did. Everyone knew about his morning routine. He was widowed, if she remembered correctly, and had no kids. She was sure his dating card was full. He must have felt her gaze because he turned and looked directly at her, offering her a smile. Then he ran his gaze over her.
She approached.“Mr. Wallingford, I can’t thank you enough for your help with the…other situation,”she said in a low voice.
“Ms. Carlyle, it was my pleasure. Sometimesweall need a little help seeing the truth.”He gave her a wink, and then his face clouded over.“I did hear about your mishap. It must have been terrifying. I am so sorry that happened to you.”
Such a benign descriptor of what had happened to her. Is that what the fashionable peoplecalleddrive-by shootings these days? Especially when someone had lost their life in the mishap? Sheesh. “Thank you. It was scary, but I’mokay.”She gave him arealsmile this time.
“You lookabsolutelyradiant this evening. I am so glad to see you’re doing well.If there’s everanything I can do to help youout, please let me know.I think youcould have a bright future in Washington if you want to.”
She blinked. But she was saved from a response by someone claiming Wallingford’s attention. She continued her path through the crowd toward the bar and took a glass of champagne fromlineof dozens waiting tobe consumed. Turning, she surveyed the room. It was surprising to see so many of Washington’s elite in one room at this point in the season. Most should be off vacationing. Rumor had it, though, thatthere were big things comingdown the pike, and no one wanted to be out of touch and miss anything. At least, that’s what her uncle had said about a month ago.
She pulled her phone out of her purse and glanced at the screen.There were four names on the list her uncle had sentherz;Jefferson Wright, Senator from Ohio, Dave Bixby, Congressman from Iowa, and Congressman Philip Harris.She hadno ideaif her uncle had ever met with him and sorted everything out.She certainly hoped so.She hadnointentions of speaking to the manunlessshe knew the answer to that questionbefore hand.
The last name on her list was Daisy Montague, secretary to the Speaker of the House.He wanted herin the loopabout what happened so she could keep the Speaker informed.
Vic stowed her phone in her purse and took another look around the room. Dave Bixby and Tina Wright were in the corner talking with two other people who looked vaguely familiarbutshe couldn’t place them. When they were free,shewould approach each one individually. She located Philip Harris in the cluster of people around her uncle. So, they must have sorted it out then because Harris was smiling now.
She searched for Daisy Montague and finally saw the other womanmaking her waytoward the hallway with the restrooms.Her blonde hair was securedin a chic bun. Her dangly earrings glittered in the dramatic lighting, and the sequins on her black dress sparkled as she moved.
Vic immediately pursued the other woman. A little bonding over fixing their lipstickandthat would be another name off her list. Daisy disappeared into the Ladies, and Vic entered about thirty seconds later. The other woman was in a stall, so Vic pulled out her lipstick and dawdled as she ran the wine-colored tube over her lips.No one else was in the bathroom, so thesound of sniffingreached Vic’s earsimmediately.Daisy was crying? Oh God. Did she stayorshould she go? The stall door opened before she could decide, so she quickly tucked her lipstick away and started washing her hands.
She hazarded a quick look in the mirror and met Daisy’s gaze.The other woman’s eyes were red, and her demeanor was moredeflatedballoonversusthe sparkly woman who’d entered the restroom right before her.She looked older than her years. Who didn’t when their face was all puffy? No amount of makeup could hide that kind of unhappiness.
“Are youokay?”Vic immediately frowned.“Sorry.Obviously,you’re notokay. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Don’t fall in love.”Daisy’s voice was raspyasif she’d been crying on and off for a while.
Vic bit her lip as an image of Ryker flashed before her eyes. She gave herself a mental shake. Stupid. “I’ll give it my best.”She offered the other woman a small smile.“Men suck, there’s no doubt.”
Daisy burst out in a harsh laugh.“To put it mildly.”She grabbed a paper towel from the holder and dabbed her face to repair her makeup.“Oh, who am I kidding?”She threw the paper towel in the garbage can. She met Vic’s gaze in the mirror again.“Whatever you do, don’t believe them when they saythey’re going toleave their wife for you. Or that they love you. Because then they’ll turn to you and say they’re ending things for yourowngood. That you’ll be better off without them.”She snorted and then had to blow her nose.
Vic nodded. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard this story. Washington was rife with illicit affairs.“I’m so sorry.”
Daisy shrugged.“It’s myownfault. I fell for that schtick. Seriously. What is it about powerful men? I get sucked in every time.”She blew her noseand,metVic’s gaze in the mirror again.“You must know what I mean.”
“Me? Er, not really.”
“But your uncle is powerfulandhe’s gotall kinds of women around him.”
“Well Mari?—”
Daisygave a snort.“Marilee is just the tip of the iceberg. Your uncle has bedded half of Washington at one point or another.”
That was news to Vic. She cocked her head. But when she thought of it, that did explain absences and weird, hushed phone calls. And Joyce seemed to send a whole lot of flowers.“I guess I never really paid attention.”
“Are you kidding me?”Daisy leaned her hip against the counter.“Lookinglike you look in that dress? Half the men here tonight will be tracking you, and one or two will make a move before the night is out. Trust me. Just be careful. It’s all fun and games until you fall for them, then they’re out the door like a shot.”
Vic shook her head.“Not me. I’m…making plans.”
“Oh, honey.”Daisy laughed.“I had plans, too. They didn’t involve a married man or even staying in Washington, but this place is like that.Sucks you right in like a swamp.Just be careful. Seriously. You don’t want to end up like me.”
Vic gave a tiny shrug.“I don’t find Washington all that fun, to be honest, and I have no intention of dating anyone married or otherwise.”
Daisy pulled out her lipstick.“Better tell your uncle that. He’s in there right now making dates for you. He’s telling the world that since theseincidentsit’s made him rethink things, andhe’s realizedthe most important thing is family. He wants you to be settled and happyin caseanything happens to him.”
Vic’s jaw dropped open.“He did not say that.”
“Oh, he did.ToldCal Wallingford that, along with Jeff Wright, Dave Bixby, and Congressman Harris.Harris was pissed at your uncle earlier because he had changed his mind on backing Harris’s environmental bill if it makes it to the SenatebutthenAustin mentioned you and how good it would be if you found someoneandsuddenly Harris was all smiles.There were a few others in the circle as well. So just be warned. Your uncle is looking to find you a powerful husband. Someone he can join forces with because all Washington marriages are either mergers or acquisitions.”
The horror of what Daisy was saying washed over her.Her uncle was putting her up for auction.Highestbidder wins, and the bidsare basedon who has the most power. Uncle Austin wouldn’t do that. She stared at the marble countertop as her stomach hit her knees. Fuck. Yeshe would. That’sexactlysomething her uncle would do. Bile rose in her throat. She needed to get out of there.
“Are youokay?”Daisy asked.
Vic lookedat herselfin the mirror. Her face had lost all color.She’dplayed right into her uncle’s handswearing this dress.“Um, yeah, fine.I…just…wow.”
“I’m sorry to shock youbutit’s better that you know. I had no clue and was a lamb led to the slaughter.”
“What do you mean?”Vic asked.
“I went on a date with…a married man at the behest of my boss.I thought it was fun and what could it hurt?Turns out,it could hurt me. Washington is all about power. That’s it. Powerand the clout it brings you.Don’t ever think differently.”
Vic stared at Daisy.“The Speaker…”she couldn’t say the words.
“Trafficked me?”She gave another bark of laughter.“Not as such, and I certainly had a choice, but he made it clear that he was open to helping me with the relationship should I want it.”She straightened.“I was an idiot. I made the choices I made. It was my mistake.”She met Vic’s gaze in the mirror one last time.“Don’t make the same mistake. Live your own life. Do your own thinganddon’t trust any of themout there, not even your uncle.”She squeezed Vic’s arm as she walked past and left.
Vic’s head was spinning. Could it be true, she asked herself again? Surely her uncle wouldn’t do that, would he? The door opened again, admitting several women. She nodded to them and headed out of the bathroom.
Less than three weeks, and she was leavingD.C.,and her uncle. Any guilt she was feeling about going died in the bathroom with Daisy’s words. She would confirm what she already knew in her gut, that Daisy was telling the truthandthen she would plan her escape. There would be no notice for her uncle. She would be here one day and gone the next.
She entered the room and located her uncle. He waved her over. She gritted her teeth and came to a stop beside him.“Gentlemen.”She nodded her head to acknowledge the group. Wright, Bixby, and Harris were therealongwith Bob Sampson and Tyler McKenna. Sampson and McKenna were junior senators from Colorado and North Carolina, respectively. Moremen who would love to curry favor with her uncle.
“I was just telling these gentlemen what a treasure you are,”her uncle said as he put his arm around her.“After what we’ve been through lately, well, it just makes me more aware of the importance of family.”He turned back to the circle.“You know,I couldn’t have gotten through everything if it weren’t for her.She’s just such a help. Not only is she whip-smart, but look at that beautiful smile.”Her unclegave her shoulders a squeeze.
Vic’ssuppressed a shudder and swallowed hard trying to keep the contents of her stomach inside.Daisy had been right about her uncle pimping her out. Oh, not so obviously that she could call him on it, but hewas holdingher out there like a prized filly at an auction.Sheturned and met his gaze. She could no longer deny it. Her uncle, the man she’d thought saved her from a life on a commune because he cared, wasinfact, just another captor of sorts. She’d gone from one bad situation to another. Well, she was no longer a child. She could make her own decisions and take responsibility for her actions.
“Yes,”she agreed in a clear voice,“I also have good teeth.”The men stared at her, smiles faltering. She smiled back.“Sorry, Uncle Austin, but you made me sound like a piece of horseflesh wheninfact,I’m a woman.”She shot her uncle a look that saidexactlywhat she thought of this littlegame,and witnessed the first flicker of unease in her uncle’s eyes. Justyouwait.
Turning, she offered an even bigger smile.“So, Philip, I understand you’re proposingsomenew legislation.”The man’s face lit up. Two could play this game. She glanced at Austin. She could string all these men along for the next few weeks and then disappear.
Her uncle was right about one thing, though. She no longer wanted to call him uncle. That word ceased to have any real meaning for her. He wasnow,and would be forever more, just Austin. Vic was now all alone in the world. So be it. Alone had to be better than being a part of this family, didn’t it?