Funny how PR works in this town. A state senator is leveled with sexual assault accusations, yet the media made sure that the general populace could only remember whofiledthe claims.
Though the rape allegations were oh-so-conveniently dismissed before they ever made their way to court, some less-than-savory facts still saw the light of day as text messages were leaked to the press, showing that Senator Walker was at least having an affair with the twenty-year-old staffer in question. He had lied about being separated from his wife, and shortly after news reports confirmed Mrs. Walker was pregnant with their first child, the rape allegations came about.
The Senator’s smear campaign against Charlotte painted her as the temptress who had seduced a weak-minded man. And when he supposedly tried to break things off with her, she retaliated by making up a bunch of bullshit to ruin his career. And now that’s all the public really remembers. Anytime an allegation like this comes up, the media can’t help but “speculate” if the woman being discussed is “just another Charlotte Hinckley looking for fifteen minutes of fame.”
If they only knew what really happened…
I grip the bottle in my hand hard enough that I’m surprised the glass doesn’t break, and when my cell sounds off, I damn near jump out of my skin.
Maggie instantly sits up. “This Jase guy doesn’t have your number, does he?”
I shake my head, grateful to see my father’s name flashing across the screen.
“Where are you?”he asks the instant I answer.
“I’m just, uh…chatting with some people out on the terrace,” I say, praying he can’t hear 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop” playing quite clearly from the pool area not thirty feet away.
“Real smooth,” Maggie mouths, mocking my awkward delivery.
I toss another Solo cup at her head. “What’s up?”
“Well, I’m not sure what time Blythe and I will be leaving, so I didn’t know if you needed to make other driving arrangements,”Dad says, his voice taking on a clear note of unease.
“What are you talking about? I drove to the club.”
He sighs, the sound anything but relieved.“She didn’t ask you, did she?”
“Whodidn’t ask mewhat?”
“Vanessa left about a half hour ago…”
“So?”
“She sort of…took your car,”he mumbles.
“Come again?” And now my grip tightens so hard that Maggie has to pry my fingers open to prevent me from crushing my cell. “How is that even possible? I have the claim ticket!”
“I don’t know. She probably swayed the valet. Vanessa told me she okayed it with you.”
“No, not exactly,” I growl as Maggie places the phone on speaker.
“You know how your sister feels about taking car services,”Dad sighs again, as if that should somehow pacify me.
Maggie lifts an eyebrow in question.
“Vanessa refuses to use ride-hailing apps, because ‘they don’t properly vet their drivers,’” I mock, taking on my sister’s snippy tone for that last part. I don’t even bother to cover my phone’s mouthpiece. Thankfully, I don’t think my dad hears the remark, becauseloud chatter erupts in the background on his end of the call for a solid minute.
“Can you find a ride?”he finally asks when there’s a lull.
I drop the phone to my lap and let out a silent scream. “Yeah, I’ll just solicit sex in exchange for a lift on the side of the road. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay, be safe,” he replies routinely before hanging up.
Maggie’s forced to spit out the liquor she’s in the middle of swallowing to avoid choking on it. “He didnotjust say that!”
“He’s not paying attention,” I grumble.
What else is new?
