I felt sick.
“I’m not saying what Hunter did was right. But I am saying I understand,” Susie said. “And I’m with Kate. I trust Karen even less than Hunter, and I bet she acquired those photos another way. You’re a grown woman, Meg. Sure, your life is a shit show, but you have some agency. I would say that I can’t imagine what’s happening to Hunter’s sisters, but I can. And I’m sure it’s not good.”
“He could have just asked me,” I said, stabbing a fry in ketchup, but I felt too sick to eat it. Kate looked like she was about to cry. I felt a little sniffle myself. I wiped angrily at my nose.
“I know,” Susie said. “But maybe you can help him out with rescuing his sisters from the cult? After they’re safe, you can regroup.” She shrugged. “I feel like you and I complain about our jobs in the public service, but ultimately we signed on to help people. The right thing to do is help Hunter. Even if he doesn’t deserve it.”
* * *
I couldn’t sleepthat night. The greasy food didn’t help. What if I had made a mistake? I stared at my phone, scrolling through my messages with Hunter.
It wasn’t just the photos Karen had. She had all my correspondence with him as well, going back, well, going back to when he and I had first met.
Gosh, I had been so in love with him back then! And really up until two days ago.
I still don’t trust him.
Karen wasn’t some sort of super hacker girl—she had gone to law school. There was no way that Karen would have the photos unless he had handed them to her. That was what it came down to. I did feel sorry for his sisters, but that wasn’t a free pass for him to blackmail me.
I flipped through the document Leif had given me.
Hunter had another thing coming if he thought he was going to post those pictures online or blackmail me into doing anything. I was done trusting him.
I just needed to figure out the best way to have him be the one shocked and surprised.
* * *
I had spentthe morning and into the afternoon cleaning—scouring the bathroom and kitchen, vacuuming the rug, washing the windows, doing laundry, and making the apartment nice. The physical labor helped calm me down. Cleaning always helped me settle my mind. There was something about taking chaos and returning it to a pristine and orderly state that I found appealing.
When the girl I had been renting from returned that evening, I handed over the keys.
“I’m glad I made it back for the election!” she said cheerfully as she looked around the apartment. “Also, you left it way nicer than it was when I handed it over to you! And wow, you even bought flowers! You definitely have my vote.” She shook her head. “I watched the debate. Typical man, trying to take credit for women’s ideas. Don’t let the boys get you down!”
I blinked as I walked out into the late afternoon sunshine, my purse slung over my shoulder. “Guess I am officially homeless.”
I had my plan all worked out, though. In exchange for not posting the information about his secret marriage all over the internet, I wasn’t just going to demand that Hunter not post those photos online, I was also telling him that if he won the election, he needed to abdicate and give me the spot. Was it underhanded? Yes. But he had crossed a line.
Then I might (actually, no, I definitely would) give in to the massive guilt I felt and help him save his little sisters.
Meg:Let talk.
Meg:Meet me in two hours.
Hunter:I’m so sorry. I will explain everything.
Meg:This is a negotiation, so leave your excuses at home.
A black SUV limo pulled up to the curb as I was trying to psych myself up to drive over to Hazel’s. The chauffeur stepped out and opened a door for me.
Walter Holbrook poked his head out.
“Meg!” he said. “Come join me. I have champagne.”
“Champagne does sound good,” I admitted, allowing him to help me into the car. I settled in next to him.
Walter slung an arm around my shoulders, drawing me toward him.
At least you have other prospects besides Hunter.
