A Presidential Affair

Ch 11. - The Journalist

JANUARY 14: 2 A.M.: TANIA ORLY

When we left Rocklin's apartment I felt relieved. I was so scared that we were going to be murdered or that all of our hard evidence would be destroyed.

I'm shocked that we were told to leave with no consequences. Henry and I intertwined our fingers as we made our way back to the hotel.

Once we arrived, I got straight to work. I wanted to write the best damn article that 'Truth News' had ever released and, I wanted it to go viral.

I pieced together a timeline of events using the text messages that Henry intercepted, followed by the audio recording of President Claxton admitting to the affair.

The headline would be "Lifting the Veil", I found it to be kind of symbolic in a twisted way I guess.

I used the photo I captured of Claxton opening the door to leave Rocklin's apartment.

I knew it would be a statement picture that would grasp the attention of anyone that saw it.

As I was writing the article I felt slightly guilty because the moment I released that article everything would change. Yes, I'd have recognition but, I'd also be ruining Claxton's family.

I started thinking about my screwed-up family and what a big impact it's had on my life.

His two daughters would suffer the rest of their lives because of this article. Their father will go down in history as the president involved in the infamous presidential affair.

I didn't realize just how much it'd affect those three-year old's in the future. It made me feel guilty for writing the article.

My fingers were tapping on the desk subconsciously as they always do whenever I feel nervous or guilty.

I felt two hands rub my shoulders suddenly and it caused me to jump.

It was just Henry trying to relax me. "Tania, what's wrong?" I slumped my shoulders "Nothing. I just feel bad releasing this article, Henry. His daughters will suffer the repercussions of it forever."

He knelt and held my hands, looking into my eyes with sincerity. "Listen, I know it's tough to release something like this because you have a good heart, Tania."

He stood up again and started rubbing my shoulders again, "His actions are the same whether you release the article or not. Nothing changes except for the fact that he gets away with the awful cheating situation and lives a happily ever after."

I let out a long deep sigh. I knew Henry was right but it didn't mean that I was okay with it.

I nodded it him and continued typing my article. When I finally finished the article, I edited and saved three copies as always.

I didn't feel right releasing it, I couldn't release it. I didn't want the weight on my shoulders of ruining someone's life. I had to tell Henry even though I knew he'd hate me for it.

I took a quick shower to try and calm my nervousness but it was ultimately a fail.

I got out of the shower, combed my hair, threw on some pajamas and made my way out of the bathroom to tell Henry. I could feel a lump in my throat and my stomach was in knots.

I coughed a bit, "Um. Henry?" He was lying on the bed watching TV. "Yeah?" I began to twist my hair nervously, "I. Um. I. I."

He sat up as he turned off the TV. "Tania, spit it out." I took a deep breath and said it, "I'm not releasing the article."