Page 148 of High Reward

Chapter 39

Lili

“Ishouldbeatthe press conference.”

“Out of the question,” Victor growls.

News broke of Phineas’s body being found two hours ago, and Miranda Brandt is preparing for a press conference to address the ongoing investigation into her son and by extension her and her time as mayor.

“She’s my mother-in-law, and I still have my own reputation to think about.”

“People know you were planning to file for divorce. Won’t it be weird for you to look like the grieving widow?”

I laugh loud and sharp. “Who said anything about grieving? I will be stoic at best. But I don’t want to lose every single contact I have now that he’s gone. I’d like to be able to continue my charity work when all the dust settles.”

Victor looks at the ceiling and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Fine. But you’re not answering any questions. That’s too dangerous. You’re the one who fucking killed him.”

“And there isn’t a single person on the planet who thinks I did it, Vic. You did your job, and Russians are taking the fall.”

He grunts as if he doesn’t want to admit I’m right.

“If you’re going, we should get you over there,” Hunter Novak says.

We’re sitting in his office for a strategy session after Phineas’s body was discovered and a federal investigation triggered. It’s what everyone wanted to have happen except for Victor who wanted to just make the body disappear and have everyone wonder what happened.

Victor stands and holds his hand out to me. “Let’s go before I change my mind,” he grumbles.

I give him a tender smile and brush hair out of his face. “Thank you for trusting me with this. I know how hard it is for you.”

Miranda’s eyes are cold when I approach the small group in the green room at City Hall where the press conference is going to be held.

“It’s really unnecessary for you to be here.”

“I disagree, Miranda. I’m sorry about your son.”

“You mean your husband,” she snaps.

“Sure. Let’s go with that. How’s his assistant? Will she be crying in the front row at the funeral?”

Miranda snorts. “She would have made a better wife anyway.”

“I disagree. My husband is dead, and I need to be with you. It will look better to the public, and you know it.”

Because I’m right, she doesn’t argue, but I can tell she wants to.

We file out into the press room, and Miranda takes the podium to read the prepared statement amending her earlier resignation so that it takes effect immediately due to the death of her son. She also admits to federal charges being filed for election fraud, among other things.

A reporter in the front row asks the first question.

“Mayor Brandt, what do you have to say about the rumors that your son’s body was found in North Las Vegas on the property of a known Russian criminal?”

Her face goes red, then pale, and she clutches her stomach. “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” I guess she wasn’t fully briefed on her son’s cause of death. I momentarily feel bad for the woman.

Her team of handlers immediately step in and shove her away from the podium as the reporter shouts the question again.

“We’ll need to look into these rumors and get back to you," a woman says, adjusting the mic on the podium. At this time, Mayor Brandt will not be taking questions. A statement will be issued regarding her temporary replacement as she fights these ludicrous charges in court, and you should all be ashamed of yourselves for peddling in unsubstantiated rumors while a mother is already grieving the loss of her son.”

And just like that, the press conference is over. People are shouting my name, but I ignore them, following my mother-in-law back into the green room instead.