Perspective (An Exposure Series Novella): Exposure Series Book Four Read Online Free PDF Page B

Stella helpfully said. “If you guys are up for it.”
    “Sure, why not,” mom said. “We’ll have dessert, but then we really should be going. You, Cordelia, shouldn’t be staying up late. You need all the rest you can get. I know what it’s like to be pregnant, believe me.” She seemed to have softened just a bit, and I felt my blood pressure slowly get back to normal.
    “So, mom, are we going to be okay?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t know, Cordelia.” Then she shrugged her shoulders. “But, then again, what choice do I have but to accept this corrupt situation? You’re carrying my grandchild. My grandchild. I could try to shut you out, but I would only be hurting myself. I guess I just need to accept this. But I do still want to meet this future father-in-law. I want to look him in the eye and make sure that he knows that he is not to mess with you or my grandbaby.”
    So, we had dessert in a strained silence. Stella, for her part, tried to make small talk, but it felt extremely uncomfortable. “And how was London?” she asked politely while my mom gave each of us the stink-eye. “I’ve always wanted to travel overseas. You’re so lucky to have traveled there on a private plane with a gorgeous man.”
    “It was fun,” I said, thinking that, really, it was anything but. It was stressful and I didn’t get a chance to really enjoy myself.
    Stella and I tried to fill the silence with that kind of talk for the next half hour or so, and then my mom abruptly announced that it was time to go. “We had dessert, now it’s getting late,” she said. “We’ll talk to you later, Cordelia.”
    At that, we all stood and awkwardly hugged.
    Then, after they left, I rolled my eyes at Scarlett, who was busy clearing the table. “I’m so sorry about that,” I said.
    She waved her hand at me. “I know Gianna.” It was then that I realized that she had tears in her eyes.
    I put my arm around her. “Scarlett, don’t cry.” I didn’t exactly know what was wrong, but I had a feeling. “Listen, I know that you’re going to be stressed about making rent, but don’t be. Asher is going to pay my share of the rent for the foreseeable future. You won’t even have to get a roommate. You can live here by yourself.”
    “CJ, do you think that’s just going to make it all better?” Then she shook her head. “I’m sorry, that’s rude of me. I’m happy for you. I hope you know what you’re doing, but I’m happy for you. It’s just that I’m going to miss you, that’s all.”
    “I know. We’ve been through a lot together. You’ve always been there for me.” I felt awful, like I was leaving her behind.
    “Change is always hard, but I know that you gotta do what you gotta do. And congratulations about the baby. I mean that with all my heart.”
    We hugged and cried and then talked throughout the night. I was going to miss her as much as she was going to miss me. We promised to get together at least once a month, but we both knew that it wasn’t going to be the same.
    It was so bittersweet. I had Asher, but my mom was angry with me and I was going to have to leave Scarlett.

Chapter Five
Asher
    T he story about my past hit, and, as I anticipated, the fallout was immediate. The story that hit the papers only detailed my past as a cybercriminal. It was just as I thought – the investigative journalist couldn’t get the really bad dirt on me. I prayed that nobody would be able to get that story. But what they were able to find out was really bad enough.
    One of the first things I had to do was smooth things over with the senators who were on my side. I got a phone call from the senator from New York, Senator Bryce, who immediately called me when the story hit the paper. “Asher, you need to get down here as soon as possible. The senators from the other side of the aisle are restless and they’re ready to re-evaluate all your appropriations and government contracts.”
    I knew that was coming, and I was