“Had shit to do. Wanted to get this over with.” I shrugged. “Glad I did. That was entertaining as hell.”
“My office. Now.” She bit out each word like it hurt.
She stalked past me, her robe billowing behind her like she was some kind of avenging angel instead of a politician who’d just been caught with her face between her assistant’s legs.
I followed, still fighting the urge to laugh.
Her office was classic Vivica; all dark wood and leather, walls lined with photos of her pressing flesh with senators and celebrities, every surface carefully arranged to project power and success. The desk alone probably cost more than most people made in six months.
She closed the door with a sharp click and whirled on me. “You will never speak of what you just saw.”
I dropped into one of her expensive leather chairs, stretching my legs out like I owned the place. “You never cease to amazeand surprise me, Vivica. Just when I think you can’t shock me anymore.”
“I’m serious, Prentice.”
“I bet you are.” I grinned wider. “But Indya though? I gotta say, she’s a baddie. Can’t blame you. I might’ve hit too if she was offering.”
Her jaw clenched so tight I heard her teeth grind. “This isn’t funny.”
“It’s a little funny.” I leaned back, getting comfortable. “Actually, it’s a lot funny. And you know what else? I think I just got myself one hell of a bargaining chip.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“What would the city think,” I continued, “if they knew their mayor—their family values, law and order, traditional marriage mayor—was a closeted lesbian getting her face sat on by her assistant? On a Tuesday morning? In her living room?” I whistled low. “That wouldn’t play well with your voter base. Especially not in an election year.”
Something flickered across her face. Not quite fear, but close enough.
“I wasn’t the first to cheat in this marriage,” she said, voice tight as a wire. “Dante’s been fucking anything with a pulse for years. Multiple women. I have names.”
“Then why stay married to him?”
“Because I have more money than he does.” She said it like it was obvious. “My shares in Banks Reserve alone are worth more than everything he has combined. And if I can prove infidelity in court, he walks away with nothing. Not a dime. Not a share. Nothing.” She pressed her fingers to her temples like this conversation was giving her a migraine. “But that’s not your concern.”
“You’re right. It’s not.” I leaned forward. “So what do you want from me, Vivica? Why am I here? Because I know it’s not for a family reunion.”
She moved to her desk, sat down with the posture of a queen on a throne, and folded her hands together. “I want a divorce from Dante. But I can’t be the one to file. I can’t be the one who looks like the villain in this story.”
“So you want me to do what exactly?”
“I need dirt on him. Evidence of his affairs—photos, videos, witnesses. His financial misdeeds. Anything I can use to bury him in the court of public opinion. I need the people to hate him so much that when I file, I’m the victim. The wronged wife. The woman who stood by her man until she just couldn’t anymore.”
I stared at her, trying to process the audacity. “You want me to destroy your husband so you can play the sympathy card and keep your political career alive while you’re out here getting your pussy ate by your assistant?”
“Yes.”
At least she was honest.
“What about Serenity?” I asked. “You thought about her in all this? If her father gets dragged through the mud and exposed like that, it’ll destroy her. She’s your daughter. You care about that?”
“Serenity will be fine. She’s strong. She’ll recover.” Vivica waved a hand dismissively. “But I won’t. I have an election next year. If I can get the public to sympathize with me, rally behind me as the betrayed wife, I’ll win in a landslide. Dante’s humiliation is a small price to pay for four more years in office.”
I stood up so fast the chair scraped against the hardwood floor. “You’re out your damn mind if you think I’m helping you with this.”
“Where are you going?”
“Home. Actually, Target. I need some toilet paper.” I headed for the door.
“Prentice, you need to help me.”
