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Beth’s eyes widen, and she takes a step back at the cruel words. I go to move toward Beth, but she shakes her head, stopping me in my tracks. I swallow my anger and look around the room. There are many eyes watching this exchange, and I look back to Beth who remains stoic, giving me a look to make me stay right where I am.
“Jesus Christ,” Tennyson murmurs, and I see him throw back the rest of his whiskey as Arthur Stratten steps up behind Beth in support. My feet won't move as I stand between the two most important women in my life, wondering what the hell is going on.
“We should go,” Oscar says from beside me, the only clear head in this shitstorm.
“Yes, we should.” My mother huffs, giving Beth another horrid look.
I rub my hand over my face, wondering how something as simple as a thank you lunch has pushed me into very dangerous territory of losing the election for nearly killing one of my main supporters. I am sure the media are circling already. Paparazzi are probably following the paramedics and lined up at the hospital. I can already see the headline,Baltimore Boy’s fall from grace after attempted murder.
“News crew just pulled up outside.” Eddie cringes.
“We have a back exit,” the venue manager pipes up. My eyes remain on Beth. I see her swallow and take a deep breath.
“Beth, you should come with us,” I state, because I really need to have her in my arms.
“You go with Eddie and Oscar. I will fix up the situation here,” Beth says, and I watch her push her shoulders back, putting on her professional armor. I know she didn’t do this on purpose. I know it must have been some terrible accident. But I have been focused on becoming Governor of Maryland for years. It has been a lifelong dream. And it may now all go down the toilet, because of one dietary requirement at an event she managed for me. My emotions and feelings are running rampant.
I swallow as I look at her. Her body is stiff.
“Go,” she whispers, her eyes glassy, and I want to grab her, tell her it will all be okay. Tell her I love her. Because I do, and in this moment, I want her to know it.
“Harrison, for God’s sake, let’s go,” my mother says, huffing out before walking toward the back door.
“Ten will look after her. I will call him to make sure everything is okay,” Eddie whispers in my ear, and I look at Beth, with Arthur and Tennyson at her side. I give Tennyson a look to make sure he stays here with her, and he nods. That is the only thing that makes my legs move. Knowing that he will watch her for me.
Because I can’t have distractions. I need to focus.
29
BETH
Iwatch him as he steps out the back door, and as the door closes on his silhouette, I lean on the chair in front of me so I don’t collapse. My palms sweat and my heart is racing as fear, stress, and foreboding sweep through my body, making me nearly faint. Event management is in the top ten most stressful jobs in the world, and this is why.
“Bethy, it will be okay,” Arthur says.
“How did he get the wrong meal? It was clear as day on the paperwork?” I ask no one in particular. The panic is coming up my spine and settling in my chest, the place it is always most comfortable.
“Let’s look through the restaurant paperwork. We will need to gather all the information anyway in case the doctor sues the restaurant or Harrison,” Tennyson says, and my body stills. That thought didn’t even cross my mind. I was so worried about Doctor Warner’s health, I didn’t think of the possibility that he would sue Harrison. My mind is a whirl, my body is tired, and the adrenaline of stabbing the Doctor with his EpiPen slowly flows out of my body as the three of us wait for the venue manager to come back before we ask her our questions.
“You should both go,” I say, not wanting to keep them any longer. Who knows how long the venue manager will be. I can see her rushing other patrons, wanting to close the restaurant.
“We can stay with you,” Arthur says, and my heart warms a little. He has been such a great friend to me.
“It is fine, Arthur. I’m a big girl. Besides, there is probably going to be a lot of media here soon, so I think you both should go before you get snapped and make front page of Society News,” I state, and they both think through what I said.
“Fine, I will go. But call me if you need anything,” Arthur says, before giving me a small hug and walking quietly out the door. He likes his quiet life now and I don’t want him dragged into this mess.
“Harrison wants me to stay with you,” Tennyson says.
“It really isn’t necessary.”
“Maybe not, but I appreciate my life, and if my brother found out that I left you here to deal with this on your own, then I am pretty sure he would kill me.” He makes a joke, but I don’t laugh. Deep down, I know Harrison cares about me, but the fact remains that I may have just ruined his chance of becoming governor. I knew seeing his mother today was not going to be easy. I haven’t seen her since that morning when she berated me in his kitchen. Since then, I have felt off, not myself. Never in a million years did I ever think she would hate me so much. All for loving her son. I know Harrison didn’t want to leave me, and that is the only reason I was able to push him out the door. I know he trusts me and believes in me. He knows I didn’t do this, but I do need to figure out how it happened.
“Okay, they are gone, now let me get the paperwork and interview the chef, and then we can chat about what happened, Beth,” the venue manager says as she sweeps in and then out of the room. I know these things take time. I see Tennyson look at his watch.
“Go. Please. You must have a million things to do and sitting around here for the next few hours reviewing paperwork and babysitting me is not going to be fun,” I say to him, trying to get him to leave. I don’t need to be responsible for another Rothschild as well.
“Fine. But give me your phone so I can put in my number.” I do as I am told because I don’t have any energy to argue.
