As Jarrod entered The Palace he saw the gentleman he was to meet already sitting at a table. Jarrod walked past the maître de and sat at the table heavily.
He looked up and eyed Jarrod, "Glad to see you are on time Senator."
Jarrod just looked at the man not responding. The waiter approached and asked Jarrod if he would like a drink.
"Scotch please." The waiter left to fill Jarrod's drink order.
The man glared at the young Senator as he detested being ordered around and that was exactly what Barkley did to him by demanding this meeting. "You have me here now what?" He spat.
Jarrod glared back but decided to wait until the waiter returned with his scotch. It was apparent Jarrod controlled this meeting and he would take advantage of that as long as he could. The waiter appeared with Jarrod's drink and placed it in front of Jarrod.
"Thank you." The waiter left. Jarrod sipped his scotch as he looked at the man and smirked knowing he was getting madder by the minute. Jarrod had learned from his courtroom training the madder you get a witness the more likely they are to slip up.
"You have your drink so I will ask you one more time what do you want?"
Jarrod grinned as he spoke, "We need to clear up a few things regarding your blackmail of me."
Laughing the man said, "Blackmail or agreement whatever you wish to call it." He shrugged.
Jarrod huffed, "You will stop your cronies from following me around everywhere I go. The blackmail is only in regard to my voting it has nothing to do with my personal life."
"Cronies? I have no one following you Barkley that is in your imagination."
"Hogwash. No other Senator has the reporters nipping at their heels like I do and I know it's because of you and your so-called colleagues." Jarrod sipped his drink.
He shrugged, "You give me too much credit. You are after all a high and mighty Barkley who is now a Senator so anything you do is newsworthy."
Jarrod leaned forward and spat, "Stop them from following me or you will regret it."
Arching an eyebrow he laughed, "Your threats mean nothing to me Barkley."
Jarrod smirked, "Well then I guess we will see won't we?" Jarrod leaned back in his chair as he sipped his scotch.
The man glared at Jarrod and said, "What are you up to Barkley?"
Jarrod arched his eyebrows and said, "That is for me to know and you to find out, isn't it? But as we both know liquor loosens up people's memories and mouths."
The man leaned forward and talked quietly, "You wouldn't dare."
Jarrod glared while he answered, "Try me, I have nothing to lose."
"You don't but..."
Jarrod raised his hand to stop him and spat, "If the eyewitness recants his story all he does is hurt himself and I don't see that happening, do you?"
The man leaned back and thought before he responded, "He has been paid handsomely and will do as he is told, we will make sure of that."
Jarrod glared at him, "I want the details of that day."
Laughing the man responded, "Why are you asking me? I wasn't there."
"I wasn't either and since you have this so-called witness in your pocket I want to know the truth."
The man smirked, "That will not happen."
Jarrod leaned back as he finished his drink and waved to the maître de to get him another drink. "Why? What do you have to lose?"
He looked at Jarrod as he responded, "I have absolutely nothing to lose. However," he pointed at Jarrod, "you could lose everything Senator."
Jarrod glared at him, "I want to question him."
He laughed, "No."
"What are you so scared of? Afraid I'll learn the truth?"
Smirking the man replied, "I have nothing to hide and your idle threats do not frighten me."
"Well then it shouldn't be a problem for me to meet with him."
"I have already told you that is not possible."
Jarrod sipped his scotch as he looked at his enemy, "Well then the blackmail stops now!" Jarrod got up to leave but was stopped at his voice.
He snapped, "Sit back down!" He commanded.
Jarrod glared at the man as he continued standing, "No. I'm done with this, all of this. I will resign my position as Senator immediately and deal with the consequences."
The man spoke through gritted teeth, "You will not be the one to deal with the consequences, remember?" Jarrod continued to stand and glare at him, "I said sit down, now!"
"I am not your trained dog," Jarrod spat as he turned to walk away. He stormed out of the restaurant and walked outside to cool off. As he regained his composure he felt sick to his stomach at what he had just done. He started walking off slowly and heard his name being called and recognized the voice knowing the plan had worked. Jarrod smirked to himself as he turned to face his blackmailer.
"I will speak to my colleagues and get back with you."
He turned to leave but Jarrod stopped him, "Don't send messenger boy, I want to hear it from you."
Jarrod turned his back and walked off smiling. He knew he took a hell of a chance but it worked and he was going to celebrate with Jessica and Ben.