"All that matters right now is protecting your mother's reputation," Caroline continues, her voice taking on that bright, determined tone that means she's convinced she's right. "The best way to do that is to take responsibility, show maturity, and move on. People will respect the honesty."
"I'm not taking responsibility for something I didn't do!" My voice is louder now, and I can hear the edge of hysteria creeping in. "This video needs to be taken down, and there needs to be an investigation to prove it's a fake. I'm not going to destroy my own reputation just to make your job easier."
"You can’t be serious." Caroline starts to argue, but Mom cuts her off.
“Enough.”
The single word, coming from Senator Quinn, silences the room. Mom looks between Caroline and me, her expression unreadable.
“I will personally contact Cassius Roarke about taking down the video, and I'll hire a specialist to determine if it’s a fake or not.” She turns to me with all the warmth of a December Arctic blizzard. “But in the meantime, Rona, you need to stay out of sight.”
Caroline opens her mouth like she wants to object, but Mom's look stops her cold.
"I will not damage my daughter's reputation without proof," Mom continues, her voice carrying the kind of authority that's made her one of the most powerful senators in the country. "Is that clear?"
Caroline nods reluctantly, but I can see the disagreement written all over her face.
"Thank you," I breathe, feeling some of the tension leave my shoulders.
But Mom's not done. "I'm also making arrangements for you to finish your semester remotely. You won't be returning to campus."
"What?" The relief I felt a moment ago evaporates. "Mom, no. I only have a few months left. I can handle this."
"This isn't negotiable, Rona."
"But I can't justhide—"
"You can, and you will." Her tone brooks no argument, and her beautiful face is getting flustered with anger. "Until this matter is resolved, you’re not going to take any unnecessary risks."
And just like that, my life changes completely. Again.
I'm not going back to school. I'm not going back to my normal life. Instead, I'm going into hiding with a man who haunted my dreams for months. A man who now sees me as nothing but a harebrained, spoiled girl, desperate for attention.
Perfect.
She turns to Darhg, who's remained silent throughout the entire exchange, standing like a statue by the door.
"Darhg, take Rona home. Avoid the press and keep her out of sight."
He nods once, still silent.
"I don't need a babysitter," I protest, even though the idea of spending time with Darhg sends an inappropriate flutter through my stomach that I immediately hate myself for.
I look at Darhg, searching his face for any reaction to this dramatic change in his assignment. Going from head of security for a senator to babysitting her disaster of a daughter can't be what he signed up for. But his expression remains perfectly stony. The only indication that he has actual feelings about this is the way his eyes glance my way as he swallows. I follow the movement of his throat with something akin to dread.
There’s no way he’s happy to be stuck with me.
"You need protection." She delivers her last directive with the kind of finality that's shaped my entire life. “And that's exactly what you're going to get.”
She straightens and squares her shoulder, then looks at me for a long moment before returning her attention to Darhg. I feel my guts melting like the world is going to end, and I’m not disappointed by what comes next.
“Darhg, I'm reassigning you exclusively to Rona's protection until further notice. Caroline will coordinate the details, but from this moment forward, she's your only priority.”
The words hang in the air like a guilty verdict, and I feel like crawling under the conference table and staying there until the whole world forgets I exist.
Mom's phone buzzes, and she glances at it with the kind of expression that means the outside world is demanding her focus again.
"I need to get back out there," she says, smoothing her hair and checking her reflection in the window. "Caroline, damage control. Darhg, get her out of here quietly."
