The Teacher's Billionaire

another table. She hadn’t expected anyone to take pictures of her tonight. Then again the photographer seemed to be taking pictures of everyone there. Obviously this event was an even bigger deal than she’d thought.
    “Callie, I’d like to introduce you to Marty Phillips. He is Warren’s campaign advisor.”
    She’d been so preoccupied with thoughts of the photographer she hadn’t noticed that someone started a conversation with Dylan.
    The man extended his hand. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Taylor. I have heard a lot about you from Warren.”
    Callie smiled and shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you too.” The man was handsome but he couldn’t hold a candle to Dylan. Then again not many men could hold a candle to Dylan. And the man’s eyes were so cold. The thought sounded a little silly to her, but it somehow described the eyes of the man who carefully studied her just then.
    “If you’ll excuse us, I need to speak with Dylan in private,” Marty said explaining his presence at their table.
    Nodding Callie watched them walk away.
Hopefully they won’t be gone long
. She felt silly sitting all by herself and wasn’t comfortable enough to socialize with anyone else.
    “Following in your mother’s footsteps?” a voice asked softly so that only Callie would hear.
    Groaning inwardly Callie turned to face her half-sister. So far that night she’d managed to avoid the woman.
    Keeping her voice low she replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    Sara sat down and leaned closer. “I know you’re sleeping with Dylan. If you think it will last, you’re wrong.” She paused for a moment as if waiting for some kind of response from Callie.
    Don’t take the bait.
“I need to use the ladies’ room.” Callie pushed back her chair and came to her feet.
    Sara smirked. “Wait you’ll see.”
    Biting down on her tongue to keep herself from saying anything, Callie walked away. As quickly as possible she weaved her way through the ballroom. She’d noticed a sign for at least one restroom earlier when she’d first come in so she headed in that direction. A few minutes of privacy would be nice. Between the general stress of the evening and her brief conversation with Sara, her stamina was shot. Hopefully a few minutes alone would help revive her.
    The ladies’ room was located just outside one of the hotels lounges that had been closed to the public for the evening. Callie was about to push open the door when she noticed Dylan and Marty Phillips seated inside the empty lounge.
    Though they weren’t that far away neither noticed her. For a moment she stood admiring Dylan. He always looked gorgeous, but tonight, in his tuxedo he looked magnificent. She didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but when she heard her name Callie couldn’t help but listen though.
    “Warren has an interview with NBC next week. He wants to tell the world about Miss Taylor during it. Your mother and I are still trying to convince him to wait until after the election,” she heard Marty say.
    This was news to her. Her father hadn’t mentioned his intentions during their last conversation.
    “He plans to talk it over with her first. See how she feels about it,” Marty continued.
    This is wrong.
Callie knew she shouldn’t be listening to a conversation she wasn’t supposed to ever hear. She should either go into the ladies’ room or return to the ballroom. But she couldn’t. Her curiosity was too great.
    “I see you took your job of keeping tabs on her to heart. Maybe you can convince her to hold off on the announcement too.”
    Job?
The word rang in her ears. She took a step forward not wanting to miss any of the conversation. Callie no longer cared that she was eavesdropping.
    “You’ve kept her happy and away from the media. I knew you were the best man for the job.”
    The room seemed to spin and tilt. Callie gripped the wall for support. She watched as Dylan leaned forward.
    “I didn’t have much of a choice.”
    Callie swallowed down the bile rising in her throat. She didn’t want to believe what she’d just heard. Could everything be a lie? Just a game to keep tabs on her? A way to insure she was content so she wouldn’t run to the media.
    “You just better hope Warren doesn’t find out.” Dylan sounded angry.
    Marty laughed stiffly. “More like
we
better hope he doesn’t find out. It might have been my idea, but you are in just as deep.”
    I have to get out of here.
Struggling