"I don't really give a fuck what anyone thinks. You know that," I say.
"This is different," Susan says. "You're fucking your daughter, Parker! What's the public going to think about that?
"Stepdaughter," I correct her.
"How long do you think you can keep this hidden?" Susan asks.
I'm silent for a moment, and Susan continues, "You'll be kicked out of Gracie Mansion. You realize that, don't you? If Giuliani couldn't even stay there with his mistress, what makes you think you can stay there with yours … your stepdaughter no less?"
I'm still silent, trying to find the right words, and Susan, no longer able to stomach it all, drops a bomb into my lap.
"Never mind," she says. "I actually don't need you to answer any of those questions because I quit."
"Wait—" I begin to say, but she interrupts me.
"I can't work with you."
And just like that, Susan's gone.
Fuck.
I'll have to figure out what to do with that news. If Susan wants to leave, I'll need to figure out a backup plan, but not right this minute. Right now, I turn my attention to the image of perfection—the sexy golden goddess now standing in the room like a magnet for my desire.
"Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?" I say with a smile, getting up from the chair.
"I see your day's off to a good start. Working already, huh?" she smiles back.
"Not anymore … now that you're awake, I think we can do something else." And as soon as I say this, my cock knows exactly what I'm thinking.
16
Amy
I stand there in the middle of the living room with Susan’s words reaching my ears like a sledgehammer, hammering the truth deep into my soul like a long nail. I’m ruining Parker’s bid for the Senate. I’m ruining his life.
What am I even doing?
I can’t go on like this. I’ve played my mother’s spy for long enough. And, in doing so, I’ve… I’ve fallen for Parker. I need to admit it, even if just to myself. It’s time to quit this charade and, for once in my life, stand up for what’s right. I can’t destroy everything he’s working for, just so my mother realizes her political ambitions.
I need to put an end to this.
“I… I’m sorry, Parker,” I mumble, taking two hesitant steps toward him. He turns toward me, a resigned smile on his face.
“What are you talking about, Amy? This is not your fault,” he tells me, closing the distance between us and caressing my cheek with the back of his hand. “This has nothing to do with you,” he lies, and his lie hurts more than the truth itself. He’s lying because he wants to protect me, to shelter me.
“Of course it does,” I whisper, grabbing his hand with mine. “You heard her… This is a mess. You’ve just lost your campaign manager, and if people ever hear about us… Susan’s right. I need to go.”
“Go where, Amy? What are you talking about? I’m not letting you go anywhere.” Still smiling, almost as if he doesn’t realize how serious the situation is, he brushes a stray lock of hair away from my face and tucks it over my ear.
“You need to fire me,” I blurt out, the words burning their way up my throat. I’m actually doing this. And it’s the right thing. I know it. “You need to fire me, and then you need to go after Susan and get her back.”
“Stop talking nonsense, Amy, you’re --”
“You need to get Susan back,” I continue, talking over him. Now that I’ve started, I need to go all the way. “You have to get your campaign together. You’re so close now… I know it; you know it. You can’t risk everything now.”
Even though what I’m doing now might unleash hell upon my life, I have to do this before it’s too late. I don’t care if my mother comes after me looking for revenge, and I don’t care about some stupid tape anymore. What if my business suffers in the process? I’ll rebuild; I’ll start over.
But I can’t hurt my stepfather.