Page 27 of Mister President

“I get that, but it’s gonna be great, E.”

His head shook. “Yeah, but you know I’m a perfectionist. So, I was telling her about the ideas I had, and we were brainstorming for a while, then she started networking and getting a lot of heavy hitters at the club to agree to come to the party and auction. I’m talking seven and eight figure club members, Mandy. We’re going to have billions in the roombecause of her. This is going to be the most lucrative year end events yet. I can feel it.”

“That’s great, Elias. I’m happy for you.”

I didn’t think it was possible, but he grinned even harder. “Thanks, bae. I was a little worried about the age difference and shit, but Fiona really showed me a different side of her today. She showed her value. She showed that we could be partners, and for a man like me, you know that’s everything. I don’t know. Today changed things for me with her. She might be the one.”

Licking the corner of my mouth, I nodded and gripped the couch. That certainly wasn’t what I expected him to say. I knew how important support, acceptance, and respect were to him. I bet she had his dick hard as fuck as she worked the room. A room I’d never bothered to enter with him.

I wouldn’t deny what I had to offer when it came to networking, but it was different. Because of my past, I was able to get athletes, rappers, and certain politicians to support the brothers at auctions when they first openedN.E. Art, but my reach was limited. They agreed, to impress me or get my pussy, whereas it seemed Fiona had bonds with people who could show support because of shared interest. Those were the kinds of connections the brothers could bank off for years.

As happy as I was for Elias, his news kind of made me not want to share mine with him. I stayed a little longer until he was finished getting dressed so he wouldn’t think something was off with me, then headed out when he prepared to get EJ. So much for me telling him my good news. It was probably silly, but I didn’t want him to think I was sharing my dreams and desires to compete with Fiona. So, I kept my dream close to my chest, to myself, like I’d been doing for the past few years.

“Girl,why didn’t you just tell him what you went over to tell him?” Felicity shrieked as I took a large gulp of my spiked lemonade. I didn’t give her all the details…just enough for her to understand my plight.

“How would that have looked, Felicity? Oh, that’s great that your girl can work rooms, make you money, and support you. By the way, I came here to see if you could do the same for me.”

Her neck damn near detached from her head with how hard she twisted her head in my direction. I laughed as she smacked her lips.

“Duh! That was exactly what you were supposed to say, crazy.”

“I couldn’t do that,” I whined. “How I look asking him for support when I haven’t supported him? Not in a while.” Felicity’s head shook in disagreement. “I mean, I helped them out a lot when they first started the firm, but lately, I haven’t been present. It just felt weird. I didn’t want to spoil his moment like that. He was on a cloud because of her and I just…couldn’t do that.”

“I get where you’re coming from, but I don’t think that would have been the case at all. If anything, I think it would have made him proud of you, cuz.”

“Maybe, but still. I’ve never been a one up type of person. I’m sure I’ll still tell him another day.”

She rolled her eyes at me and laughed. “You better. I don’t know what’s going on in that little head of yours, but I’m sure it’s awesome. If you don’t want to share it with me, please share it with him. I don’t care what’s going on with him and her…don’t dim yourself like that again, Amanda.”

I agreed because she was right. It wasn’t insecurity that made me stay silent, but I’d definitely dimmed myself to allow them to keep that moment. While I couldn’t say when I’d tell Elias, I would tell him eventually, because I knew he was the only person in my life that could help me bring my dreams to fruition.

15

Fiona

Future Hubby:I know it’s after hours but I’m still at the office and saw the new filing system you put in place. Thanks for taking the initiative with that and making things easier around here.

Me: That’s my job. I can make a lot of things easier for you babe ??

Future Hubby: I’m starting to see that. I’ll see you tomorrow, and I can’t wait to take you out this weekend.

Before I could ask him if we could see each other sooner, Kenneth knocked on the door to let me know dinner was ready. I’d been anxious for dinner ever since Mommy told me she was making my favorite stew and soda bread. We had a full staff at the mansion, including two chefs, so Mommy didn’t cook a lot. When she did, it was often an Irish staple or a classic Southern comfort meal that Daddy had requested.

With things going as well as they had been with Elias, I figured I’d test the waters and see how they would react to me talking about him. My brother, Rory, married the woman Daddychose for him. She was white, and she came from old money. Daddy made it clear that he wanted me to marry white, too, which surprised me when I was younger.

With him being black and Mommy Irish, I expected him to want me with a black or Irish man. However, it wasn’t until I prepared to go off to college that he made it clear I could have fun messing around with them but to never get into a serious relationship with them. I was not to marry a man from Europe… only a white man from America. He said he’d settle for Italian, but African American and every other race was off limits. Daddy even went as far as to say if I accidently got pregnant by a man who was anything but white that I would have to terminate the pregnancy.

Little did he know, I was like Mommy in a lot of ways… including my desire for a black man. Until I met Elias, I was okay with marrying whoever Daddy wanted for me. Now, I only wanted him.

Conversation around the table was nonexistent as we ate until I began to tell him about what happened at the country club. Daddy beamed in pride as I told him about how I used our connections to secure new potential buyers for Elias. He was so happy, but his smile faded slightly when I said, “I really like him, Daddy. He’s a nice man.”

Mommy looked over at him before returning her attention to her stew.

“Like him how?” Daddy asked, setting his spoon down.

“Like…I don’t know.” I laughed nervously, though I knew full well how I liked him. “Like you like Mommy, I guess. I’m attracted to him. He’s nice and—”

“No.” His head shook as he picked his spoon back up. “You know how I feel about that, Fiona. You will marry the man I pick for you, and he will be white.”

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