Page 16 of Bastian

Not even waiting a second, I take a big bite, making Shaw laugh quietly.

“Dad’s going to be mad at youuuuu,” I tease him with my mouth full. Not very ladylike… but oh well. I love me some cupcakes.

All my happy memories include cupcakes and candy.

Shaw shrugs but says nothing, watching me eat my cupcake.

After I’m done, he grabs the paper cup from my hand and stuffs it inside his pants pocket.

“Was it good?” He asks me while wiping my face and getting rid of the crumbs on the bed.

“Exquisite,” I answer truthfully.

Laughing, he says, “You’re too smart for your own good, you know that?”

I shrug. “I know.”

“Are you happy, Ella?”

Nodding once, I answer. “Now, I am.”

“Good.” His dark eyes shine just like the stars outside my window. How rare. “Now go brush your teeth and get some sleep.”

I get out of bed and head to the bathroom to do as he says, but before I go all the way inside, I turn to him. “You’re the best, Shaw. After daddy, of course.”

“Right back atcha, Moonshine.” He smiles, and my heart does another flip. Settle down, you stupid organ.

Shaw half grins, “And, of course, it’s our secret, kid.” With that, he leaves.

I don’t feel so sad anymore.

Cupcakes are always the cure for a bad day.

Shaw, too.

Shaw makes every day the best day.

Yes.

BASTIAN

PRESS AND PRICKS

“The press is a real pain in my ass.” — B

“Mr. President, you’re on in two minutes.” Baron, my press secretary, reminds me as he walks behind while typing rapidly on his tablet. As we both head with Banning leading us to the house’s press room, Baron briefs me briefly on questions the journalist might ask. All eyes will be on me, including those of our adversaries in China, Russia, and Iran. How I perform shows the country and the world that voters made the right choice when they elected me.

Today’s press conference will tackle updates on all the shit I promised during the campaign trail. An update with gotcha questions on their side meant to catch me on a lie.

Easy on my part.

Terribly difficult on theirs.

They have to get me to slip up, and that won’t happen.

I'll go out there, smile, charm my way through the tough questions, give them what they want, and get out.

This is nothing new.

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