Chapter 2

The Cheney family, good people, respectable, owed Marcus a significant favor from way back.

They were a mid-level political family from out of state, solid, unremarkable.

They provided me with a new cover: "Chloe Cheney," their distant niece, eager for an internship.

It was a clean identity, easily verifiable.

Senator Harrison' s office was always looking for bright, eager interns.

The real Chloe Cheney was happily studying art in Florence, oblivious.

This new persona wasn' t a burden; it was an opportunity.

An opportunity to get close, to investigate who wanted Ava dead, and to understand the dangerous world my father inhabited.

I, as Chloe, excelled.

I was quick, efficient, anticipated needs before they were voiced.

Senator Harrison, a man with an eye for talent and attractive young women, noticed.

"You' re a sharp one, Chloe," he' d said, a predatory gleam in his eye that I expertly ignored.

His current favorite, Isabelle "Izzy," noticed too.

Izzy was Harrison' s senior aide, rumored to be more than just an employee. She was arrogant, territorial, and saw me as an immediate threat.

"The Senator prefers his coffee black, no sugar, intern," she snapped one morning, though I' d already prepared it perfectly.

"Of course, Ms. Isabelle," I replied, my voice sweet, my eyes meeting hers briefly before I looked away, feigning subservience.

The confrontation she wanted came during a staff meeting.

Izzy was presenting a policy brief, stumbling over details.

Harrison looked impatient.

I saw my opening.

"If I may, Ms. Isabelle," I interjected smoothly, "I believe the data from the Commerce Department report supports your point on page three, regarding tariff impacts."

Izzy' s face tightened.

Harrison, however, leaned forward. "Go on, Chloe."

I concisely laid out the supporting data, making Izzy' s point stronger than she had.

Later, Harrison stopped by my desk. "Good work today, Chloe. Izzy can be... a bit much. You handled that well."

He then assigned me a small research task, something usually given to a more senior staffer.

Izzy' s glare could have melted steel.

The next day, Izzy made her move.

She waited until Harrison was nearby, in his office with the door slightly ajar.

Then she approached my desk, her voice loud and accusatory.

"Chloe, did you just walk out of the Senator' s private office? What were you doing in there alone?"

Her implication was clear.

I looked up, feigning surprise and then distress.

"Ms. Isabelle, I... I was just dropping off the research files he asked for. The door was open."

Harrison appeared in his doorway. "What' s going on here, ladies?"

Izzy pounced. "Senator, I just saw Chloe coming out of your office. I' m concerned about appearances."

I let a tear trace a path down my cheek. My voice trembled.

"Senator, I would never... I was just... Ms. Isabelle, why would you say that?"

Harrison' s eyes narrowed at Izzy. "Isabelle, Chloe was in my office at my request, delivering documents. Your tone is out of line."

Izzy stammered, "But, Senator..."

"Enough," Harrison said, his voice cold. He turned to me, his expression softening. "Chloe, are you alright?"

I nodded, wiping the tear. "Yes, Senator. Thank you."

He gave Izzy a look that promised future retribution and then retreated into his office.

Izzy seethed. I had won the first round, using her own aggression against her. Harrison now saw me as capable and unfairly targeted.