Page 106 of The Rebel King

“How’s this for an offer?” Holding his stare, I lift my middle finger. “’Cause that’s the closest you’ll ever get to fucking me.”

“Lenn, you know we have to give him more than that.” Kimbaleans forward and raises her hands, both middle fingers up. “I’ll double the offer.”

Anger mottles his expression. “I’ll talk,” he spits.

“Do it.” Kimba leans back and crosses one skinny-jean-clad leg over the other, flicking her silver Tory Birch ruffle sneakers. “And not only will I sue your ass, but I’ll make sure everyone in town knows you were so inept, your writing so lackluster, we couldn’t get the candidate to even use your speeches.”

“That’s not my fault,” Glenn snaps. “The guy barely uses speeches. Half his stuff is off the cuff, and you know it.”

“And Lennix is a damn good campaign manager who has earned her reputation working hard, not sleeping around,” Kimba replies calmly. “And you know that, but it’s all about perception, yeah?”

“Look, we can give you a letter of recommendation,” I offer, my expression softening. “And an apology.”

His eyes flick to mine at that, and he frowns. “An apology?”

“Glenn, I had no idea you had…feelings,” I say softly. “We’ve worked together for years and been friends. I hate seeing it come to this. I want you to know it’s not some affair. Maxim and I are in a serious relationship.”

“Lennix,” Kimba says, various warnings in the one syllable.

“I love him, Glenn,” I continue, gambling that the guy I’ve worked with over the years to elect candidates we both believed in is still there somewhere. “This isn’t some tawdry campaign fling.”

“It isn’t?” Glenn asks, a small frown denting his brows. “I didn’t realize it was serious between you two.”

“It…” I look down at my hands. “It is, yeah, and we’ll share it when the time is right. Now is not the time, and we’ll do it when we’re ready. In the meantime, there’s an NDA that says you won’t talk about the things you saw here on the campaign, but that shouldn’t even be the issue. You and I have been friends a long time. We should be fighting to savethat, not fighting each other.”

After a few moments of tense silence, Glenn nods. “You’re right, and I understand.”

“So…” Kimba glances between the two of us, cautious hope in the look. “We’re straight?”

“Yeah, I could stay on with the campaign, if that’s okay,” he says. “Maxim’s going all the way. I know that. Writing speeches for the future president will look good. I can get past this if you can.”

Crap.

Kimba and I share a quick look because she knows as well as I do there’s no way Maxim will go for this.

“I think, given the circumstances,” Kimba says, “it’s still best that we go our separate ways. We have friends working for the Dems who could use someone like you.”

“Yeah, we’ll be more than happy to give you a glowing letter of recommendation,” I add. “I know we can have you placed in a day or so with another campaign.”

Glenn’s mouth tightens, and he rubs his palms over his knees. “That won’t be necessary,” he says stiffly. “I have a friend with another campaign who wanted me to go there initially, but I saw this as a great opportunity. I’m sure there’s still a spot for me.”

“Do you mind if we ask who?” Kimba frowns.

“I’d prefer not to say until it’s definite,” he replies, his look daring us to press.

I don’t want to. This is as amicable as it will get.

“Well, if that’s all,” I say, standing, “the bus pulls out for Pittsburgh in a few minutes. We better get out there.”

“Yeah,” Kimba says, standing, too. “We can arrange transportation to anywhere you need to go.”

“I’ll get my own ride.” Glenn stands, too, extending his hand. “Nice doing business with you.”

Kimba accepts his handshake, and so do I. His grip on my fingers tightens, and I look up to find his face a serene mask. Even though there’s no detectable malice in his eyes, I still feel like I just made some deal I don’t understand with the devil.

CHAPTER 47

MAXIM

---