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He closed his eyes for a moment as if I’d hit him. “Paige, I’m truly sorry with what’s happening, and I’m sorry I can’t offer a place to stay, but I can pay for a—”
“No,” I shot out quickly. “Thank you, Governor, but I don’t take handouts. Besides”—I crossed my arms and lifted my shoulder—“with the way funds, money, and transactions are being dug into, it wouldn’t be wise to leave any kind of paper trail from you to me. It could look bad if it was discovered and leaked.”
He smiled, but it appeared sad. “This is why you’re so good at your job. Always thinking two steps ahead.”
“I don’t have a job,” I said, trying to keep my tone even, but the weight of the situation was coming down hard. What Roman called two steps ahead, I called worst-case scenario. Yet I was currently living in a “worst-case scenario” I hadn’t seen coming.
Roman didn’t look shocked at my admission. As if he was expecting I’d have trouble finding a job. “What about family or friends? Going back home to regroup?”
The thought made my stomach hurt. “My only friends are currently outside packing up a truck and family isn’t an option.”
“Why?”
If Roman was trying to help, trying to bring up some kind of option, it wasn’t working. Because I’d thought of what going home to Indiana meant. Who I’d have to face. And there was no way, after everything I’d built and fought for, I was giving in now.
“Indiana isn’t an option and neither is family.” No-fucking-way were either happening. Not to mention, “The job market is here, not in my hometown.”
Roman nodded. “I understand.” And something in his eyes made me believe him. Roman had traveled once with Amy to our small hometown and saw firsthand how it could have a negative effect on someone. “Do you have a lead on a job?”
I really wanted to say, “Why do you care?” but I didn’t. Roman, after all, had become a friend over the past several months. His love and loyalty lay with Amy, and Amy cared about me. I appreciated Roman questioning me to death, but in the end, this wasn’t something he or my friends could help with.
“It’s not looking good,” I said honestly. “But I’ll figure it out.”
“I respect you, Paige, and am anxious for this to get sorted out. In the meantime, you need a job and place to live. I know a guy who is losing his executive assistant next week. She’s going on maternity leave and he is looking for a three-month replacement.”
I frowned. “What campaign?”
Roman shook his head. “No campaign. I think for now . . .” He glanced at the door quickly and took a moment before finishing his sentence, though I had a pretty good idea what he was trying to say. “You’re done in politics, Paige.”
My chest closed around my lungs. I had gathered that, but hearing the governor say it out loud stung deeper than I was ready to admit.
“I’ve called around, Paige. Everyone knows about the situation. It’s good you’re not named in any capacity as being a part of the scandal.” The word yet hung between us, though Roman had the grace not to say it. “But I think it’s time to put your skills to other uses. You’d be a great executive assistant. You practically ran the office and Bill’s schedule. It’s something until you get on your feet. Maybe you can even get a recommendation from this job once you leave.”
I nodded. It sounded like a hopeful idea. But still, “Why would he hire me with all this going on?”
Roman met my eyes. “He’s in big business, not politics. He knows about the scandal, but since you’re not named, he has no idea you’re involved. Just that a lot of people resigned. I told him you were fantastic and he agreed to an interview.”
“I don’t know.”
“It comes with room and board. Since this job is around the clock and quite demanding, it is held on his property. He has several homes and offices, and there is a guest house where you can stay. Plus, it’s upstate, which would be good for”—his eyes went to the window and settled on Amy—“everyone involved.”
Even when Roman was trying to help, it sounded like he was also trying to keep me away. Granted, staying away wasn’t a bad idea. My pride was always something I had a hard time letting go of, but something about this didn’t feel one-hundred percent right. It was as though letting go of politics symbolized letting go of everything I’d built. Everything I was, or tried to be.
But what I was, was an unemployed, unhirable woman with a shady past and no one to believe in.
I opened my mouth to say something, tell Roman thanks but no thanks, that I could find my own way in the world. I’d been doing it long before he became my boss. Somehow, I could figure this out. I wasn’t the girl I once was. I wasn’t scared and running from the past.
Well . . . maybe I was.
The tough shell I’d built was already chipping and insecurity was seeping in.
I shook my head. No. No fucking way was I going out anything but a strong, confident woman who could take care of herself. Fuck everything else. I’d be fine. I had to be.
“Think about it,” Roman said softly right as Hazel and Amy came in. Roman faced Amy and wrapped an arm around her. “Let’s get the rest of these loaded so we can get Hazel on the road to Columbia.”
Hazel clapped a little and Amy walked toward me as Roman took a large box out.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
