Breathe You In (Sweet Torment 1)

“So it’s true?” I asked. “Silas is heading up the new center?” My whole body felt chilled.

She nodded. “Not because I wanted to appoint him,” she said quickly. “You are the best person for the job. You worked on this from the beginning, have the most experience, and would make this new center a success.”

“Then why did you give it to Silas? I didn’t get a chance to apply.”

“There was no application process,” Marcy said lowly. “I didn’t have a choice. The governor’s chief officer informed me of the funding

approval and the specific stipulation that you could not be the one to head it up.”

Chief officer? I swallowed hard. Bill. Something very cold and uneasy ran through my veins.

“I yelled at him for a good ten minutes,” Marcy said. “I couldn’t believe he’d just walk in here and do something like that.”

“Wait, he was here?”

She nodded. “He just left.”

My heart rate spiked. “I’ll be right back,” I said, and hurried from Marcy’s office. Bolting for the front door, I was just in time to see Bill getting into his car.

“Bill!” I hollered.

He obviously saw me, but debated whether or not to acknowledge it. Taking his sweet-ass time, he finally got out of the car and stood on the sidewalk.

“Good morning, Miss Underwood.”

“I know you don’t like me, but why would you cheat me out of this job? I didn’t even have a chance to apply.”

He looked at me like he always did: Like I was lacking. “It is my job to think of the governor’s interests and get him reelected.”

“He’s doing great. What does that have to do with this center?”

“How do you think it would look if the governor’s girlfriend was miraculously chosen to head up a major project with state dollars behind it? Dollars the governor himself pushed for.” Bill held up his hand as I opened my mouth, cutting me off. “I’ll tell you: not good. It would look bad, actually, and I have enough on my plate to deal with.”

“Does Roman know you did this?”

He ground his teeth for a moment, looking like he was on the brink of walking away and ignoring me.

“No, he doesn’t. Look,” he said, stepping closer. “If you care at all about him winning, about anything other than yourself and this stupid job, you’ll keep your mouth shut. Because I guarantee you, Roman will take a hit in the polls if you head up this project. A bad hit.”

He paused long enough for me to take in his angry expression.

“It wouldn’t look good,” he repeated. “Do you understand?”

I nodded, though I didn’t understand.

“Good day, Miss Underwood.” Bill said and got into his car.

Before he drove away, I saw his scowl deepen as he looked me over one last time. I reminded myself that reality sucked sometimes, but Roman mattered more. If losing this job and not being able to head up the new center would protect his image, that’s what I’d do.

I’d consider his interests, just like I’d promised.

“How was your day?” Paige asked as I walked into the living room. I hung up my coat and tried not to lose my cool.

“Fine. What are you doing home so early?”

Paige had her Blackberry in her hand and was looking between it and her laptop, which was sitting on the coffee table.

“The office has been crazy. Figured I could get some things done from here, where it’s a bit quieter.”