Scandalous by Donna Hill Read Free Book Online Page A

were determination and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. And this summer she was determined to do her undergraduate internship ina political environment outside Atlanta. And she hoped to get to meet Vaughn Hamilton in the process.
    She sighed heavily, drawing the attention of her roommate, Jean.
    â€œSounds deep,” Jean commented, peeking over the edge of her textbook.
    Simone shrugged. “I was just reading this article on Vaughn Hamilton’s big shindig last week.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œI really admire women like her—women who are willing to go against the odds and take what they want. Women who aren’t intimidated by outside forces, but who are secure in who they are.” Her light brown eyes glowed with admiration.
    â€œSounds like you’d make a great walking advertisement for her campaign,” Jean teased.
    â€œVery funny.” Simone rolled her eyes in annoyance. She hated it when Jean teased her about her political zeal.
    â€œDon’t get all bent, Simone. You know I was just kidding,” Jean said, half apologetically. Jean was a biology major, and politics was the furthest thing from Jean’s mind. She tried valiantly to keep up with Simone’s rhetoric and name dropping, but the whole abstract concept of politics crashed against her logical, analytical brain like a mack truck. However, it was Jean’s unshakeable reason that Simone sometimes relied on to keep her focused on her goals. Jean returned her attention to her textbook when her eyes brightened with what she thought was a brilliant idea.
    â€œHey, if Hamilton is running, she has to have a campaign staff. Why don’t you try to get an internship with her this summer?”
    Simone gave a weak smile. “I’m way ahead of you on that one.” She plopped down on the plaid couch andstretched out her long legs. “I called about two weeks ago. One of her aides told me that they had just filled their quota for summer interns.”
    â€œHmmm. Bad break. That would have been perfect.”
    The two friends sat in silence, both caught up in trying to arrive at an alternative solution.
    Simone folded her arms beneath her small breasts and twisted her lips in consternation. She knew she’d waited too long to make her contacts. But until two weeks ago, she wasn’t sure how she’d have managed living expenses outside of her dorm. She knew that her parents had spent most of their savings to send her to college. Or at least, that’s what she’d thought; until they’d revealed to her that upon her nineteenth birthday, which was in three weeks, she’d have access to an account in the amount of $250,000. They’d refused to say how they’d amassed that much money, only that it was now hers. She was still reeling from the shock.
    â€œHey,” Jean said suddenly, making Simone jump in surprise. “Remember about three months ago when that f-i-n-e brother, um, um, whatshisname?” She popped her fingers trying to make the name materialize. “Montgomery!” she cried triumphantly.
    Simone sat up in her seat, her thoughts racing. “Right. When he came here to speak, he said he’d be happy to help out with internship and job referrals,” she shouted. “And I was really impressed with his stance on children’s rights and advocacy.” How could she have forgotten? She’d been so preoccupied with working with Vaughn Hamilton that she’d completely overlooked Justin Montgomery’s generous offer.
    Briefly she thought of her own situation and what an impact his presentation had had on her at the time. It had really made her think it was possible to find the truth, thatthe law was there to be used, if you knew how. That was what she’d wanted more than anything, to learn how to use the law to find the truth. And now she had the means to do it.
    â€œDo you still have his card?” Jean asked.
    â€œI hope so.”