CHAPTER 1

Everyone in the room at the Marriott hotel on PennsylvaniaAvenue in Washington, D.C., thought today was a great day forthe governor of the state of Maryland, Jerry Northman.Twenty-nine-year-old Sherise Robinson knew better. Todaywas a great day for her. And although all eyes were on the manstanding at the podium, who had just announced his decision torun for president of the United States, Sherise was feeling likethe center of the universe.

It was a fault of hers, really. She knew that. She was too oftenoverconfident and self-centered for her own good. That's whather friends had always told her. But she was no fool. Havingbeen a player in the game of D.C. politics, in some role or anothersince she was a teenager living on the southeast side,Sherise learned that if you don't make it all about you, no oneelse will.

That lesson never became more clear to her than whenshe'd taken time off from her career as a communications professionalwith the White House's Domestic Policy Council tofocus on saving her marriage to her lobbyist husband, Justin, andhaving a second baby. She had lost her way and allowed anotherman to convince her he was worth risking her marriage for. Itwas a terrible mistake, but Sherise didn't want to put herselfdown for it. After all, the man was Jonah Nolan, one of the mostpowerful men in the country.

Fortunately, she was able to keep this indiscretion fromblowing up in her face and ruining the charmed life she hadwith her husband and baby girl, Cady.

What she wasn't able to keep from imploding was her career.Out of sight, out of mind, was the way of Washingtonpower brokering. You can jump ship for another or go off onyour own, but you can't disappear and expect people to careabout you. Sherise was a woman whose stunning beauty usuallymade her the most memorable woman at any event she attended.Being forgotten was not a space she was willing to occupy.

This was why, when the Northman campaign offered her achance to showcase her press management skills eight monthsago, just as he was forming an exploratory committee, Sherisejumped at the chance. She didn't bother asking Justin becauseshe knew he would be against it. Their marriage was becominga mess because of her unhappiness with her stay-at-home momstatus and inability to get pregnant. Oh yes, and there was thatpart about Justin having an affair.

Details, Sherise told herself. A bright smile lit up her beautifulface, the highlight of her flawless appearance. She was agolden caramel stunner, with silky dark brown hair that went toher bra strap. Her high cheekbones, full, sultry lips and piercinggreen eyes caught every man's eyes, as well as her trim figurewith killer curves.

She watched Northman smile for the pictures, just the wayshe'd taught him. She was wicked for finding joy in the fact thathe was wearing the red tie that she gave him instead of the blueone his wife, Ginger, standing next to him with a saccharinesmile, had given him earlier that day. Yes, even though this ballhad gotten rolling long before Sherise joined, she knew shecould take a lot of credit for where it was now.

That fact was also obvious in the look of beaming approvalfrom LaKeisha Wilson, Northman's deputy campaign manager,as she joined Sherise at the far side of the podium.

LaKeisha was a very average-looking woman, but she hadchocolate skin as smooth as a baby's bottom, despite being inher late thirties. She barely wore any makeup and dressed sharp,as any woman who had spent her life on Capitol Hill in D.C.did. She had recently cut her long braids and was now wearinga short, stylish cut.

"What are you so happy about?" LaKeisha asked.

"Same thing you are," Sherise responded in that smooth,soft voice she had. It was a tone that made women suspicious ofher and men want to buy her a drink.

"It is exciting, isn't it?" LaKeisha asked. "We work well together."

That might not have always been the case. When LaKeishafirst came to Sherise, it wasn't because the younger woman'sname was mentioned in the power circles of D.C. communications.Despite having a husband who was an active and successfullobbyist, Sherise was having a hard time getting invites to thepower events in D.C.

No, Sherise's name was on the tip of LaKeisha's tongue becauseJennifer Ross had placed it there—the woman who washaving an affair with Justin. Jennifer had been the wife of RyanHodgkins. Hodgkins was a man Sherise had slept with early inher marriage. It was suspected he might be the real father ofSherise's daughter, Cady. It was only one night, and both Ryanand Sherise cut all ties the day after, but Ryan eventually spilledthe truth to Jennifer during their messy divorce.

Instead of finding Sherise and trying to beat her head intothe ground, like most women would do, Jennifer decided to getback at Sherise by sleeping with her husband. With the waythings were between Justin and Sherise at the time, he was ripefor the picking.

It was during this madness that LaKeisha approachedSherise. Despite taking her up on the offer to help out theNorthman campaign, Sherise was more distracted than ever before.Her reputation for being immaculate in her work styletook some blows, which LaKeisha was around to witness firsthand.Although she never found out the truth behind Sherise'smomentary lapse of professionalism, there were times whenLaKeisha doubted Sherise still had it.

Those doubts had been obliterated. Sherise had gotten Jenniferout of the way, via exposing her plan to Justin and ruiningher reputation beyond repair in the Washington Post. After that,Sherise was able to focus once again on her job. LaKeisha,Northman, and the rest of the team had nothing but impressivewords to say since then.

"You're taking too much credit for this," LaKeisha said witha sly smile.

Sherise laughed. "I didn't even say anything."

"You don't have to," she answered back. "That smug expressionon your face looks like you just made the entire press sayyour name before sitting back and smoking a cigarette."

Sherise had done an amazing job. She was able to increaseNorthman's exposure and make him a national name. No oneoutside of Maryland had even known who he was in the beginning.Now, even the prime minister of England mentioned himto the British press when discussing the future of American politics.

More important to Sherise, her name was being mentionedin the press, as she was giving several quotes a week. Now thatNorthman was officially announcing, Sherise's life was going togo into hyperdrive. This is what she'd wanted forever. She hadfought and clawed her way up the ladder—sometimes playingby the rules, but more often by not obeying them. Either way,Sherise was an "end justifies the means" type of girl. When the"end" was her gaining more power and influence, the "means"were a mere afterthought.

"Let's go," LaKeisha ordered the second that Northmanended the conference and headed behind the curtain.

As Ginger darted off to her eagerly waiting grandchildren,LaKeisha latched onto Northman to inform him of the interviewhe was to do next with Washington Life, an interviewSherise had set up for him. She noticed Northman glance in herdirection. He smiled and she smiled back, with a thumbs-up,keeping a bit of a distance. LaKeisha was very possessive of himand Sherise had learned to wait a few minutes before showingup. Whenever Sherise did show up,she immediately got Northman'sattention. He was no different than any other man....