I shrugged, because I often thought the same. “I guess that’s part of his charm.”
“Yeah, well, thanks for not letting me say something stupid to the reporter. That’s just what I need at this time.”
“It’s part of my job.” I nearly added, “that I still have,” but decided not to harp on the fact that so much of my work had been re-delegated.
“Do you think Stark is after me specifically or am I just another person in his way?” she asked.
“Maybe a little of both. He doesn’t strike me as a man who takes losing well. But he also seems pragmatic. He’ll focus on the big picture, and if the road to his goals can include getting back at you, he will,” I said.
“What do you think the big picture is? I mean, he’s already rich. Why is he here in Salvation when he could be in New York or someplace where he could more easily fit in and get richer?”
“I don’t know. Maybe when Erica’s article comes out, she’ll tell us the answer.”
“Do you think she realized it was Ryder?” Sinclair asked, looking at the picture of Ryder in the paper again.
I nodded. “Yes. She mentioned it.”
“Oh hell.”
“She has a thing for him though, so maybe she won’t bring it up.”
Sinclair’s head jerked back a bit. “A thing?”
“Yes.” I tried to act nonchalant.
“Is Ryder receptive?”
I remembered how he denied being interested in her when I found the business card. “He says he isn’t.”
Sinclair arched a brow. “So, you’ve had this discussion?”
“It wasn’t a discussion as much as it was me accusing him of moving on to her before he’d finished with me.” Crap, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.
She sighed. “Ryder is a lot of things, but a cheater and liar isn’t one of them.” She looked at the newspaper again and I got the feeling that she was thinking he had to have a good reason for being at Stark’s event.
She looked up at me. “So, what is with you and Ryder?”
“We completed the bet.” Sort of. I did leave a day early. I wondered if Ryder would out me on that.
“That’s it? You slept with him and now it’s done?”
“Well, not done,” I said pressing my hand over my belly. “But now it’s just about the baby.”
“Is that what you want?”
Before I could answer, her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID. “It’s the mayor.”
I nodded thanking the heavens to be saved by the bell. “I’ll leave you to it.”
I exited her office shutting the door. She and I were back on even ground again. The rest of my life still felt like a crapshoot, but at least I had her again, I thought as I headed back to my desk.
25
Ryder
I was the worst fucking brother ever. Not only did I betray my sister by playing at a fundraiser for her political rival, but I hadn’t had the guts to tell her about it and beg her forgiveness. After dealing with Mr. Coffey, I’d mostly hidden away.
When the paper came out, I nearly died. I’d hoped that no one noticed, but I got a few not-so-friendly comments when I was serving at the bar. I tried to ignore them. Instead, I focused on how the money was going to secure my child’s future, but it was damn hard. The fact that I didn’t hear from Sinclair, made me even more nervous. I considered calling Trina to ask about it, but figured she’d be livid too. Turns out I was a coward, as I avoided them both.