After the dessert, dishes were cleared. Monica refilled coffee mugs and made sure both her husband and her daughter didn’t have any unmet needs. Peter cleared his throat.
“Yes, Dad?”
“Drew. This situation with Congressman Boyd needs to end. Tonight. I’m willing to help you through whatever crisis you are having. If you need money, just state what you need. Monica, go get the checkbook.”
“Dad! This has nothing to do with money. Mom, sit down for God’s sake.”
Her mother frowned. She looked to her husband. He nodded and she sat.
“Alright then, Drew. What is it then? Did you take something? Maybe on accident? Did that friend you say is missing give you something? Maybe it’s because, he too, was experimenting? There are a lot of new pharmaceuticals these days. Dangerous things. It’s not like when I was in college.”
“It’s not drugs. I wasn’t on anything. Not weed and not some fancy new drug. Nothing. No drugs.”
“Then what? What could make you so spiteful?” He looked at her while lifting both his arms up in a questioning gesture. He was making it clear to Drew that she’d better stop lying. Drew rolled her eyes. Peter slammed both hands down on the table. Monica put her head down.
“Don’t lie to me. Stop with the lies. I won’t have you lie straight to my face in my own house. It’s not acceptable. No more lies.” He was shouting. His face was red.
“Dad. I’m not lying to you. I swear on my life. I swear on my future children’s lives. I swear on Mom’s life.” Drew knew her mother had a sensitive spiritual streak. She looked as her mother raised her head. Monica had streaks of tears running down her cheeks.
“How could you do this to your own family?” Monica asked.
At least her mother believed her now.
“I’m ashamed. I’m sorry, Peter. Our daughter’s really made a mess. Hasn’t she? This is what happens when young women don’t find respectable things to do with their lives. Fornicating with a married man. Drew, how could you do this? He has children. A family. A career. I’m so hurt and so ashamed of you.”
“You act like I raped him, Mom. Seriously, he hit on me.”
“Enough. No more,” Peter said. “I’m calling the Congressman. We’ve been friends for a long time. Drew, I suspect you can spend the night and get some rest?”
“Yeah, sure, of course.” She was feeling better. It was one thing to be thought of as a slut and a wanton whore by her parents, they were old-fashioned people. But to think they’d thought she was a liar, someone that would carelessly lie and hurt other people, that was too much. Drew was glad her mother had whatever womanly instinct inside her that had made it clear to her that Drew was telling the truth, at least about the sex. They hadn’t broached the attack on her life. One thing at a time.
“I’m going to ask Lance, um, Congressman Boyd over for an early lunch tomorrow. Say about eleven. The four of us will discuss where to go from here,” Peter said. The discussion was over.
Monica stood and started clearing the last of the dishes. She knew once Peter was done talking, it was best to be silent.
Drew wanted to continue to defend her integrity and talk about what had happened in the woods and at the cabin and her suspicion about what happened to Marc. “Dad?”
“Tomorrow,” he answered sternly. “And I don’t want to hear anymore of this business about him hiring an assassin. I mean that. We’ll sit down with him tomorrow. We’ll all be pragmatic about this and figure out damage control. But we can’t clear this up if you are going around claiming a United States Congressman sent assassins into the woods to hunt you down. You sound like a crazy person. Do you understand me?”
“Yes.” Drew understood. Trying to convince him now would be like trying to convert a Mormon to atheism. “Goodnight, Mom. Thank you for dinner.” Her mother acknowledged her and told her to sleep well. Her father was silent. Drew left the dining room.
You are such a bastard. I’m going public with my nudes. When the press asks about an affair, my response will be: “Best fuck of my life.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
Liars make the best promises.
~ Pierce Brown
Politicians are known for lying. There’s an old joke: “How do you know a politician is lying? His lips are moving.” I’m not a liar, but there are just times when telling the truth is not prudent. Keeping quiet isn’t lying.
~ Congressman Lance Boyd
Drew Stirling woke up in a strange bedroom for the second morning in a row. It took her a few seconds to remember exactly where she was. Those seconds were peaceful. She didn’t get up. She wished she could go back to that moment when her mind was forgetful and spend the day there. She looked around at her old bedroom and realized if she didn’t get out of bed, she’d end up depressed.
She decided she wouldn’t let her situation overwhelm her. She hunted for a swimsuit hoping to find one that would still fit. She would get in the pool and swim laps, and then she’d do yoga and clear her head. Considering her mother was probably downstairs cooking, Drew thought she’d better put in some extra effort at burning calories.
She’d attempted to find an email address for Marc’s father before she’d gone to sleep, but she didn’t have any luck. She emailed their mutual friend Jim and tried to explain without actually telling him anything that she’d lost contact with Marc. She needed to know if Jim had contact information for any of Marc’s family. She put him out of her mind. Mourning would have to wait.
She found a one-piece suit and headed to the pool. She knew she could find peace swimming. She needed the workout. The exercise would do her body and her mind good. She went through the kitchen on the way to the pool. Her mother was busy preparing food.
“Late lunch has become brunch. The Congressman needed to push up the timing. We are meeting at ten-thirty. Be prompt, dear.” She didn’t look up from the massive Viking range that looked like it belonged in a hotel kitchen. The kitchen smelled heavenly.
“Of course, Mom. Morning,” Drew said. She wanted to sound cheerful.
“Good morning, love. Oh, dear. That suit is too small. Don’t you have anything that fits you properly?”
Drew ignored her and went into the backyard. The lap pool was kept heated because her father was a swimmer too. It was one of the few good habits she picked up from him. Swimming had benefitted her career as a model. It was great for toning, and it used up a lot of calories. But the real benefit Drew felt was the that it allowed her to turn off her brain. She could meditate. Tranquility came to her whenever she swam.
She dropped her towel, kicked off her slippers, and dove in. The water was pleasant. She swam laps and concentrated on the movements. She loved the feeling of her muscles responding as she kicked hard to finish her last lap. She got out of the pool and went to the exercise room for yoga.
Yoga, like swimming, wasn’t just a form of healthy exercise. It was positive and good for her mind too. She promised herself before she moved into the mountain pose to not have a single negative thought. She did not ponder anything troubling. She stretched, posed, and meditated.
After her workouts, Drew showered and put on one of the new outfits her mother had bought for her the day before. She stood in front of the mirror in her bathroom and thought about how she should apply her makeup. She decided to push the boundaries, go very subtle, conservative and business-like.
She chose to go for the professional and uptight look, so she changed outfits. She applied makeup and then studied herself in the mirror. What am I doing? She stripped and hunted in her old closet to find the right outfit.
When Drew heard her father open the front door and greet Lance Boyd her heart started beating faster. She was sitting at the bar in the great room while her mother adjusted and arranged olives, nuts, and cocktail napkins. Drew heard them laugh lightly and chat for a moment before they walked in together.
Drew stood. She was wearing a conservative high-necked sweater.
It was a size too small and it fit her shape like miniature moss growing around a garden stone. Her jeans were body tight and stopped at a pair of Zanotti heels that bordered just north of dirty. Her hair was pulled back tightly, and she wore a pair of stunning pear-shaped diamond earrings that had been a high school graduation gift from her parents. In fact, everything she wore including the makeup had been given to her by her mother. Her makeup was subtle except for her lips. She’d painted them a bit too red, more red than was acceptable for a midday brunch. She knew it would be difficult for her father to criticize her for wearing too much makeup because it was only her lips that stood out.
Lance Boyd approached her and extended his hand. “I’m sorry to meet under these circumstances, Drew, but thank you for being so gracious. I’ve been a friend of your father for so long. It’s killing me to think I’ve caused people I care about so much pain.” He dropped her hand and turned to her mother. “Monica. Thank you for throwing this together, so… So unexpectedly. I’m in your debt, thank you.”
“Let’s talk business after we eat, shall we?” Peter Stirling spoke to the group.
Drew knew he was biting his tongue.
Monica poured mimosas, and they all pretended that they were just there to have a good time. Drew found it both comical and sad. She chastised herself for being just as guilty. I’m playing right along.
“I’m ravenous,” Drew said when they sat to eat. She thought Boyd was being as charming as ever. I’ll be amazed if, by the time he’s done here, my parents don’t disown me.
“So, you see,” Boyd said finishing a joke, “the priest and the politician were both surprised to see each other in Hell.” Everyone but Drew laughed.
After the plates were cleared Peter changed his tone. “Lance, we’ve got a lot of history. So I’m going to really try and understand. I’m going to listen to you explain what happened and what you see as the best course of action to take from here.”
Drew listened as Boyd came up with a tale that was completely brilliant, utterly convincing, and total bullshit. Her parents were buying as if Apple and Google stock were being sold as a two-for-one deal. Drew got so caught up in his presentation that she thought for a minute he was confessing to fucking some other couple’s daughter.
“I never meant to meet with Drew alone. It was a bad decision not to cancel. One of my aides had a family emergency at the last minute, and well, I didn’t want to disappoint Drew. She seemed so excited about getting a chance to help with the PR department, and I really thought it was a good fit. So I, using bad judgment, met with her alone.”
Drew noticed her parents nodding, going along with the story. He continued and Drew never considered interrupting him. She realized it would be counterproductive and make her look bad if she started arguing every single point.
“So,” he continued, “Drew and I discussed business. Nothing inappropriate. Really it just started there, regrettably. Naturally. We ordered a drink. Again, believe me, I realize now how bad of a decision that was. But it was just one drink and we’d covered the business side of things. I figured we’d have a drink, say goodnight, and that would be the end of it. One thing led to another. I know how bad that sounds, Peter, Monica. I would never have planned to… To have any inappropriate relationship… With your daughter. Not with Drew or any other woman. I love my wife. I love my kids. They mean the world to me. I made a terrible mistake. I think that last drink went to my head. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I don’t want to offend either of you with any lurid details. It was wrong. Yes, we had sex that night. It wasn’t an affair. Drew wasn’t lying about the sex. That was true, but I assure you, it wasn’t an affair. We met that one night. And one other night. And I’m truly sorry. I hope you can find it in yourselves to forgive me?”
Peter spoke up. “I don’t condone this behavior, obviously, but I understand. The powerful position, the hours you work, and time away from your family, I understand that. I want to hear from you, Drew.” He looked at her. “Do you want to add anything to the Congressman’s explanation?”
Drew considered her options: Tell the truth and start a huge fight? Agree with the bullshit, call that part over, and then bring up the fucking killer in the woods? Or what? She knew there was a lot at stake here. Boyd proved he was a sociopath. He was so charming, so convincing, that she almost believed his story. As he was talking Drew found herself having to rethink events to try and figure out what had actually happened.
Boyd looked over at her and smiled. It was a friendly smile, not a threatening one, but not a happy smile either.
He is such a fucking sociopath. “I remember it a bit differently, Dad. But the gist is that we had sex. Now you and Mom can quit thinking I’m a liar.”
“I never thought you were a liar,” Monica chimed in. “I just thought you were confused. Or on something. I’m sorry, Drew. I forgive you both. I’d like to never talk about this again. Lance, your poor wife. It’s shameful.” She glimpsed at him for a brief moment before looking down and wiping her eyes.
Peter was silent. Drew could tell he was thinking about his next words. He had put a lot of time, money, and energy into Boyd’s campaign. They’d made a lot of promises to a lot of people. This whole mess would be a lot easier to deal with if they were on the other side of the aisle. Democrats weren’t as hard on their leaders when they committed sexual sins. But for a Republican, especially one that talked endlessly about family values, conservative ideals, church, God, and country, it wasn’t so easy when an extramarital affair went public. It would be doubly embarrassing because of Drew. Not just because she already had name recognition but because she was the daughter of a major donor.
“I will extend my forgiveness, of course. I’m a Christian man after all. But I want to hear that this will never happen again. I’d like to hear a promise from both of you. And then we can talk about strategy going forward.”
“This will never happen again,” Boyd said.
He sounded to Drew like a repentant Boy Scout who in an error of judgment had stolen a piece of fruit. She also knew that he sounded absolutely believable. She knew this with the same certainty that he’d fuck her again if the chance came up. Drew spoke while looking at her father. “It was a mistake, Dad. It won’t happen again. I promise. I’m sorry I let you down.” She meant these words too. She was really sorry. Not so much because her parents felt let down, but because she’d let herself down. She had told herself several times just this morning that she’d never sleep with a married man again. She didn’t like the guilt that came with it.
“I think we all agree that this story should be buried?” Peter Stirling glared at Drew when he asked this. “Drew?” Her father asked when she’d remained silent for too long.
She knew that her father was well aware that Boyd wasn’t going public. “Yes, Father. I’m thinking. I don’t want this broadcast all over the world. But I’m not sure I’m going to sit here and promise you I’ll lie about it either,” she answered.
“Goddamn it, Drew. This is a man’s career and his family at stake.”
“Well then he should have goddamn thought of that before he fucked me!”
“I will not have that kind of talk under my roof, in my house, and at my table!”
His face was red and he was shaking. Drew knew she had crossed the line with him. She looked at her mother. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m not going to promise to lie. That doesn’t even make any sense. If I promise to lie, why would any of you believe my promise in the first place?”
“She has a point, dear,” Monica said.
Drew could see that hearing his wife’s point hadn’t made her father happy, but he said nothing.
Boyd jumped into the discussion. “I respect her decision not to lie. But can we agree not to broadcast it from the rooftops? And is it fair to say that if asked about it by the paparazzi, you’d agree, Drew, to just give them a ‘no comment’? That’s not a lie.”
�
��Yes,” Drew said. “Saying ‘no comment’ is my plan.”
“Okay, I think we have a good accord here. Again, I’m really sorry,” Boyd said.
Drew knew that the easy part was over. She’d purposefully kept the story about her attack in the woods out of the discussion. Her parents didn’t believe it anyway. She wanted to gauge what, if anything, Boyd would say about it without any prompting. He never mentioned it. He hadn’t even hinted at it. So it was time for her to bring it up.
“I was nearly killed two nights ago. What do you have to say about that?” She looked right into Boyd’s eyes and did not blink.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
It is only prudent never to place complete confidence in that by which we have even once been deceived.
~ Rene Descartes
I trust myself. Beyond that, I’d just as soon go to Vegas.
~ Drew Stirling
Drew Stirling held his stare. She saw surprise in his eyes for a brief moment. Then he became the smooth, casual, and charismatic speaker he’d demonstrated he was capable of being. Under pressure, possibly even fueled by it, Boyd was capable of twisting and turning events to suit his purposes.
“Drew, I cannot imagine how scared you must have felt during whatever happened two nights ago. Some crazy person probably on drugs must have really scared you. I believe you. You had a very bad experience, and I’m very sorry. But I promise you, from the bottom of my heart, I’d never have anything to do with any form of criminality. To think anybody can imagine I’d stoop that low, it’s hurtful to me. I’d be offended if it wasn’t that you’d just had such a bad experience on top of this, something we were both ashamed about. That happened between us, and it’s over. Forgiven. That’s in the past… But this? You cannot possibly believe that I’d have someone try to kill you? It’s… It’s not even possible. I’d never do such a thing.”
Undressed To The Nines: A Thriller Novel (Drew Stirling Book 1) Page 22