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Keeping her voice low, she replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Sara sat down and leaned closer. “I know you’re sleeping with Dylan. If you think it will last, you’re wrong.” She paused for a moment, as if waiting for some kind of response from Callie.
Don’t take the bait. “I need to use the ladies’ room.” Callie pushed back her chair and came to her feet.
Sara smirked. “Wait, you’ll see.”
Callie bit down on her tongue, afraid if she didn’t, something she couldn’t take back would slip out as she walked away. As quickly as possible, she weaved her way through the ballroom. She’d noticed a sign for at least one restroom earlier when she’d first come in, so she headed
in that direction. A few minutes of privacy would be nice. Between the general stress of the evening and her brief conversation with Sara, her stamina was shot. Hopefully, a few minutes alone would help revive her.
The ladies’ room was located just outside one of the hotel lounges, which had been closed to the public for the evening. Callie reached for the door, but paused when she noticed Dylan and Marty Phillips seated inside the empty lounge.
Though they weren’t that far away, neither noticed her. For a moment, she stood admiring Dylan. He always looked gorgeous, but tonight in his tuxedo, he looked magnificent. She didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but when she heard her name, Callie couldn’t help but listen.
“Warren has an interview with NBC next week. He wants to tell the world about Miss Taylor during it. Your mother and I are still trying to convince him to wait until after the election,” she heard Marty say.
This was news to her. Her father hadn’t mentioned his intentions during their last phone conversation.
“He plans to talk it over with her first. See how she feels about it,” Marty said.
This is wrong. Callie knew she shouldn’t be listening to a conversation she wasn’t supposed to ever hear. She should either go into the ladies’ room or return to the ballroom.
She couldn’t get her feet to move. Her curiosity was too great.
“I see you took your job of keeping tabs on her to heart. Maybe you can convince her to hold off on the announcement too. At least for a few more months.”
Job? The word rang in her ears. She took a step forward, not wanting to miss any of the conversation. Callie no longer cared that she was eavesdropping.
“You’ve kept her happy and away from the media. I knew you were the best man for the job.”
The room seemed to spin and tilt. Callie gripped the wall for support. She watched as Dylan leaned forward.
“I didn’t have much of a choice.”
Callie swallowed down the bile rising in her throat. She didn’t want to believe what she’d just heard. Could everything be a lie? Just a game to keep tabs on her? A way to ensure she was content so she wouldn’t run to the media and tell them the truth.
“You just better hope Warren doesn’t find out.” Dylan sounded angry.
Marty laughed stiffly. “More like we better hope he doesn’t find out. It might have been my idea, but you are in just as deep.”
I have to get out of here. Struggling to hold back tears, Callie retraced her steps. She made it almost to the main foyer before realizing her purse with her money was still in the ballroom. In her rush to get away from Sara, she’d left it on the table. There was no way she’d get anywhere without money or a credit card.
Turning, she headed back toward the ballroom. Come on, get the bag and go before he gets back.
The low murmur of voices and the tinkling of ice in fine crystal glasses greeted her. For a brief second, she gazed at the scene. What a fool she’d been to think she belonged in this world. Taking a deep breath, she crossed into the lion’s den and made a beeline for her table. With her purse in hand, Callie’s only thought was to escape before Dylan or anyone else came looking for her. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on her side that night.
“There you are, Callie.” Elizabeth stopped next to her. “Warren is looking for you.”
Before realizing it, Callie wiped a tear from her cheek.
Elizabeth studied her for a moment, concern evident on her face. “Are you okay, Callie? You look upset.” Elizabeth’s eyes moved over Callie’s face.
Did she know about her son’s agreement with Marty? Did Sara and Jake know too? Was that how Sara knew they’d been intimate?
“I think I’m starting to get a migraine,” she replied, trying to come up with a reasonable excuse for leaving. “I’m going to go back to Dylan’s and rest.”
The older woman studied her for a moment longer, and Callie was sure Elizabeth knew she was lying. “I’ll let Warren know where you went. Dylan should have something you can take. He gets migraines sometimes too.”
