When Love Calls (27 page)

“It’ll definitely give us a higher leg up.”

“Definitely, I totally agree,” Ursula added. “Granted, Senator Goode had his issues, but Senator Kingsley’s reputation is above reproach. He’s our perfect in.”

“Yes, yes, yes, you know we could ride this all the way,” Pete said, nodding excitedly as his voice got higher and higher.

“You’re right.” Ursula chuckled giddily. “There’s no telling where his career will take him, take us. Imagine having an ear at the White House, executive level.” She smiled liberally as Pete chuckled and rubbed his hands like a greedy arch-villain.

“But first things first, we need to get control of this as soon as possible,” Ursula said.

“Yes, of course, we’ll do the meet and start reviewing our program for next session. We can get a head start on the other lobbyists.”

“Check your calendar. We need to get this started ASAP!”

They both pulled out PDAs and began scanned dates.

Alyssa sat there, looking from face to face, not believing what she was hearing. They didn’t care about her or Randolph or what was going on. All they cared about was the foundation and using her to get to him. “Wait a minute,” Alyssa said. “If you want to meet with Randolph, then you can just call his office. I’m sure Kent can set up an appointment for you.”

“No, absolutely not. Don’t be ridiculous,” Ursula said assuredly. “We already have an in with you. We should take advantage of it. Besides, going through Kent Larson is like running into a brick wall. You can introduce us personally. It’ll be better in the long run and far more productive.”

“But I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Both Pete and Ursula stopped and looked at her. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t want Randolph to think that I’m using my new position here to get to him or vise versa. The newspapers are already trying to make it sound like that,” she said.

“Consider this a personal favor—” Pete began.

“Or, if you will, a condition of your pending promotion,” Ursula added, still smiling.

“I can’t, I’m sorry, it wouldn’t be right,” Alyssa said.

“Alyssa,” Pete began again, “what we’re asking isn’t unethical. It happens all the time. That’s what lobbyists do, we petition and influence political membership through personal contact. You know how close Ursula was to Senator Goode. That’s exactly how it happens.”

“Exactly, and you know Randolph’s position on excessive lobbying. I can’t use him like that.”

“Alyssa, we know you went to the Esprit Clinic in San Francisco,” Ursula said.

“How did you know that?” she asked.

“This is a very small town and an even smaller community. You show your face with Senator Kingsley and word gets out, it’s inevitable,” Ursula said.

“The Esprit Clinic specializes in regenerative illnesses for seniors and mental patients. We also know that your grandmother suffers from a serious malady. You’ve asked about us putting Alzheimer’s disease on the agenda for some time,” Pete said.

“Dear,” Ursula began, “of course you’re already using the senator, but instead of being exclusive, you can use him to help a lot more people. We’re not asking you to do anything you haven’t already done. Your relationship, physical or not, will help others. Think of it. There are so many people in need and he can make a huge difference. You both can. But it takes a strong commitment and a willingness to do what needs to be done to stay close,” she added.

“I don’t understand what you mean,” Alyssa said, confused by the tone in her voice. She wasn’t sure, but she could have sworn that Ursula just implied that any-and everything was acceptable as long as it furthered the greater good. “Are you telling me to sleep with him for the foundation?”

It had always been speculated that Ursula was having an affair with Senator Goode. But no one knew for sure.

“Of course not, but as you said, what you do on your time is your business. If it by chance encroaches on our agenda, so be it.”

“I don’t know, it doesn’t feel right,” she said.

“Think about it,” Pete said.

“I have to say, Alyssa, hearing you now, I’m a little disappointed. Maybe I was wrong, maybe you don’t have what it takes to be an outside staffer,” Ursula said. “Being able to do whatever it takes to get your point across is essential. It’s a frontline battle and we’re understaffed and underfunded, so we have to do whatever it takes, even going that extra mile, whatever it is to get the job done for the greater good.”

“Think about it,” Pete repeated.

Alyssa nodded, stood and left, and as they suggested, spent the rest of the day thinking about it. She wasn’t a fool. She knew what they were telling her. But in her heart she knew that it was wrong. She also knew that type of behavior went on a lot in D.C.—favors for favors, political, physical, monetary—the corruption of morals permeated the city like rotten meat on a hot August day.

But it wasn’t her, so how could she possibly justify using him for her job and to further her career? It was wrong and she knew it. She loved him too much and, deep down, she knew that he loved her, too. And as promised, he had tried to help her, and succeeded before, but this was different. There had to be a better way, but she could only think of one.

Chapter 19

H
ome.

Finally.

Alyssa unlocked the front door, went in, then secured the door behind her. Once inside, she leaned back against the frame a few minutes, thankful to be home. The long day had worn on her, but now it was over and she was looking forward to peace and quiet. No more questions or cross-examinations. She’d had enough.

First her conversation with Peter and Ursula, then talking to Nina at lunch and telling her everything and finally talking to her father at the bar. Her head was spinning. But the day was over and all she wanted to do was sit and relax and not think about anything.

The day was long and strenuous and she couldn’t imagine it getting any worse. Deciding that she was more exhausted than hungry, she chose to just head upstairs to her bedroom and lie down. Midway up, she stopped.

“You’re seeing a senator, Alyssa?” Allie said accusingly as she stood in the parlor doorway, holding the now-infamous section of the newspaper.

Alyssa turned and looked back, seeing her grandmother. She must have been waiting in the parlor. “Hi, Grandma,” Alyssa said, dreading yet another confrontation.

Her face contorted in pain and hurt, she turned and went back inside. “How could you do this to me?” she muttered softly.

Alyssa went back downstairs. “Grandma, I didn’t know you were back. How was your weekend?”

“After everything I taught you,” she said wearily, “none of that even mattered. He seduced you anyway and he ruined your life.”

“No one seduced me, Grandma, and no one ruined my life. I’m fine. I was going to tell you about all this, but it was happening so fast and at first there was really nothing to tell. Then I guess we—”

“The newspaper people have been here all day, asking questions. So what is this all about?”

“It’s really nothing, Grandma. We’re just going out, that’s all. The reporters are making more of it to sell newspapers. You know how they are.”

“Imagine my surprise when as soon as I got home this afternoon, Mrs. Watts brought me the
Washington Daily
newspaper and showed me my granddaughter’s photograph with a senator of all people.”

“Grandma, he’s a good man, not just a senator, he’s—”

“You know my feelings. How could you openly defy my wishes like this?”

“I didn’t defy your wishes, Grandma. I fell in love,” Alyssa said respectfully, then paused a second, hearing the words leaving her mouth. It felt good to say them. “And you should be happy for me.”

“Fell in love. Happy for you? Child, please, there is no love with a politician. He will use you, he will hurt you and he will leave you just like he did me.”

“Grandma—”

“Don’t
Grandma
me. You lied to me.”

“I didn’t lie, I just didn’t tell you the whole truth.”

“That’s called lying. How could you, Katherine, after everything I went through with your father? You’re not going to just throw your life away for him.”

“I’m not Katherine, Grandma, I’m Alyssa.”

“Are you pregnant?”

“What? No, of course not,” she insisted.

“Katherine, I wanted so much for you.”

“Grandma, I’m Alyssa, not Katherine.”

Allie ignored her, instead staying in her own little world. “Your life was going to be everything mine never was, I was going to make sure of that. You were going to make something of yourself, something you could be proud of. Not like me.” She eased down in the chair slowly. “I got married, then fell in love with the wrong man. I was the dirty little secret that everybody knew about. It was a doomed relationship, filled with pain, always hiding in secret, lying. He made promises that he knew he’d never keep.”

“Grandma—”

“Everything, all his promises were lies. We made love in secret, shared clandestine meals at his place, had public lunches with a third person for appearances’ sake, never just the two of us. He promised to leave his wife, to marry me. He lied. He promised to take care of me, of us. I had his child and he still left me and went back to his wife,” she rambled.

“You what? What was that, you had his child?” Alyssa repeated, in shock as she sat down beside her grandmother. “Grandma, what did you just say? You had his child? Do you mean that Senator Vincent Dupree is really Mom’s biological father?”

“Don’t be like me. Don’t ruin your life for a man, Katherine. You’re so beautiful with so much in front of you. Your father knew about you, but he never acknowledged you. And Henry,” she said, smiling inwardly, “he was a good man, bless his heart. He was right there by my side the whole time and he never denounced me. He knew about me and he suspected about you, Katherine, but he never denied you.”

“Grandma—”

“The heart wants what the heart wants, and my heart wanted your father. I fell in love with Vincent Dupree and gave up everything for him and watched as he walked away and turned his back on us. Our love was forbidden and it destroyed his career. That’s why we have to show him what he missed out on. You can’t be with that bartender. You can do so much better.”

At that moment, Alyssa knew what she had to do. Her job wanted to use her to get to him, her grandmother didn’t want her seeing him and his career would be destroyed once the connection with her grandmother was found out.

“I won’t, Grandma. None of this matters anymore because I’ve decided to end it. It’s over.”

“Good, you’re finally coming to your senses,” Allie said as she saw the pain in her eyes. “It’ll hurt for a little bit, but then it’ll be over and you’ll see that everything worked out for the best. There are thousands of bartenders out there, but you deserve so much more, Katherine.”

The doorbell rang.

Alyssa got up and answered. Randolph stood there smiling, dressed in an open-collar shirt, slacks and a sport coat with sporty loafers. He reached out and grabbed her into his arms and kissed her hard. The feel of being in his arms was like coming home. She felt completely safe and secure. But she knew she needed to end it for both their sakes.

“We need to talk,” she said.

“Yes, I know, I saw the pictures and articles. Don’t worry about all that, it’s just selling papers. I can’t stop thinking about you. I missed you so much,” he said, stroking her face gently, his eyes loving ever bit of her.

Alyssa backed away from him. “We need to talk, come in.” He stepped inside just as Allie walked out of the parlor.

“Good evening, Mrs. Granger, I’m Randolph Kingsley.”

“I know who you are.” Her tone was cold and biting. “You’re that senator.”

“Yes, I am. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, ma’am. Alyssa has told me so many wonderful things about you.”

“Really? That’s funny, she hasn’t told me a thing about you, particularly the fact that you’re a senator.”

“Grandma, please let me handle this,” Alyssa said.

“No, please, Alyssa, I’d like to hear your grandmother.”

Allie smiled. “Don’t give me your whitewashed hypocritical manners. I know all about you politicians firsthand. You’re all liars and cheaters looking out for your own interests and hurting anyone who gets in your way.”

“Grandma—”

“No, please continue, Mrs. Granger,” he said.

“Making promises is all you’re good for, especially you senators. Sure, he says he loves you now, but just wait, he’ll change his mind as soon as the heat is on and his wife finds out. You’re corrupt and I’m going to expose you for what you are. You think you own the world and no one can touch you. Well, you’re wrong and I’m gonna make sure everyone knows it. I’m going to tell that reporter exactly what happened.”

“Grandma, please let me handle this.”

Allie glared, then nodded. “Fine, you handle it. I’ve had my say. Now I have a phone call to make.” She went upstairs as Alyssa showed Randolph into the parlor.

“When you said that your grandmother would be upset, I thought you were exaggerating. I guess I was wrong. But don’t worry, I’ll win her over. Give me a week and she’ll adore me,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her into his arms, rocking slowly to the song in his heart and humming lightly. “I missed you so much today,” he whispered, then closed his eyes and kissed her neck down to her shoulder.

“Randolph,” she said, pulling away, “we have to end this, now, tonight.”

“What?” he said, stepping back to see her expression.

“Let’s face it, this wasn’t going anyplace from the beginning. We both knew that we’re not exactly new to this.”

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

“I’m ending this before one of us gets hurt.”

“Alyssa…” he said, still holding her hand.

“Please just listen to me,” she said, walking away from him. “We were good together. I’m not saying that this wasn’t wonderful. It was, really. I’m going to remember our time together for the rest of my life. I loved being with you, you know that. In just a few weeks, you’ve made me feel like I always wanted to feel, like I was special to someone, like I mattered. You’re an incredible man with so much to give.”