“This will stain the bureau’s reputation,” Jim grumbled.
Evangeline’s heart raced, but getting indignant would only make her look guiltier. The agency’s unwritten rule—‘Don’t embarrass the Bureau’—permeated her every action. “Do what you’ve gotta do. Like I said, that’s not me.”
“We have to put you on administrative leave, pending the outcome of our investigation,” said the HR rep.
Fuck. Fuck me.“Are you serious?”
“Afraid so,” Jim replied.
“Can I return to New Jersey while this dies down?”
The Human Resources employee shook her head. “I’m sorry, Evangeline, but we have to follow procedure on this one.”
“How ‘bout reassigning my cases until I’m cleared?” Evangeline asked. “That way they won’t just sit.”
“The team can’t handle any more. Your caseload will go unworked until this issue is resolved.” He stood. “I’ll need your laptop, badge, and service weapon.”
There was nothing left to say. Defeated before the day had even begun, and guilty until an internal investigation could clear her, Evangeline rose. She couldn’t imagine how she was going to prove the woman in the video wasn’t her. Compare tit size or the sounds she made during sex? Her stomach dropped.
She returned to her desk and felt the uneasy stares of coworkers drilling into her. After she’d given the requested items to her boss, he escorted her to the lobby.
“I’m sorry,” Jim said. “My hands are tied on this one.”
She refused to respond.
“I’ll keep you posted.”
She shrugged into her wool coat, pushed through the front door, and barreled into a swarm of media. Seeing the press milling around the Department of Justice wasn’t surprising, but getting a microphone shoved in her face was.
“So, Ms. Worthington, are you the other woman?” asked a reporter.
“How long have you been sleeping with the Deputy Director of Domestic Communications?” shouted a second.
“Isn’t Mr. Caraway your sister’s father? Does your family know?”
Like a deer blinded by high beams in the middle of the road, she froze. The press closed in, enveloping her in a sea of people. She felt lightheaded and shuddered in a shaky breath.
Someone wrapped a strong hand around her upper arm. “Good morning, everyone.”
Evangeline whipped her face around and her heart jolted. Sin had appeared out of nowhere and stood beside her. A pillar of strength and control. His presence anchored her in a way that she’d never felt from any other person. She’d almost forgotten how damn good he felt.
Almost.
She breathed.
“You guys have a job to do, but let’s respect Ms. Worthington’s privacy while Develin & Associates clears her of any wrongdoing.” His deep voice and relaxed cadence, paired with his signature brand of sophistication, had the press locked on his every word.
“So, she’s not the woman in the video?” asked a reporter.
“Would I be helping her if she was?”
“What proof do you have that it’snother?” shouted another.
Instead of answering, he shot the press a picture-perfect smile before turning his complete attention on Evangeline. “Ready to head out?”
She forced out a, “Yes.” She wanted it to appear like she was fine, that this was just another Monday in D.C., but inside she was drowning in a myriad of emotions. Anger, frustration, and doubt topped the list. For a woman who worked hard at tamping down her feelings, she couldn’t get a handle on any of them.
Sin led her through the center of the crowd—which parted like the Red Sea for Moses—and into his waiting sedan at the curb.
