She now sat next to a man she despised. He was going to pay for all the hell he’d put her through. But, for now she’d have to bide her time and just focus on the Governorship.
“Alicia. Did you hear me?”
She was pulled out of her thoughts and slowly turned to look at Ryan. Icily she responded, “No. What...did you say?”
“Harry just called and the press is set up outside of our campaign headquarters. He just wanted to give us a heads up. I’ll need to actually touch you to help you out of the car and I know how much you love it when I do that.”
“I know how to play a loving and dutiful wife, Ryan. I’ve been playing my part for years. If you’d been playing your role more successfully…maybe we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“Touché, Mrs. Carter, Touché.”
The limo pulled up to the curb. Throngs of press and paparazzi were present. As soon as Ryan got out of the car the camera’s bulbs started to flash. He walked around to open Alicia’s door and reached inside to help her out of the car.
Under her breath, Ryan overheard Alicia saying, “Lights, camera…action”
Chapter 7
Jason and Vicky had been in the air for several hours. They’d been quiet for most of the trip. She sat in the crook of his arms.
She lifted her head to see Jason’s head thrown back with his eyes closed. She knew he wasn’t sleeping because his breathing was too choppy.
“Jason, do you really think he’s going to file for full custody of Angel?”
“My gut tells me this is a political stunt but we’ll know more once we land and talk to my lawyers. Even if he does, I don’t want you to worry. He’ll never get custody of Angel.”
Vicky rubbed the back of her neck and pinched the bridge of her nose. This whole ordeal had given her a massive headache.
“Why now after all of these months?”
“More than likely he was trying to hide the skeletons in his closet before he went public.”
“He really made me sound like a horrible person in that press conference.”
Jason took his finger and turned Vicky’s face towards his, “You know that you’re not. You’re an amazing woman and that’s why I love you. I don’t want you worrying about this. I told you that I’ve got it.” He gently kissed her on the lips.
Vicky knew that Jason would take control of this situation but was a little uncomfortable that he was treating her like a porcelain doll. She wanted to fight this together.
The pilot came over the intercom, “Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford, we’ve been cleared for landing. We should be putting the plane down in the next few minutes. So, please buckle up.”
*****
As soon as their plane landed, both Jason and Vicky’s cell phones started ringing. Vicky had turned her phone off while they were on the island because Jason had his and was checking it periodically. If there was an emergency she knew they would call him first.
Jason answered his phone and from the sounds of it he was giving someone instructions about a car meeting them at the private gate.
Vicky looked at her phone and wasn’t going to answer until she saw that it was Sandy.
“Hey…Sandy.”
“Hey. How are you doing?”
“Aside from a massive headache and this child being really active, as well as I can. I just want to get home to see Angel.”
“I understand, but what the hell? I can’t believe Ryan’s doing this.”
“Believe it because he is.”
“Franklin and Mr. Rutherford Sr. have been working overtime to get a handle on it. You guys have just been through so much…you don’t deserve this. But, between Jason, Franklin, and Mr. Rutherford they are going to crush his ass. He might have bitten off more than he can chew. Political career be damned.”
Vicky rubbed her stomach as she felt her child move.
“I hope so. That press conference was…something else. And, I hate to say this but if I didn’t know any better Ryan and Alicia came off more than credible; sympathetic even.”
Sandy hated to agree but it was true. “Honestly? They really did. But, it doesn’t matter what the public thinks only what he can prove in court. We all know he can’t prove any of that bullshit.”
“Jason thinks this is just a political stunt. What kind of person would drag innocent people into the muck like this?”
“A politician.”
“My god…when I met Ryan he was the opposite of this person.”
“He’s trying to save his political career. Mad men will do anything.”
“But why? It’s been months since the accident. No one knew or ever had to know about this situation.”
“There were a lot of people at the hospital that day. Maybe someone threatened to do what you and Jason threatened to do and expose him. If he exposes himself, he eliminates the possible threat. You know he’s gearing up for the election, someone would have found out.”
Vicky rubbed her back and stomach “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Look…Jason’s waving to me. The car is here. I’ll call you when I get home.”
Sandy laughed out loud “You won’t have to because I’m already at your house. Everybody is at your house; Angel, your aunt, Franklin, Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford, I think some PR people, a gazillion lawyers and their people. Yes, it’s Grand Central Station at your house.”
“Great. Just what Angel needs a house full of frantic adults. How is she? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. Luckily, she’s so young. She has
