Page 10 of The Bonventi Rise

"And?" Jen presses.

"I, I used that information to discredit them. I showed them the evidence, pointed out the holes in their stories. They withdrew their testimonies after that. I thought I was doing the right thing, Jen. I really believed I was exposing false accusations."

There's a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line. "Jesus Christ, Alina. Don't you see? He used you as a decoy.While you were busy 'discrediting' these women publicly, he got someone else to pay them off behind the scenes."

My blood runs cold. "What? No, that's not... I didn't know about any payoffs, Jen. I swear."

"It doesn't matter if you knew," Jen says, her voice growing harder. "You were who they used to silence those women. You gave them cover for their backroom deals. Whether you knew it or not, you facilitated a cover-up of sexual assault. That's why this looks so bad."

The room spins and I can’t believe what she’s saying. My stomach tightens, and I feel like I might throw up.

"They’re saying Governor Harrison’s campaign team will be questioned soon."

I rub my forehead. A headache is starting to form, and I feel like my head is going to explode. "Jen, you have to believe me. I didn't know."

"I believe you, Alina.”

“Well, it doesn’t sound like it.”

“It’s just, this is big. Really big."

"SHIT!" I scream in frustration.

"Look. Lawyer up now. Better yet, call your dad," she suggests after a moment of heavy silence. "He's dealt with cases like this before, I'm sure. As a federal prosecutor?—"

A harsh laugh escapes me. "My father? Are you serious? He'd probably volunteer to prosecute me himself. Finally prove what a disappointment I am."

"Alina—"

"No," I cut her off. "You don't understand. He's probably watching this right now, shaking his head, saying, 'I told you so.' God, I can hear him already."

The tears come hot and fast now. I can barely catch my breath between sobs.

There's another long pause on the other end.

"Maybe you saw what you wanted to see? We all knew Harrison was sketchy, but the campaign was such a huge opportunity?—"

"Don't." My voice turns to ice. "Don't you dare suggest I would overlook something like this for my career."

But even as I say it, doubt creeps in. All those late-night meetings I wasn't invited to. The private calls. The way Harrison would sometimes look at me or his female staffers when he thought no one was watching.

Had I seen the signs and chosen to look away?

"The media's going to crucify me," I say, the reality of everything settling over me.

My phone buzzes with another message. Unknown number. Chicago area code.

"I have to go," I tell Jen. "Something's come up."

"Alina, wait?—"

I hang up before she can finish. I open the message as my heart slams against my ribcage. It's Marco.

See the news?

I can make all this go away.

You help me, I'll help you.