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For some reason, Darci felt much better.
“Oh. OK that makes sense.”
“You sound relieved. You wouldn’t be jealous, would you?”
She scoffed. “Me? Never.”
He laughed. “Sure, whatever you say gorgeous. You heard my mom; I’ve never introduced a girl to them. Don’t worry. You’re something special.”
She giggled. “I’m glad you think so. I need to get back to work.”
37
SEAN Atleigh wanted nothing to do with Darci’s idea of putting Bradley front and center at an event honoring the victims. It had been three days since she had pitched the idea and, in that time, Bradley told her the senator was consulting with a crisis management firm. Someone Sandra knew.
Darci worried that such a firm would suggest that he distance himself from her, but he insisted that was not a thing she needed to worry about. Now, she sat at her desk reading the firm's website worrying anyway. Her phone rang, and she absentmindedly picked it up.
“Darci, Hello it’s Steve Givens again.”
“How are you, sir?”
“Listen, I wanted to ask what you thought about me sponsoring an ACSL event in conjunction with Marlie Dixon’s foundation. We’ll turn it into a big fundraiser. I heard Atleigh turned you down and won’t let Bradley be a part, but I think if I jump in and do what you were proposing it can still help my son, with the added benefit of giving me some exposure.”
“I love the idea, Steve. I’m just not sure Bradley would go for it. Maybe if you go directly through Jim instead of me. Then it won’t look like I’m working against my boyfriend.”
Darci hung up the phone after a few more minutes of conversation. This was about to get awkward, and she wasn’t sure what to do about it. She knew Bradley wouldn’t fault her for wanting to work with his father instead of his boss, but he still wouldn’t like it. She would have to find a delicate way to tell him.
It’s not like she would be on the man’s payroll. The plan was for Steve Givens to be a guest speaker at the next ACSL charity event which would raise money in honor of Marlie Dixon’s foundation, a charity all three dead women supported. Atleigh turned them down so why not ask his competition? She shook her head. This would be a tough conversation. She thought about picking up the phone and calling Bradley but decided it might be a conversation best had face-to-face.
• • •
Bradley slammed his office door. This was turning into a day from hell. His boss wouldn’t budge on the ACSL fundraiser, and the crisis management firm Atleigh had hired was trying to pressure Bradley into issuing a statement distancing himself from the club, and the dead women, and worse, from Darci. He told them there was no way in hell that was happening. He was looking forward to going home and losing himself in his girl. It was the only thing keeping him sane at the moment. It would be a long night though, because he had to prepare an advance team for the senator’s next trip out of town.
He called Sandra and Charlie and asked them to come see him. They had speeches to go over, and he wanted to make sure Atleigh was on a tight leash. He had given one too many surprise press conferences in the last few weeks.
Sandra poked her head in the door. “You really need me right now? I’m kind of busy.”
“I just need ten minutes, Sandra.”
“Fine.” She sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk. Charlie joined them a moment later.
As he ran down the agenda, Sandra clicked her ink pen. He stopped and looked at her.
“Sorry.”
He shook his head and continued. Less than a minute later she was clicking again.
“Jesus, Sandra. Are you nervous about something?” he asked, tossing the agenda on his desk.
“Sorry.” She dropped the pen on the desk and shook her head. “Just eager to get back to my office, it’s a busy day.”
“No busier than the rest of us. I need you focused on this,” he said, eying her before continuing.
Ten minutes later, he ended the meeting so he wouldn’t be late for the next one. Sandra rushed out the door, muttering something about a press release. Charlie didn’t stay long either.
He spent the next few hours working with the advance team, then he spent time with Adara going over his and the senator’s schedule for the next week.
“It looks like you’re not getting much sleep next week,” she noted.
