Billionaire's Tragedy (Standalone Book) (Billionaire Bad Boy Romance) (18 page)

CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR

Olivia

Over
the next twenty-four hours, I did two things almost without stopping. First, I
called around to try and figure out where Senator Bangor would be during the
day so that I could try and accidentally run into him and conduct an impromptu
interview. And second, I thought about Linc Redding.

The first task was
profoundly frustrating because it was as if the senator didn't want to be
found, so I finally gave up trying to track him down and went over to the
Capitol to wait for my chance to ambush him.

The second thing was
sparked by the delivery of a large bouquet of winter flowers accompanied by a
note that read:

Olivia, I enjoyed your company. I
would like to see you again. Soon.

LR.

"I enjoyed your
company?" I said as I shook my head. The man was incredible. I laughed as
I set the flowers on the coffee table. "Who uses polite, corporate
language in a note about a date?"

This was made even more
frustrating because I couldn't shut off the film playing in my head reminding
me of what Linc's lips felt like pressed against mine and what his naked skin
felt like under my fingertips. I wanted to talk to him, but the memory of his
very formal message on my phone made me cringe when I thought about how he must
have done it simply to be polite.

We'd had an erotic play
session after the gala, which had probably been way less interesting than he'd
been anticipating, so he'd escaped under the guise of work and was now trying
to let me down easy by being polite. I got it, and I wasn't going to allow myself
to obsess over something that I couldn't change. We came from two totally
different worlds, and he'd moved back to his, leaving me behind in mine. I was
a big girl and could deal with it, but I wished I didn't have to deal with the
memory of almost having sex with Linc Redding.

On Monday morning, I took
a cab over to the Capitol and camped outside Senator Bangor's office. I didn't
tell anyone who I was because I didn't want them warning the senator before I
got to a chance to approach him. As luck would have it, I ended up running into
him that afternoon outside of the cafeteria. He was a pudgy man who looked like
he hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time, and by the red splotches on
his face, I could tell that he drank quite a bit on a regular basis.

"Excuse me,
Senator?" I called as he walked along the corridor mumbling under his
breath as he read from a stack of papers in one hand and ate from a tuna melt
he carried in the other. His suit looked wrinkled, as if he'd slept on the sofa
in his office.

"Yes? How can I help
you?" he smiled a politician’s smile that told me nothing aside from the
fact that he had no idea who I was.

"I've been following
your career for a long time, Senator, and I just wanted to say how happy I am
that you are encouraging members of your party to work together to pass some
good legislation this session," I said trying to smile like a good
constituent would at a congressional leader they admired.

"Well, thank you,
young lady," he said as his smile spread across his face and his chest
puffed up. "We do what we can to try and work together to benefit the
citizens of this great nation."

"Oh, I know you do,
sir," I said enthusiastically nodding. "And I hope you'll keep doing
what you do best."

"I intend to try,
young lady," he said extending his hand as he smiled even wider. I reached
out and took his hand shaking it firmly, smiling back as I held his gaze.

"Senator, I was
wondering if you could tell me what you think is going to happen with the gun
safety bill this week," I said delivering a blow that caused him to
abruptly pull back his hand and stop smiling. I continued smiling as I waited
for his answer.

"Well, now, we're
all working together to try and pass a comprehensive safety bill that will make
it safe for citizens and maintain the rights of gun owners," he said,
nervously shifting his eyes away from me and toward the hall behind me.

"I've heard that,
but I've also heard that you're not going to have enough votes to pass the
bill," I said in a businesslike fashion. "Is that true, Senator? Is
it true that last week's shooting directly affected your ability to drum up
enough support for HR 8212?"

"I'm sorry, who are
you?" he said as he began backing up. "I didn't get your name."

"Olivia Moore, with
the
Washington Sentinel
,
Senator," I said as I passed him my card. "I'm concerned because
you've been the one touting bipartisan support for the bill and now the rumor
is that you, yourself are undermining the bill in order to curry favor with
Davis Russo and the AWN. Is this true, Senator?"

"I have no comment,
Ms. Moore," Bangor said as he turned and walked back toward the cafeteria
as if looking for a way to escape my questioning.

"Is it true,
Senator, that if you manage to sink the bill before it reaches the vote, you'll
be guaranteed that your campaign will receive the endorsement of the AWN and
that you might be tapped to run as Davis Russo's vice president when he
announces his presidential run next summer?" I asked. I was making things
up on the fly and mixing things I wasn't sure were true in with things I
thought might be.

"Who told you
that?" he asked with a laugh. Bangor turned and walked back towards me
stopping when he was less than a foot away. His smile was an oily grin,
"Who told you Russo was running a presidential campaign?"

"It's all over the
newsrooms, Senator; I'm surprised you haven't heard it before now," I said
feigning a look of complete surprise at his surprise. "In fact, Mr. Russo
almost announced it himself at the gala the other night. Just ask anyone who
was in the Dutch gallery around the time the orchestra started playing Sinatra
tunes."

I knew I was hedging my
bets with that one, but since only Russo, Linc, and I were in the gallery, I
felt like there was less risk in telling an embellished supposition.

"I'm sure I'd have
no idea about anything that Mr. Russo claims to be involved in," Bangor
said with a smile designed to show me that he was unconcerned, but in his
attempt to hide his true feelings, he'd forgotten that I could see his clenched
fist turning his sandwich into a compressed ball of fish and mayo. "So, if
you have no other questions, Ms. Moore, I'll be heading back to my office for
my afternoon meetings."

"No, that's all I
wanted to ask," I said with as bright a smile as I could muster, and with
that, Senator Bangor turned and marched toward his office muttering under his
breath. I knew I'd hit a nerve, but I wasn't quite sure which nerve I'd hit
since he could have been mad about a number of things I'd said. I wondered if
it had been the guess that he'd been trying to sink the bill or if it was the
fact that Russo might be announcing his run for president.

As I headed down the
corridor toward the exit, I was turning the possibilities over in my mind when
I walked right into none other than Lincoln Redding.

"Uhf!" I
grunted as I collided with the tall dark figure. Before I saw who it was, I
said, "Jeez, what is it with you Washington men always getting in people's
way? Why don't you-"

"Hello,
Olivia," Linc said with a smile. "You're a hard woman to get a hold
of."

"Yeah, well, I've
been busy," I said stepping back and eyeing him warily. "How are you,
Redding?"

"I'm well, thank you
for asking," he said, still wearing that infernal smile. "I called
you and left a message, but you didn't return my call."

"Like I said, I've
been busy," I said defensively. "Some of us actually have to work for
a living, you know?"

"Ouch, that hurts."
He faked a wince, but didn't stop smiling. "But I guess I kind of deserve
that, don't I?"

"But thanks for the
flowers," I said as I tried hard to keep from staring into his mesmerizing
blue eyes. It was nearly impossible and as the smell of his cologne drifted
into the air between us, I felt a little dizzy.

"I'm glad you liked
them," he said. "I was trying to make up for not calling
sooner."

"What is wrong with
you, Redding? Did you hit your head?" I asked. I was suspicious of this
kindness and his willingness to own up to the call. I was used to him pushing
back and calling me stubborn or mouthy.

"No, I'm just trying
to do my best to show you that I'm actually interested in you and invite you on
a real live date."
 

"Is this a
joke?"

"Not in the
least," he said with a smile. I stared at him, not knowing what to say, so
he continued. "I'd like to take you out on Friday, if you're free."

"Yeah, I think I'm
available," I nodded. I wanted to see where this was going.

"Good, I'll send a
car for you in the morning around ten. Is that okay?"

"That's fine,"
I said, looking at him suspiciously.

"Dress casually. I
have a fun day planned, but it will entail a lot of walking," he said as
he reached out and took a strand of hair between his thumb and forefinger,
rubbed it and then let go. "I've been thinking of you a lot, Olivia."

"Uh, yeah, you've
been in my thoughts, too," I said backing away so that I was at a safe
distance. I didn't know how to relate to this man who was being nice and
polite. Linc and I had been at odds since the moment we'd met, and now, he was
being nice.

"Friday, then?"
he said.

"Friday," I
agreed. And with that, Linc Redding turned and walked out of the Capitol,
whistling.

CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE

Linc

"
You
son of a bitch, Redding!" Larry
Bangor shouted as he pulled back his arm and then punched me in the face. The
force of his fist connecting with my jaw knocked me against the wall and gave
Bangor time to come after me still swinging. I ducked and narrowly missed a
second punch before Brant and two other poker players grabbed Bangor and pinned
him to the wall.

"What the hell are
you doing, Bangor?" I shouted as I wiped the blood from my face with the
back of my hand.

"You are an asshole,
Redding!" he shouted as he struggled to break free. "I'm going to
kill you!"

"Bangor, calm the
hell down and tell me why you're out for blood," I said as I tried to
regain control of the situation.

"Oh, c'mon, Redding,
you know your little minion told you all the gory details," he sneered as
he continued to struggle only to find that it was useless.

"What the hell are
you talking about?" I asked, genuinely confused.

"That redhead
reporter from the
Sentinel
came to
the Hill today and told me all about your plan to back Russo in his run for
president," Bangor spat. "Nice way to show loyalty to someone who was
willing to get the votes you needed to pass the bill."

"What the
hell?" I said, looking at Brant who shrugged and then looked back at
Bangor. "What are you talking about, Bangor?"

"You're going to
throw money behind Russo so that he can get the party nomination and you can
get your bill passed," he said, looking around the room. "You and
Russo have been in this together all along and you've been using me as
insurance."

"I have no idea what
you are talking about," I said as I tried very hard to understand his
illogical conclusion. "I wouldn't endorse Davis Russo for dog catcher, let
alone get involved in some kind of dirty deal that might lead to him becoming
president. You should know me better than that, Bangor."

"Your little
girlfriend said that Russo is planning to launch a run for the White House next
year and that he's tossed around the idea of asking me to be his running
mate," Bangor said more calmly, then muttered under his breath, “As if
someone with my years of experience wouldn't run his own campaign."

"Wait, Russo is
going to run for president?" I asked. "How on earth would he ever
make that happen?"

"I don't know, but
between your money and the AWN's power, I can see that he would have a lot of
support!" Bangor shot back. "I thought I was helping you get the
votes needed to pass the bill so that you'd back me!"

"For what?"

"For
president!" he shouted. The room was silent for a moment and then everyone
except for Bangor and me burst into laughter.

"Good one, Larry!"
Brad Mason shouted. "That's a great joke!"

"It's not a
joke," I said holding up my hand. The laughter ceased, and I looked at
Bangor, who stood miserably looking around at his fellow senators, realizing
that he didn't have the kind of power or respect he'd imagined. "Bangor,
you thought you'd have my support if you got the bill passed, but how did you
think you were going to get the endorsement of the AWN?"

"I didn't," he
said looking around. "I thought that the party would back me as the
candidate because I'd worked out a bipartisan deal and made everyone happy and
that you'd donate to my Super PAC."

"What fairytale
world have you been living in, Bangor?" I said. I was stunned that this
man would have assumed so much without knowing anything about me. "I mean,
really, when have I ever said I'd support you in any way? Think about it. Do
you have any idea of what I really think of you?"

"You respect my
power and position," he said lifting his chin and looking me straight in
the eye.

"Try again," I told
him shaking my head.

"You know I have
power, and you know I know how to use it to get what I want," he said,
regaining some of his arrogant attitude now that he'd been released from the
hold the other senators had put him in.

"Guess again,
Bangor," I said in a bored voice.

"I'm the most
distinguished senator on the Hill!" he cried.

"Only in your own mind,"
I replied. "Let's try this again, Senator, shall we? You are a
foul-mouthed bloviate who was elected because the rich and privileged Chicago
constituents got together and threw their money behind a candidate that they
knew they could buy. You are weak minded and without morals, and you'll sell
your services to the highest bidder. Stop me when I hit something that isn't
true, won't you?"

Bangor stood open-mouthed,
staring at me as I ran down a list of the dirty deals he'd been involved in and
how they'd affected his fellow congress people. When I was finished, a few of
the senators had turned their backs and resumed drinking at the bar. Those who
hadn't been fully aware of Bangor's actions stood staring at him with open
disgust.

Jeff Graham stepped forward
and spoke. "I think it would be wise for you to leave now, Senator Bangor.
I think we've all seen and heard enough."

"But-" Bangor
began.

"I'm going to second
the Senator's suggestion," I said as I walked to the door and opened it. I
gestured out toward the street. "Goodnight, Mr. Bangor."

Bangor gave us all a
murderous look and then stalked toward the door. He stopped in the doorway and
said, "I'm not done with you yet, Redding. Don't forget that I can still
make or break your bill."

"If this is the
price I have to pay, then so be it," I said calmly. I knew that I was
playing a risky game of chicken and that if Bangor wanted to, he could sink the
entire bill.

"This isn't the last
of this, Redding," he said, narrowing his eyes and then walking out the
door.

I quietly closed the door
behind him and then turned to the remaining guests, smiled and said, "Now,
shall we all head downstairs and play some poker, gentlemen?"

#

Once
all the guests had gotten their holiday fill of poker, alcohol, and other
entertainment offered on the third floor, Brant and I sat down in the study.

"Whiskey?" I
asked as I pulled a bottle of Jamison out of the bottom drawer in the desk and
produced two glasses.

"Don't mind if I
do," he smiled. I poured us each a glass and then handed him one. We
sipped for a while before he asked, "What the hell happened tonight?"

"I'm not sure, my
friend," I admitted, rubbing the spot on my face where Bangor's fist had
connected. I winced and said, "Bangor was pissed as hell about
Russo."

"I think he was more
pissed about thinking that you had sold him out to Olivia," Brant said as
he watched me rub my jaw. "That's going to be one big ugly bruise
tomorrow."

"I've had
worse," I shrugged. "What are we going to do about this turn of
events?"

"What do you want me
to do?"

"Just make sure the
Chinese don’t back out of the deal," I said. "There might be a way
around this, even if the bill doesn't pass, but I've got some work to do."

"You want to fill me
in?" he asked.

"Not yet; let's just
keep moving forward as though the vote will go in our favor," I told him, thinking
about the next moves I would make in order to ensure that we wouldn't lose our
shirts. I wanted to carefully plot the next steps, but in order to do that, I
needed to schedule a meeting with a few key players.

"Linc?" Brant
said and drew me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?"

"Where did you
go?" he asked. "Dreaming about your reporter?"

"Oh, please," I
said, waving my glass in his direction. "Wait, me? What about you and your
declaration of love?"

"Who told you
that?" he asked with a suspicious look.

"I heard it from the
horse's mouth," I said, raising a knowing eyebrow and taking a sip from my
glass.

"Mo told you what I
did?"

"She sure did."

"I see," he
nodded. "And did she say how she would respond?"

"She went on about
never regretting the chances you take but always regretting the ones you didn't
or some such nonsense," I teased as I watched him closely. Brant nodded
and sipped his whiskey.

"You know, she's
right. Telling her how I felt was the scariest thing I've ever done, but now
that I've done it, I feel at peace. No matter what she decides, at least I'll
know that I didn't miss my chance because I was too afraid to speak up."

"What are you going
to do if she decides in your favor?" I asked.

"What the hell are
you talking about?"

"If she says yes and
dumps the boy toy, is what I'm talking about," I replied.

"Good God, man,
then
I'll thank my lucky stars and spend the rest of my life
trying to convince her to marry me!" he cried.

"You're
insane," I said.

"Why? Because I'm
not afraid to grab a hold of what I want and commit myself to getting it?"
he asked as he stood up and started pacing the room. "I don't think I'm
the crazy one, Linc. I think I'm saner than I've ever been in my entire life. I
know what I want and I'm going after it full force."

"Slow down,
Skippy," I laughed. "She hasn't said yes yet."

"Don't you get
it?" he said as he stopped pacing and stared at me. "It doesn't
matter whether you win or not, the victory is in going after what your heart
knows it wants and being honest about it. It's vulnerability, my friend."

"Vulnerability?"

"Yes, opening
yourself up to the possibilities and grabbing hold of them even when you have
no idea whether you'll get what you want," he said excitedly. "Once
you know what your heart wants, you have to go for it!"

"Thank you, Mr.
Inspiration," I said dryly. "I'm completely ready to get on board
now."

"Don't be a
pessimist, Linc," he smiled. "I know it's hard to believe it, but
it's true. I'm scared as hell that Mo will end up telling me I'm crazy and
wrong and that there's no way in the world that we can make this work, but the
other side of it is that she says yes and we do make it work!"

"But what if it all
goes to hell in a hand basket once you've gotten what you want?"

"So what if it
does?" he replied. I looked up at my friend and saw him standing in front
of me smiling the biggest, most stupid smile I'd ever seen.

"Then you're
heartbroken and disappointed and crushed by failure," I said.

"But, Linc, what if
it does work?" he whispered. "That's the part that is so appealing!"

"You're still
insane," I said taking another sip from my glass.

"You're just
jealous."

"Jealous? Of
what?"

"Jealous that I have
the balls to tell a woman how I feel about her and let myself fall," he
said. "Why don't you tell Olivia what you feel about her?"

"I don't know what I
feel about her!" I protested.

"I beg to
differ," he said with a knowing look. "I've seen the two of you
together. There's something going on."

"I've known her less
than a month," I said shaking my head. "There's nothing going on.
Besides, she is stubborn and brutally honest."

"Two qualities you
love and respect in your friends," he said as he walked across the room
and sat down again.

"She's so
defensive," I countered.

"Pot calling the
kettle black, I'd say," he quipped.

"You're becoming
annoying," I said testily. "Besides, I asked and she's agreed to go
out with me on Friday."

"Where are you
taking her?" he asked without commenting on my quick shift.

"I don't know, I
thought maybe we'd go to the movies and then dinner," I said giving him a
look that was meant to shut him up.

"That sounds like a
boring date for a guy who's worth a billion dollars," he said. "What
are you really planning?"

"I've got an
idea," I said as I held up the bottle and offered him another shot of
whiskey. Brant nodded and I walked across the room and poured him another
glass.

"Oh, well, as long
as you've got an idea, everything will be just fine," he grinned.