Page 101 of Dignity

“Do you have a preferred day?” she asks.

“How does Friday afternoon work for you?”

I’m sure she’s checking the calendar on her work cell right now. “Three, at the studios?”

“That works for us.”

There’s another pause. “I won’t not hit her hard just because you’re working for her.”

“I know, sweetie. Love you.”

She sighs. “Love you, too.”

I tell Shae and Chris when they return that evening. Shae’s game face is in place and she nods.“Let’s do it.”

Chris, however, doesn’t look so sure. “You think this’ll be okay?”

“She can’t duck FNB, Chris. We’ve already had her on Fox. It’ll look strange if she avoids them altogether.”

Shae turns to him. “I’ve got this. I can deal with her.” She glances over her shoulder at me. “Although the last guy I used to deal with regularly for that network was alotnicer.”

I laugh. “If I’d knownwhat would happen…” I really don’t know where to go with that comment.

I’m good with how this worked out, actually. Two years in, and I’m in a better place than I’ve been in twenty fucking years.

Farbetter.

But as the week progresses, my nerves ratchet as tension fills me. Leo passes on that Lauren has every fucking producer, assistant producer, intern, and janitor, apparently, asking aroundDC for every drop of gossip and dirt she can find. Like someone stepped in a fire ant pile and now they’re swarming.

I’m doubly careful this week around Shae and Chris. In fact, I spend as much time isolated from them as possible in the office, and when with them in public, I make sure we always have at least one or two other staffers there as well. We’re too damn close to the general electionfor any careless fuckups to fuck this thefuckup.

I start to second-guess myself. Maybe I shouldn’t have approached Lauren, andshould’ve taken our chances with someone else. Except that would have likely backfired worse when Lauren confronted me about not approaching her.

It’s a no-win situation for me, and we have to ride it out.

Shae, however, remains unflappable as Friday rolls aroundand we start our day by making another round of morning interviews at other networks ahead of a weekend of campaigning.

All morning, I’m fighting the urge to fidget as I follow Shae through our planned schedule. I wish I could tell Lauren the full truth of my situation, but…

I can’t.

Not because I don’t think Lauren will hold my secrets, but because I promised Chris and Shae I wouldn’t revealthem.

Chris and Leo are out at a campaign lunch today, and Chris will join us at the FNB studio ahead of the interview. Which is a damn good thing, because I think I’ll need Chris to help keepmecalm.

I don’t know why I’m this nervous, either. Maybe because I know my girl—both of them—and the one whose lair we’re about to step into is clever and cunning and an expert at her job.

Maybe I’veoverplayed this hand a little, but it’s too late to turn back now.

I haven’t set foot inside this building since they escorted me out of it almost two years ago. Lauren meets us on the studio floor where we’re brought by a receptionist but there’s…

Something.

A hard edge to Lauren’s gaze when she meets my eyes and holds it for too long.

Something’s wrong.

Something’s really,reallywrong.