For the Record (Record #3)(4)

“An article ran in the Charlotte Times newspaper on Friday claiming that I had an affair with a university reporter, Sandy Carmichael, who I have since confirmed is Liz Dougherty. As a bachelor, I find it hard to reconcile myself with the word affair. While what happened between Ms. Dougherty and myself was kept from the public, it hardly constitutes an affair. It was my attempt to keep one aspect of my life private. I still strongly believe that what happened between us should remain between us, but I also understand the delicate position I find myself in. I did not come out about my relationship with Ms. Dougherty for any other reason than privacy concerns.”

Liz sucked in the air she hadn’t realized she had been without. That was the hardest part . . . hearing him discuss privacy as if they would ever be afforded it again.

“Privacy issues seem no longer to be a concern, though, and the very last thing I would want to see happen is for Ms. Dougherty’s name to be smeared for being associated with me. After speaking with Ms. Dougherty,” Brady said, his eyes darting to Liz briefly, “we have agreed that it no longer makes sense to hide our relationship. The article was only false in that it did not address the fact that Liz Dougherty and I are currently together.”

Oh God . . . it was really happening. Liz felt tears well in her eyes. She had been the one to confess to Calleigh about their relationship, but hearing Brady say it to a room of reporters somehow made it all seem so much more real.

“It might have begun in secret, but from this day forward, we would like to make it clear that is no longer the case. Thank you so much for your time. I look forward to seeing many of you again.”

Brady gave the reporters a warm smile and a curt nod before turning to go. And then the room exploded. Reporters pushed forward against the small stage, demanding to ask questions.

“But what of the age discrepancy?”

“What will your opponents think of the negative articles she wrote about you, Congressman Maxwell?”

“Representative Maxwell, just one question!”

“Congressman, can you comment on the use of a fake name to hide Ms. Dougherty’s identity?”

“What else are you hiding?”

“Is this all a stunt from the campaign to cover up your sexual exploits?”

And on and on.

Liz had been expecting it. Even if Heather hadn’t prepared her for the onslaught of questions, she would have guessed this would happen. She had been preparing long enough to be a reporter that she knew firsthand what that was like. She even knew which questions she would have asked. But none of that made it any easier. Her stomach flipped and she felt queasy as the reporters added insult to injury.

She turned away and tried to tune out the madness. She breathed in and out slowly and imagined herself back at Brady’s lake house in the peace and quiet. The only thing they’d had was each other’s company.

Brady wrapped an arm around her waist when he reached backstage and started walking her away from the stage without a word. He was trying to protect her. This was just the beginning, and he knew it as much as she did.

Chapter 2

BACKLASH

Perfectly done,” Heather said, complimenting Brady as they walked toward the rear exit.

“I’m not sure that stymied any of their concerns,” Brady said casually, as if none of this affected him. But of course, Liz knew that it did.

There was still much to figure out. Now that their relationship had gone public it hardly meant their problems were over.

“You didn’t expect them to,” Elliott, Brady’s lawyer, cut in. “It’s out there now. We go from here.”

“Alex is back on board and wants to discuss strategy at noon,” Heather said, talking about Brady’s campaign manager. “Then we’ll get the speech writer working on something for when you have to talk publicly. We want to keep the whole thing on message. We’ll need to brief the staff. I don’t want anyone talking to the press. I want them aware that if they do, it will come at the expense of their job.”

Liz swallowed at that comment. She didn’t want anyone risking their job. Though most political staff should know when to speak and when not to. It was just surreal being on the other side and having someone tell her when not to speak to the press, instead of Liz looking for opportunities to get people to talk.

“I think we can clear all of that up by this afternoon and then get you back in D.C. by nightfall. Your secretary informed me that there’s an important vote coming up this week on education and you need to be in committee despite what is happening in your personal life,” Heather droned on.

“Wait!” Liz spoke up, finally hearing exactly what Heather had just said. “You’re going back to D.C. tonight?”

She knew that his job, his life as a member of Congress was split between Chapel Hill and D.C. It wasn’t split equally, though. If she had to guess, from what she knew it was a seventy-thirty split, with more time in D.C. than at home. Still, she didn’t think he would leave her that same day.

“He has to go back tonight,” Heather said, not even looking up from the papers in her hands.

Brady turned to face Liz. She had put up with a lot since this had all exploded in her face, and she had known from the start they would have less time together. But she had broken up with her boyfriend, started dating Brady again, and had now officially announced their relationship to a sea of reporters. She damn well deserved a little more time with him before she was fed to the wolves.