Tempting the Crown (The Crown 1)

“This is going to take a while.”

Her eyes darted with panic. “But we have all these clients and no Addie.”

“I know. I know. But I can’t rush through this. Will you please field these the best you can? Take as much information down for me and then I’ll have a brief prepared at least when I sit down with them.”

“We are never leaving today are we?”

“Do they have cots in this place?” I joked.

“Don’t ever say that out loud or someone will order them.”

“I’ll do my best, but you’re right. It’s going to be a long day.”

I closed the office door, thankful I had the office to myself today so I could discuss this case without other clients walking in and out.

I smiled at her. “Ok. Mrs. Foley, let’s get started from the beginning and I’ll see how I can help you get your job back.”

“You can call me Lana,” she said. “It seems strange for you to keep saying ‘Mrs. Foley’.”

I nodded. “All right, Lana.” I resumed taking notes.

“And I never said I wanted my job back.”

“But you want some kind of compensation?”

“Yes. Of course.” Her eyebrows pinched together.

“What is the name of the company?”

“Company?”

“Yes. Where did you work?”

She cleared her throat. “In the Senate.”

I blinked. “As in Congress? The U.S. Senate?”

“That’s right.”

I pressed my elbows into the planes of my desk. I felt my stomach turn as I asked the next question.

“And your boss? Who is it?”

Lana sighed. “Todd Mitcherson.”

“Senator Mitcherson?” My voice cracked.

“I take it you know him.” She stared at me blankly.

“He’s a U.S. senator.” I tried to keep my words steady. Keep the judgment off my lips. Keep it hidden that I knew exactly who he was. The man Preston worked for.

“Yes. He is. And he shouldn’t have fired me.”

“I think I need you to start at the beginning. The very beginning.”

***

There was a weariness that had settled into my shoulders. It ran deep between the tissue, twisting the tendons with snaps of fatigue. They ached from all angles. I lugged my messenger bag over my arm and started down the stairs outside the clinic. If I rushed, I could make the last shuttle back to the Metro.