Page 41 of Power Games

Crossroad

It had been a fair Saturday morning, sunny but not too warm. Charles woke up, went for a run, and headed back to the hotel where he’d spent the night. Her hotel. What were the odds?

Thierry outdid himself, sending a great suit up to the Presidential suite by nine-thirty, right after most stores had opened.

Charles had a meeting with Aiden this morning. In other circumstances, he definitely would have cancelled, but he needed to speak to the man. He was getting a divorce. How fucking surreal was that? It was truly happening.

There was a good chance that Aiden would tell him to let the next election go, gather his horses, and shoot for gold in five years; he realized that. Small price to pay.

“Charles. How did yesterday go? Did you get to meet Sebastian and Leonie?"

God, the benefit. It seemed to have been a lifetime ago, not the previous evening.

"I did. Charming couple. You're right, they don't seem to like the Wrights much. I've invited them along for dinner at my place..." he trailed off. "Which could prove problematic, given the fact that I don't technically have a place right now."

Aiden frowned. "Wait, what happened to the fancy apartment?"

He shrugged. "It's Izzy's. She fell in love with it. I bought it for her. She wants a divorce now, so it's hers."

Aiden was still and silent for all of ten seconds before laughing out loud, and raising his hand to call the server. "My friend! Cancel the coffee, we'll have whiskey over here."

Charles laughed. "No, I'll stick to coffee. You can drink for me. I'm meeting Vanessa in," he glanced at the watch on his wrist, "forty-five minutes."

Aiden whistled appreciatively. "Man, you move quick. Vanessa McNamara.” He bit his lip. "I think I hate you a little."

He shook his head. "We're just..."

He tried to find his words.We're just friends, he was going to say, like he had so many times before. But then he realized he didn't need to justify himself anymore, so he let it drop.

"It's a brunch, with her family. I'm not going to show up smelling of booze."

Aiden snorted. "Have you met her family? You'll certainly leave smelling of booze. No matter. I take it you're here about the run."

He nodded.

"If it's all amicable, and Izzy isn't running her mouth about you, and she even accepts to do a few photo ops post breakup, with your new lady in tow? We're good. Your opposition will use it, but we'll just call them old farts who have no idea how the world works anymore. Their generation stuck to marriages even when it wasn't working, even when they were all miserable. Ours doesn't see shame about admitting that it's failing and making the decision to move on." Aiden paused. "Their argument will only be valid if there's drama."

"No drama," he noted, nodding. "We can handle that. So, you think I can run next year?"

Aiden laughed. "Not all of us make money sitting on our asses. I'm giving up a year of a seven figure salary to babysit your ass. Obviously, that's because I think you can make it."

Charles shook his head. "I can match your salary, you know."

Aiden shrugged. "I didn't ask you to. Now, you said you're meeting the McNamaras for brunch? Is that a public event?"

"I think so. I don't have the guest list, I only said I’d go at one in the morning today."

Aiden was already on his phone, checking information.

"Yeah, Democrat photo op. There's no full list, but you want to get your hands on Berty Price if you can. He goes because he gets along with Theodore, but his ideas are moderate. And if you get him in your pocket, you get half of his buddies from his old fraternity, yacht club, or whatnot. He's not essential but his name opens doors."

They spent the next twenty minutes running through potential attendees he should introduce himself to, and then Charles was on his way back to the hotel. He changed rooms, taking the Federal suite. It had been cleaned up, of course, but despite the crisp bedsheets and pristine furniture, he liked to think he smelled a hint of her scent. Sea air, citrus, jasmine, and vanilla. He could practically taste it.

Charles headed to the park on foot. It was just a mile and a half southwest and walking gave him time to think, clear his mind.

When he got there, Charles saw her long before she saw him.

Vanessa was wearing a navy skirt with a single white stripe at the hem and a pretty blouse, with a cute little straw hat to protect her face from the summer heat. The McNamara party included three dozen people of all ages. Theodore entertained the older ones, his strong fist around a glass of whiskey, as Aiden had predicted. Tristan spoke to a smaller group, mostly composed of men, while Stella, Vanessa's beautiful blonde mother, gossiped with the ladies.

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