Capital Wives by Rochelle Alers Page B

and cold appetizers, china and silver and a stack of linen napkins with the hotel’s logo. Quickly and expertly, she set the table and left as quietly as she’d come.
    â€œYou’re too ambitious to aim so low,” Damon said as if there hadn’t been a lull in the conversation. “That’s where you are wrong, Paxton.” Spencer’s bravado had returned. “Becoming senior partner at one of the top law firms in D.C. is definitely not aiming low.”
    â€œWhat about a judgeship?”
    Spencer’s expression did not change. “What about it?”
    â€œHow does Judge Tyson sound to you?”
    The younger man smiled. “It sounds real good.”
    â€œI can make it happen for you, Spencer, but first you have to do something for me. I’m going to make you an offer I’d like you to consider. You don’t have to give me an answer now. In fact, sleep on it for a couple of weeks, then get back to me.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œJenah Morris is a liability. I want you to get rid of her.”
    â€œThat’s not going to be easy.”
    â€œI’m going to give you thirty…no make that sixty days to make her disappear. After her, there can’t be any more outside women. I know people who can clean up your past as easily as erasing a chalkboard. But that’s not going to happen if you continue to cheat on your wife.”
    Resting his elbows on his knees, Spencer glared at Damon. “Is this about me or my wife?”
    â€œYou’ve been in Washington long enough to know it’s never about the husband or the wife, but the couple.”
    â€œWhy me? Why us?” Spencer asked, totally confused.
    â€œWhen Nancy Pelosi became the first female Speaker ofthe House it shattered the glass ceiling. It told everyone that politics was no longer the private club of old white men. Obama becoming president signaled another change, because now there was a man of color in the Oval Office. Even the Supreme Court had to come into the new millennium with three women justices on the bench. If you’re going to make a name for yourself it won’t be as a senior partner. Your wife is an influential event planner with a client list of who’s who, while you’re slaving your ass off sixty to eighty hours a week to make partner. It’s not adding up, Spencer.”
    â€œWhat’s in this for you?”
    â€œNothing. I work for a group of people just like you do. They pay me to give them what they want, and right now they want you. Enough talk. Let’s eat.”
    Damon picked up a plate, filling it with dim sum, sushi, steak tartar and caviar on tiny crackers, handing it to Spencer. “Eat up.”
    Forty-five minutes later Damon walked out of the Victoria and slipped into the rear of the car parked at the curb. He’d promised Spencer Tyson a judgeship, knowing it would never happen. There was no way the man could pass a background investigation.
    He’d duped the arrogant attorney to stop him from cheating on Deanna. Bethany had come clean, telling him about her meltdown in the bathroom and how Deanna Tyson and Marisol McDonald had helped her. She also told him of her luncheon date with the two women.
    Deanna had saved his wife’s reputation and that meant he owed her; he’d done what he did to ensure she would never know about her husband’s after-work escapades. He just prayed Spencer would take his advice and get rid of hismistress. If not, then Spencer Tyson would have to learn the hard way that his climb to the top of the legal ladder would end in complete ruin.

Chapter Eleven
    S pencer hadn’t moved from where he’d sat waiting for Damon Paxton, talking and sharing cocktails and hors d’oeuvres with the man. He knew Jenah was upstairs waiting for him, but for a reason he couldn’t fathom he found it impossible to go to her.
    He replayed everything that had gone down with him and Damon, his