Scandalous (23 page)

He switched off the set. He couldn't stand to hear any
more. He walked across the room and fixed himself a drink. In one gulp he downed it. If that's the way it was going to go down, then so be it. If she wanted the race “to be on,” as she put it, then it was on. Slowly the long-reaching effects of his success in winning this election began to take shape. He'd be in a position to make changes, the kind of changes he'd been struggling to obtain from the sidelines. It wasn't the role he'd envisioned for himself, but it had been thrust upon him. This was the greatest challenge of his life, both personally and professionally. And he was never one to back down from a challenge.

Elliott, too, watched the broadcast from the television built into the wall of his chambers. This was the Vaughn Hamilton he'd raised to be a winner—decisive, strong, eloquent, and determined. This was the fire she needed. It would push her over the top. He smiled. All of his hard work, his dreams, even the years of deceit, would pay off. One day she'd understand that he'd only done it for her. All for her. And she'd thank him. When she stood on the House floor among the great leaders of the country, she'd thank him. And Justin Montgomery would be a forgotten memory.

C
had stuck his head around the corner of the cubicle where Simone was typing some reports. “Hi.”

She swiveled her chair around and smiled. “Hi, yourself.”

“How long are you planning on staying tonight?”

Simone glanced at her watch. It was after four. “I should be finished in about an hour.” Her response held a note of expectation.

Chad stepped in and pushed his hands into his pockets. His subtle scent floated to her, making her feel warm and anxious inside. “I was thinking maybe we could get something to eat…later…after work.”

Simone grinned. “Sounds good. Should I meet you out front?”

“Yeah. I'll be downstairs, say…five-thirty.” He turned to leave.

“Rush?”

“Hmmm?”

“Did you see the press conference today?”

“Yes,” he answered heavily. “I can't believe she said those things about Justin.”

Simone folded her hands in front of her. “Neither can I. But then again, who knew that Mr. Montgomery was going to run for election?” she asked, still mystified by the strange twist of events.

“You have a point there. But I'm sure he has his reasons. He'll probably be talking to you soon anyway.”

“About what?”

He leaned against the frame of the partition. “He's pulling together a small campaign staff. I just came from his office. With me involved with the trial, I suggested that you could probably help out until he pulls some people together.”

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

He grinned that lopsided grin that made her stomach flutter. “Yes, really. So try to act surprised. See you in a while,” he said with a wave.

No sooner had Chad left than her intercom was buzzed by Barbara.

“Yes, Barbara,” she answered.

“Mr. Montgomery would like to see you before you leave, Simone.”

“Thank you.”

Simone took a quick look in the mirror of her compact. Satisfied, she got up and headed toward Justin's office.

Simone knocked lightly on Justin's office door.

“Come in,” he said.

Simone stepped in. “Mr. Montgomery, you wanted to see me?”

Justin looked up and for the first time he made the
connection that had been hovering on the fringes of his subconscience, struggling for clarity. All along he'd known there was something deep in Vaughn's past she wanted to hide. Her reaction to meeting Simone, her confession about Brian Willis, her father's hold over her. All of these thoughts raced through his head at once.

Now he understood why she was so reluctant to get involved with him—a man who publically advocated children's rights. She'd gotten pregnant by a powerful man's son, and she and her family hid it for nineteen years. Disbelief gave way to quiet fury. This young, beautiful woman who longed for her identity was the victim of years of deceit. And the woman he loved was a part of it from the beginning.

“Mr. Montgomery?” Simone said softly. “Are you all right?”

Justin blinked, then focused on Simone, and his heart ached for her. He cleared his throat and smiled halfheartedly, “Yes, I'm fine. Lot of things on my mind these days. Come in,” he urged. “Sit down. I wanted to talk with you about working on my campaign.”

 

Vaughn sat on the edge of her bed and rubbed her temples. Her entire day, the last few days, seemed like a dream. Less than seventy-two hours ago she'd been on the verge of laying her heart and soul at Justin's feet. She laughed mirthlessly and closed her eyes. Visions of Justin and their lovemaking loomed behind her closed lids. A tremor rippled through her.

What's done is done, she thought decisively. Never again would she give anyone the opportunity to touch her heart. It was her lot, as her father would say. She had a career to think about.

Her bedside phone rang, shattering the stillness of her room. Slowly she reached for the intrusive instrument. “Hello?”

“You were brilliant today, sweetheart,” her father said.

“Thank you,” she replied, without conviction.

“You showed everyone what you're truly made of. I'm very proud of you. Why don't you come out to the house this weekend? I know your mother would love to see you.”

“I don't think so. I have too much to do.”

“You're not brooding over Montgomery, are you? Because I tried to warn you. I…”

“I know, Daddy. And…you were right. But that's behind me now,” she added, her voice growing in strength. “I have a campaign to concentrate on.”

“Now that's what I wanted to hear. We need to plan another event. Soon.”

She didn't want to contemplate another major function. Just the thought of it made her spirits sink. It would only remind her of when she and Justin first met. But she realized that she could no longer let the past paralyze her. “We will,” she said finally. “You and Crystal work out the details.”

“Good. I'll give her a call next week. Think about coming out for the weekend. You sound like you could use a change of pace.”

“I'll think about it. But no promises.”

They said their good-byes and Vaughn went to take a shower.

As the water rushed over her, she replayed the conversation with her father over in her head. Thinking back, she noted that he was uncharacteristically benevolent.
She'd expected his cynicism, a string of “I told you so's.” Her heart began to race. Why was he acting so differently now?

She turned off the shower and stepped out. As she padded back into her bedroom, her thoughts continued to turn to her father's odd behavior. Was it possible that he'd already known what was going to happen? A wave of nausea hit her. She shook her head, trying to push back the dark thoughts that were taking shape in her mind.

E
veryone had left the offices of Child-Link hours ago. Melissa was alone. She stared at her computer screen. She didn't know what she'd expected, but it wasn't this. The name flashed incessantly in front of her.
Sheila Rivers-Hamilton.
Simone Rivers was her granddaughter and Vaughn Hamilton was her mother.

It all made sense. Vaughn must have been eighteen or nineteen at the time. She'd been sent to the midwife to have her baby. The only name the infant had been left with was Rivers. Sheila's maiden name.

Melissa sat back and took a deep, shaky breath. What should she do? Simone had every right to know who her natural parents were. But how would the information effect the mother who'd apparently gone on with her life without looking back? Something like this could ruin Vaughn Hamilton professionally.

Melissa pressed the print key and waited until all of
the information that she'd gathered printed. She tore off the sheets and stuck them in her purse. For several long moment she stared at the screen. She pressed the escape key and the computer asked if she wanted to save the information. She took a deep breath and pressed
no.

 

David flipped through the files in his office and pulled out the folder on Lucus Stone. He tapped it thoughtfully against his palm. He'd been doing a lot of thinking since he'd left Stone's office. It seemed pretty clear that Stone had nothing to do with Montgomery entering the race. Which only left the people in her own party. He wasn't sure who and he really didn't want to know. The whole business was getting ugly, even for him.

He sat down on the edge of his desk and thought back to the days when he'd first met Vaughn. She was fabulous even then. They'd both come a long way since, albeit pursuing different avenues. He'd let his resentment eat away at him like a cancer over the years, never realizing that these feelings stemmed not from his loss of his law pursuits, but from Vaughn seeing him through tainted eyes. That he'd done himself. He was the only one to blame. And his twisted thinking had poisoned every facet of his life, until he was reduced to this—accepting payment for ruining another human being.

Maybe it was finally time that he take stock of himself and try to rectify some of his wrongs.

 

Vaughn searched through her phone book and found Paul Lawrence's home phone number. She knew that Paul and her father were still close. It never seemed to matter to her father that Paul had used her to reach his position
as D.A. All her father saw was a competent, charismatic man that he'd help get into office. The rest be damned.

Paul had said he would help her. She just wondered how far he was willing to go. With her heart in her throat, she dialed his number.

The phone rang four times and she was certain that his machine was coming on. She had no intention of leaving a message and was just about to hang up when he answered. “Hello?”

“Paul. This is Vaughn.”

Paul sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. A slow sense of dread creeped through his veins as he came fully awake.

“Vaughn you're the last person I expected to hear from.”

“Paul I need your help,” she stated quickly, sidestepping the small talk. “We need to talk and I need you to be honest with me.”

“What is it?” he asked cautiously.

“I need to know if my father is involved with Justin Montgomery entering the race.”

Paul shut his eyes and fell back against the pillows. What could he possibly tell her? How could he tell her? He hadn't felt good about this whole mess from the beginning. He wanted no part of it, but Elliott had played his trump card. He knew he owed Elliott a big favor for getting him elected, and he'd repaid him by making that call to Vaughn. He had pretty much known what Elliott was up to all along and he had sat back and done nothing.

“Paul? Did you hear me?”

Paul sighed heavily. “This isn't something to discuss over the phone,” he said.

Vaughn's heart began to thunder. “Then where?” she asked as calmly as she could.

“I'll call your office in the morning. We'll arrange a meeting place.”

“I'll be in by nine.”

As soon as she hung up the phone, it rang. It was Crystal.

“Vaughn, it's me. David was just here.”

“What?”

“He left me a folder full of incriminating information about Lucus Stone.”

“How…I don't understand. When did he get an attack of conscience? And where did he get the information?”

“Apparently he's been getting inside information from Stone's housekeeper, along with sitting in on some under-the-table negotiations. From the little that I've read, Stone is up to his eyeballs in dirt.”

Vaughn shook her head. “This certainly puts a new spin on things,” she said, still trying to switch her focus from her conversation with Paul to the one at hand.

“What do you want to do?” Crystal asked.

“I'm not sure yet. I don't want to reduce myself to the same level as Stone by throwing more mud in the water.” She thought for a minute. “Bring the file to the office tomorrow. I'm meeting with Paul. I'll let him handle it.”

“Did you say Paul? You're kidding. Why?”

“I'd rather not talk about it right now.”

Crystal pursed her lips and frowned. “Are you sure.”

“Positive. I'll see you in the morning. Good night.”

 

Justin had tried to reach Elaine Carlyle for the better part of the morning. He'd been unsuccessful. After talking with Simone the previous evening, he was more determined than ever to help her establish her parentage. His beliefs
were strong, but he needed irrefutable proof. Elaine could help him.

The more he thought about the situation, the more enraged he became. His whole perception of Vaughn was distorted. He, of all people, knew the pain of not having one's child, and how important it was for children to know their parents. Vaughn and her family had gone against every principal that he held sacred.

Maybe Vaughn had been young at the time. Maybe her parents did force her to give her child away. But what had she ever done to try to find Simone—to make sure that her child was well taken care of, that Simone was loved? She'd done nothing. She'd hidden behind her father's judicial robes and her guilt for 19 years and never said a word. Her damned career was more important.

The knock on his door roused him out of his dark thoughts.

“Yes. Come in.”

“Mr. Montgomery,” Simone peeked her head around the door.

“Come in Simone.”

“I was just getting ready to leave. Rush—Chad said he'd take me to the Amtrak station.”

Justin got up and came around the desk. “When you get to Virginia, take a cab to the county clerk's office. They'll give you a file number for the case and…”

“I know,” she grinned. “I have everything written down.”

He smiled in return at the hint of dimples so reflective of her mother. He cleared his throat. “I'm sorry there's no one around to drive you, but we're swamped.”

“I understand. This will be an adventure anyway.”
She paused. “About the campaign. Will I be working for you here or are you going to set up your headquarters someplace else?”

“Well,” he said slowly, “for the time being it'll be easier for me to coordinate everything from here until I can settle a few of these outstanding cases.”

She nodded, silently relieved that she would still be able to see Rush every day. “Well, I'd better get going. I still have a few things to take care of before I leave.”

“You can just go on home when you're finished. There's no reason to come all the way back to the office.”

“Thank you. I'll see you on Monday.”

 

Simone returned to her desk just in time to snatch up her ringing phone.

“Montgomery, Phillips and Michaels,” she said cheerfully. “Simone speaking.”

“Ms. Rivers? Simone Rivers?”

“Yes,” she answered hesitantly.

Melissa breathed in relief “This is Melissa Overton, from Child-Link.”

Simone sat down. Her pulse pounded in her ears. “Yes. Have you found out anything?”

“I'm sorry to call you at work, but the only number I had was for your dorm in Atlanta. Your roommate gave me this number.”

“That's fine, Melissa. What is it?” she asked in a rush.

“This is going against all of our policies, Simone. I shouldn't be handling it this way. But it's a lot bigger than I anticipated.”

“You're scaring me,” Simone said in a strained voice.

“I'm sorry. Listen, I've taken the day off. Is there any way that we could meet?”

“What? Why can't you tell me over the phone?”

“It really would be better if we met so that we could talk.”

Simone tried to think. “I have to go into Virginia today. I'm getting ready to leave now.”

“I can be there in three hours.”

“Where should I meet you?”