Free Perspective (An Exposure Series Novella): Exposure Series Book Four by Annie Jocoby Page B

“He’ll be here in five minutes,” he said, looking furtively around him. “Let’s just hope that Viktor doesn’t show up here again.”
    Five minutes later, the limo showed up. Viktor was nowhere to be seen, thank god.
    Once we got into the limo, it was time to catch up. “I don’t understand,” I said to Asher. “What happened?”
    “Viktor wanted to hurt my business because he knew that I told you the truth about Sophie’s baby. He can’t physically harm me, or you for that matter, without paying the price, but he can do things like try to sabotage me in my business life. So, he decided to force me to miss my hearing with Congress today. I’m going to have to get in touch with some of the Senators to see if I can reschedule that hearing, but I’m not holding out much hope about that.”
    “You don’t have to worry about that,” I said. “I went to the hearing and lied to them. I said that you were in an accident. They tabled the hearing until tomorrow.”
    Asher looked at me, and kissed me passionately. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
    “Well, I couldn’t just let the hearing go down in flames without trying to do something. I was surprised that they were so willing just to continue the case, though.”
    “They probably readily agreed to continue the case because the Senators who are working for me are some of the most senior in the Senate. They might be in the minority party, but they still wield a lot of power.”
    The limo took us to Capitol Hill, and Asher got out. “I need to find Senators Wyatt and Bryce and smooth things over. I wasn’t in an accident, of course, so I hope that they don’t ask me for medical records. I hope that they just take my word for it.”
    “I think that they will. They said that if you didn’t show tomorrow, though, they would carry out the hearing without you.”
    At that, the two of us bounded the steps of the Capitol Building, and I followed him into the office of Senator Bryce, the Senator from New York. His receptionist informed us that he was in, so the two of us went back to see him.
    “Asher,” he said to Asher as the two of us went into his office. “I didn’t expect to see you here. Your wife said that you were in a serious car accident.” Then he looked at me. “Mrs. Sloane, it’s good to see you again.”
    “And you, Senator Bryce,” I said.
    “Sit down, sit down. Can I get the two of you a bottle of water?”
    I nodded my head, and he had his assistant present us both with some water, which we sipped on. “I am very sorry about this morning,” Asher said. “But I’m relieved that the hearing wasn’t held without me.”
    “You should be. I’m doing my best to save your appropriations, but, without more testimony from you, I think that the other Senators on the committee are ready to kill all your contracts. Your testimony yesterday did a lot of good, though, so, hopefully, the contracts can be saved when you give your testimony tomorrow.” He shook his head. “I still don’t know what got into you that you would give that reporter that story. I was able to keep a lid on it all these years, and now this.”
    It was then that I knew that this Senator knew about Asher’s background all along.
    “I know. I finally got tired of running. Plus, my sister is working for me, and I knew that she would raise questions about my true background. It was only a matter of time.”
    “I guess that’s a good reason. But let’s work together to make sure that your contracts are secure, okay?”
    Asher and the Senator talked for a few minutes more, and then the Senator’s phone rang. “I have to take this. I’ll be seeing you tomorrow, Asher. And it’s good to meet you, Mrs. Sloane.”
    “And you.”
    At that, we left.
    In the limo, Asher sighed. “Thank god you found me when you did. It sounded like, if I missed the hearing, I probably would lose those contracts. So, I owe you a lot.”
    I smiled. “You’ve already given me