Page 67 of Power Surge

“I could say the same, Madam President.”

I nod in concession. “Okay, so what started the fight?”

“I told her she could not leave the estate grounds,” he says matter-of-factly.

“Right, so you’re holding her against her will?” I question, making sure he understands what he’s saying. “Didn’t you just deny holding her against her will ten seconds ago?”

“It is for her own good. There are threats—”

Lips pursed to hold back a smile, I peer over my shoulder to Trey. “This sounds oddly familiar, doesn’t it, Agent Benson?”

“I cannot see her hurt,” Vlad continues, ignoring my side conversation with Trey.

“Yep, you and I’ve had this conversation before, I’m sure of it.” Trey shakes his head, keeping his intense focus forward.

“She will not listen,” Vlad says on a sigh.

“That does sound oddly familiar,” Trey whispers out of the side of his mouth.

“This is why I called you. You know. You two know.” Vlad gestures between Trey and me. I gape at his swinging finger. “What, you think I did not notice in Hawaii? To stay alive in my role, you have to know all, see all, and observe all. Please talk to her, let her know I only mean to keep her safe.”

We pause in front of a twelve-foot-tall dark wood door. Vlad rests his hand on the round brass knob and shoots a pleading—well, as pleading as a Russian can look—glance at me.

Groaning in frustration, I tip my chin to the ceiling and close my eyes.

“Fine. I’ll talk with her, but just know it might not turn out the way you’re hoping.”

* * *

The happy couple—thanks to me and my power of persuasion—laughs as they clink their glasses together in cheers. I gaze longingly at the empty chair beside me. The chair that would be occupied if my boyfriend weren’t on duty.

A glow seems to surround the two at the head of the table, somehow making this cold room warm with the love they clearly have for one another. I’ll go to my grave saying I was the catalyst for them to solve their issues, but really it was all them. I just helped start the conversation that needed to be had.

Having a few years of experience and practice under my belt because of the past fights Trey and I have had helped me speed the resolution along. She needed to see things from his point of view, and he needed to listen and respect hers. That’s all it came down to. It’s all it ever comes down to.

Mutual respect, listening, and love.

“Randi Sawyer: president by day, love whisperer by night,” I say to myself with a smile.

Vlad and his girlfriend don’t notice my random thought, too wrapped up in each other. Even though I hate to break up the happy reunion, there are some things I need to discuss with Vlad since I’m here. Might as well make this visit multipurpose.

He must feel the weight of my gaze as I attempt to figure out how to get him alone, because across the table, his gray eyes meet mine. Vlad dips his chin at whatever he finds written across my face and leans over to whisper in the woman’s ear. With a goodbye kiss, she excuses herself from the table, leaving Vlad and me alone. Well, as alone as I ever am these days. Several of his men and my agents still accompany us in the gilded dining room.

“What is it you wish to speak about?”

Leaning back against the chair, I swirl the red wine around the glass. “What you told me about Kyle was true, and the information you provided helped me convince him to step down. But now with him gone, I’m…. I don’t know what to do. We don’t have the names of the people behind it all. The CIA can’t find anything.” I narrow my eyes at his huffed chuckle. “You don’t think very highly of our CIA, do you?”

“I do not.”

“Care to share why?”

“I do not.”

I glare at my friend over the rim of the wineglass as I take a patience-fortifying sip. “I don’t know what to do.”

Vlad sips at the clear liquid in a short shot glass, his fingers drumming along the table. “What do your advisors say?”

“I… uh….”Well, shit. Did not expect that question from him.

---