Changed. Everything had changed in the blink of an eye. It was overwhelming and unsettling.
I went back to my temporary bedroom and looked over at my laptop sitting on the desk in the corner. I hadn’t gone online since I’d been here, but I needed to see if there were any new posts. Plus, I was getting bored.
With an unsteady hand, I opened it. Once it had booted up, I went to the search engine and typed my name in the search box and clicked ENTER. When I saw the list of websites that mentioned my name, my stomach twisted. It wasn’t only the National Reveal, there were several tabloids and one prominent paper. That was the one I opened.
The headline, LOSING A GREAT SENATOR, felt like a punch to the chest. The tagline beneath it read, PRESCOTT RUMORED TO STEP DOWN TO PROTECT GIRLFRIEND.
U.S. Senator Drake Prescott will be holding an impromptu news conference scheduled for noon today at the Grand Hotel. Rumor has it he will be finishing his current term, but will be removing his name from the ballot . . .
The words blurred through my tears. I closed the laptop and looked at the clock. It was eleven a.m. and I needed to stop him. Why didn’t he tell me?
Something inside me snapped. I quickly changed out of my shorts and put on a sundress Gretchen had given me, slipped my feet into flats, and flew down the stairs. Jack had already left and I didn’t have time to call for a cab, so I grabbed a set of keys to one of the many cars Jack had stored in his garage and headed outside.
The key in my hand had a Mercedes symbol on it, so I scanned the garage for a Mercedes. Unfortunately, most of the cars were Mercedes. Annoyance mixed with amusement as I shook my head. Really, Jack?
When I pushed the DOOR UNLOCK button on the key fob and pointed it toward the cars, the lights flashed on a cute silver convertible. Score! I glanced inside to see it was a stick shift, which luckily I knew how to drive.
I sent Mason a quick text.
LUCY: I’m headed to the Grand Hotel. Drake is holding a press conference. Can you come?
MASON: I’m not far. I’ll meet you there.
LUCY: Thank you!
I pulled out of Jack’s winding driveway, exited the gate, and zipped toward the hotel. The clock on the dash told me I only had fifteen minutes before Drake was scheduled to speak, but late morning traffic was a nightmare. I glanced out my right window and noticed a tiny gap leading to the exit on the highway.
I smiled as I remembered the sporty car I was in. “Okay, SL Roadster, let’s see what you got.”
The car whipped into the next lane when I released the clutch and pressed the gas. I prayed I wouldn’t get pulled over, but I was off the highway in an instant.
Before I knew it, I was tossing the keys to the hotel valet. I ran to the front desk and asked the clerk what room the press conference was in.
The woman’s eyes widened. “Oh my God! You’re her!”
Gasping for breath, I pleaded, “Can you please help me?”
“They’re in the Lafayette Room,” she said, and when she glanced over my shoulder, her expression hardened with resolve. “There are reporters behind you. If you go to the right, there are stairs beyond this wall. Go to the third floor and you’ll see it.”
“Thanks.” I gave her a smile and took off as quickly as I could.
The stairs felt like they were unending as I hustled, taking them two at a time, which was a challenge wearing a dress. When I saw the gray door with a large number three on it, I slammed into the metal bar to open it. I rushed down the narrow hallway until I saw a door labeled LAFAYETTE. There weren’t any people around, which I thought was odd, but I didn’t care.
When I yanked the door open and stepped inside, I was in the back kitchen area. A few cooks and wait staff gave me curious looks as I walked quickly through the kitchen, acting as if I belonged there.