Read Redeeming The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 5) for Free Online Page B

less.”
    Marty looked up at him. “More or less, I need to know everything. And when I say everything, I mean it.”
    “I told her I wanted this office redecorated and asked if she might be interested. Shirley called and set up an appointment with her.” After giving Shirley the instructions, he hadn’t thought anymore about it.
    “Excellent. When?”
    “I’ll have to check my calendar.”
    Marty tapped his pen against his pad several times before he spoke. “We might have to change our timetable a little, but I’d like to keep to it if possible. A wedding at the end of next summer is ideal. That would give you a solid year of marriage before the actual election.”
    Caution flags jumped up as he listened to Marty. The advisor’s original plan had been acceptable. A marriage to a wealthy socialite who viewed their relationship as a way to achieve her own goals was one thing. What Marty proposed now was entirely something else.
    “Perhaps we should stick with what we originally discussed. Why don’t I go through these and pick a candidate?” Trent reached for the binders Marty had put together. “Then there’ll be no need to adjust our timeline.”
    “You hired me because you want to win.” Marty pointed his pen at the picture of Addison. “She’s your ticket to the Senate.”
    Trent’s eyes focused on the picture. What had she just said to him when the picture was taken? It must have been funny because he had a huge smile on his face. Come to think of it, he’d smiled through much of their conversation. She’d had an easygoing nature with a great sense of humor. There had been no awkward moments or long gaps of silence. Under different circumstances he wouldn’t mind getting to know her better.
    “The women in here may help repair your reputation.” Marty pointed to the binders he’d put together of potential wife candidates. “This one, though, will win the hearts of voters.” He nodded toward the newspaper on the table. “I don’t understand the problem. She’s beautiful and well-educated.”
    Marty had him there. Addison was attractive and, from all he could tell, intelligent. Even with that knowledge, a corner of his conscience prickled at the idea.
    Across the table Marty popped a pickle in his mouth and chewed as he waited. “If it helps, look at it this way. Her involvement with you will put her business on the fast track. The whole thing will still more or less be a business agreement.”
    Trent nodded. Marty had a point. If he and Addison became romantically involved it would do more for her business than an ad during the Super Bowl.
    “If you’re going to make it in politics you need to learn to do what’s right for your career, everything else comes second. Trust me, I’ve been around long enough to know that few politicians make it with their conscience intact.” Marty pushed the paper closer to him. “So what’s it going to be?”
    Addison’s face beamed up at him. “We’ll try it your way, but if it’s not working we will fall back to our original plan.” Sure, they’d had an enjoyable conversation over coffee, but he was not prepared to wager the rest of his life on that. He picked up his untouched sandwich. “I’m assuming you made sure she’s not involved with anyone.”
    The look Marty gave him said it all. “Unless she’s got a secret lover tucked in her closet, she’s single and has been for over a year.”
    “Okay, I’ll let you know how things go. But in the meantime, keep working on who leaked this picture.”
     
    ***
     
    The phone on Addie’s desk rang again. In fact, her office phone hadn’t stopped ringing since yesterday. It seemed like suddenly everyone in the greater Providence area wanted their home or office redecorated. While she knew her reputation was growing, she knew that wasn’t the reason for her sudden popularity. When she’d first seen her picture in the paper she wanted to crawl under a rock. The idea that someone took her