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Chapter 8

Author: BellaDonna
last update Huling Na-update: 2025-08-31 15:07:05

Panic clawed at Phoenix's throat. Brianna was gone. Had she heard the commotion? Had she seen the news? Had she run, fearing the fallout? He scanned the room, his eyes darting from the love couch to the empty bathroom, searching for any sign of her.

"Brianna!" he called out, his voice echoing in the sudden silence.

No answer.

He ran to the door, shoving past a wide-eyed Levi. "Find her!" he barked. "Search the club! I want her found, now!"

Levi scurried away, leaving Phoenix standing alone in the hallway, the weight of his world crashing down on him. Brooke had detonated a bomb, and the shrapnel was already tearing through his life.

He knew he should be thinking about damage control, about crafting a statement, about calling his father. But all he could think about was Brianna. Was she safe? Was she okay?

He pulled out his phone, his fingers fumbling as he dialed her number. He listened to the ringing, each tone a hammer blow against his skull.

It went to voicemail.

He slamme
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  • THE SENATOR'S PET    23

    Phoenix’s grip slipped on the ballet barre, his knee buckling as he crashed onto the studio mat. Across the room, his dance instructor, Misha, winced.“Enough,” Misha said, tossing Phoenix a towel. “You’re pushing too hard.”Phoenix hurled the towel against the mirror. “I’ve been crawling for months. You said I’d walk by summer. Walk, not limp like a—”“Like a man who survived a bullet?” Misha snapped. “You’re alive. Adjust your expectations.”Phoenix glared at his reflection—the scarred leg, the cane propped against the barre. “I don’t do ‘adjusted expectations.’”His phone buzzed. Brianna: Board meeting meltdown. Can you come?He typed one-handed while hauling himself up. Be there in 20. Try not to fire anyone before I arrive.Foundation Headquarters – Conference RoomBrianna stood at the head of the table, flanked by Levi and Sarah, as board member Carl Hargrove slammed his fist on the polished wood.“You’re bleeding donors, Brianna! First the Truth Hour disaster, now this?” Carl s

  • THE SENATOR'S PET    21

    Brianna stared at the studio lights, her palms slick against the arms of the interview chair. The makeup artist had caked on extra concealer to hide the stress-breakout on her jawline. Across the set, the host of Truth Hour, Lila Cruz, adjusted her earpiece, flashing Brianna a smile sharp enough to cut glass.“Remember,” Sarah Chen muttered, adjusting Brianna’s lapel mic, “stick to the foundation’s talking points. Don’t let her bait you into—”“Talking about Phoenix. Yeah, I got it.” Brianna swatted Sarah’s hand away. “I’m not an idiot.”Sarah’s jaw tightened. “You blew up at a donor last week for asking about his recovery. So yeah, let’s pretend you’re not a live wire.”The producer waved frantically. 30 seconds.Brianna’s phone buzzed in Sarah’s pocket. “It’s Levi. Again.”“Ignore him.” Brianna straightened. “He’s just pissed I didn’t run the segment by him.”“Because it’s a terrible idea.” Sarah shoved the phone back. “You’re giving Lila Cruz a primetime slot to grill you. This isn

  • THE SENATOR'S PET    20

    The aftermath of the exposé was a whirlwind. Brianna became a symbol of resilience, a voice for the voiceless. She was inundated with interview requests, speaking engagements, and offers to write a book about her experiences. Sarah Chen, ever the savvy strategist, carefully managed the flood, ensuring Brianna was protected from exploitation and that her message remained clear and consistent.The money from the National Informer settlement, while initially a source of shame, now provided a foundation for a new beginning. Brianna used a portion of it to secure a comfortable home for herself, her mother, and Sophie, a sanctuary far removed from the shadows of Valkyrie and the glare of the media spotlight. She also established a foundation dedicated to supporting victims of media harassment and fighting for freedom of speech.But amidst the accolades and the opportunities, Brianna struggled to find her footing. The trauma of the shooting, the betrayal by the National Informer, and the los

  • THE SENATOR'S PET    19

    The leak started as a whisper, a tremor on the surface of the stagnant pond that was the accepted narrative. Sarah Chen, her lawyer, called it “controlled demolition.” Brianna called it terrifying. Each carefully placed piece of information, each anonymous quote, chipped away at the National Informer's fortress of lies.The first sign of cracks came when a rival tabloid ran a sidebar article titled, “Senator’s Sweetheart – Victim or Villain?” Levi called Brianna, his voice tight with anxiety.“They’re onto something,” he said. “They’re asking questions about the NDA. Be careful.”“I am,” Brianna replied, her voice steadier than she felt. “Sarah Chen’s got this.”But the unease lingered, a knot in her stomach that tightened with each passing day.Then came the phone call. The call that changed everything. Brianna was braiding Sophie's hair, the familiar routine a small comfort in the storm brewing around them. The caller ID was blocked."Hello?" Brianna answered cautiously.A gruff voi

  • THE SENATOR'S PET    18

    The decision to break free from her gilded cage was a seed planted in fertile ground. Brianna watered it with newfound courage, nurtured it with a burgeoning sense of self-worth, and watched as it began to sprout, its tendrils reaching towards the sunlight of truth. But breaking free from the constraints of the NDA wouldn’t be easy. The National Informer had deep pockets and a reputation for ruthless tactics. She needed a plan, a strategy, and allies she could trust.Her first call was to Levi. Despite his role in facilitating the NDA, she knew he had acted out of concern, not malice. He was, at heart, a decent man caught in a web of political intrigue."Levi," she said, her voice firm, when he answered the phone. "I need your help."There was a long pause. "Brianna?" he said, his voice laced with surprise. "What's wrong? Are you okay? Did something happen?""I'm fine, Levi," she said. "But I can't stay silent anymore. I need to tell my story. I need to break free from this agreement.

  • THE SENATOR'S PET    17

    The four walls of the apartment pressed in on Brianna, each hour amplifying the suffocating silence she had bought with cold, hard cash. The TV blared a mindless sitcom, a pathetic attempt to fill the void, but the hollow laughter only served to amplify the gnawing emptiness inside. She was a gilded cage, with all the comforts, but devoid of freedom.Days blurred into weeks, each one a carbon copy of the last. Brianna spent her time cleaning, organizing, and staring out the window, watching the world go by, a silent observer in her own life. She called her mother every day, assuring her that everything was fine, that she had found a new job, that they were going to be okay. But she couldn't bring herself to tell her the truth, to confess the source of their newfound wealth. The shame was too great.Sophie, thankfully, was blissfully unaware of the chaos that had engulfed their lives. She was happy in her new school, making new friends, and adjusting to their new surroundings. Brianna

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