Page 71 of The Politician

Sarah ended the call and stared at Kendra’s back.

“And you wonder why I can’t come back?” Kendra said.

Sarah winced as the pain of Kendra’s words stung far worse than any scorpion sting might.

Kendra turned and pointed at the phone. “This is your future, Sarah. The topic may change, but the sentiment and the argument will remain. The job will consume your life, and if I come with you, it will destroy mine. I can’t be your lover there, and I’m not going to be your housewife either.”

Sarah shook her head. “It’ll be different for us.”

Kendra paced with her hands on her hips. “Yeah, they won’t be able to fucking sack me again. Big fucking deal.” She stood taller and strode with a heavier pace then stopped suddenly. “Actually, that was the best thing that’s happened to me, because this is the best thing for me.” She held out her arms and indicated around the room. “Getting sacked brought me to this incredible place to do something positive.”

The burning inside Sarah reached fever pitch. “Well, I’m pleased to know that our money was well fucking spent.”

Kendra jolted. A frown formed like lightning. “I didn’t take the fucking money, Sarah.”

Sarah cupped her ears to stop the ringing. It was like being stood at the top of Big Ben at midday. Thunderous and screeching, and nothing Kendra had said made any sense. She pulled at her hair and the anger rose like a serpent hunting. She glared and ungritted her teeth to release her jaw. “You signed the fucking contract.”

Kendra raised her chin and huffed. “Do you really think I would take the money?”

Sarah gasped as the air refused to be sucked into her chest. She gripped her stomach, where the gutting blow had landed. “You signed the contract,” she whispered. “I saw it.”

Kendra backed towards the door. “Did you see the addendum?”

Sarah tried to juggle the words around what she’d seen. The room was spinning, and her legs threatened to fail her any second. “No. Jeremy—”

“Of course, he wouldn’t show you that. How fucking stupid was I?” Kendra held her head in her hands. “I should have made him change the contract. I was shocked and worried about you. He showed me a transcript of a conversation between us, and I just wanted to protect you more than anything.”

“A transcript?”

“Yes.”

“Did you read it?”

“No, I just followed his bloody instructions like an institutionalised zombie and signed the fucking paperwork.” She thumped the palm of her hand against her temple.

Sarah searched her memory. She’d seen photos but nothing more. Kendra lowered her eyes and appeared smaller, broken in some way. Sarah tried to piece together the scenario. Jeremy had insisted Kendra had taken the money willingly, even suggested she would do some good with it. The lying bastard had manipulated them both. Kendra stared at her. Something had shifted between them, and she couldn’t work out what it was or what it meant, but it was clawing at her throat and choking her, and the sinking feeling in her stomach dragged her down onto the bed. She slumped forwards and stared at her knees.

“The hardest thing for me…” Kendra said.

Sarah tensed in the silent pause. Everything she’d thought was solid was crumbling before her eyes. She looked up.

Kendra pinched the bridge of her nose. “The most painful thing is that you thought I could be paid off. It didn’t even occur to you that I would refuse.” Kendra flung her arms out to the side, palms upwards. “That’s what this political world does. It spins it and corrupts it, until even those who started out with an ounce of integrity can’t see where the line is anymore. You thought your stupid contract could buy my love for you and make it go away? No fucking chance. I didn’t contact you because I wanted to protect you.” She turned to leave.

Sarah grabbed her wrist. “Wait. I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

Kendra pulled away. “That’s the difference between us, Sarah. I loved you then, and I love you now. I never broke the rules. You did. And this week has been more than I could have expected. But I can’t be with someone who would think that lowly of me and of themselves.”

Sarah shook her head. “I don’t think that.”

“You did. You didn’t even think to ask me.”

“I saw the contract. Jeremy—”

“Jeremy can spin you around his little podgy fucking finger, and he’ll destroy anything to get to where he wants to go. I doubt that will change when you become PM. Word of advice—watch your back.” She shook her head and then became still and frowned. “Let me ask you, would you have taken the money if things were reversed?”

Sarah buried her head in her hands.

“Exactly.” Kendra closed the door behind her.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com