Page 10 of Presidential Bargain
They shouted at us again and I pointed randomly. I knew some of the reporters in attendance, but it was hard to distinguish them from the stage with the sun shining on everyone. “Senator, can you explain Ms. Washington’s absence from virtually your entire campaignuntilnow?”
I anticipated a question like this and I had been working with Lewis and Jenkins on how to answer it. “Yes, I can. Georgie is a very passionate and dedicated teacher. When I announced my intention to run, I didn’t think it was wise to bring her with me to campaign events. I wanted her to be able to continue her job without being disturbed. She’s not running for president, and neither are her students and colleagues. I didn’t want my campaign to interfere with hercareer.”
“Ms. Washington, how do you feel about Senator Martin excluding you from hiscampaign?”
There hadn’t been much time to prep Georgie on how to answer questions, so this event was a sort of trial-by-fire. I turned to face her, caging her with my body when she approached the podium. My hand rested firmly on the small of her back, reminding her of my presence. “I wasn’t excluded. I think every woman wants a man who will protect her and that’s what Jameson did. He not only protected me and my privacy, but he also protected my students. Once Jameson received the Democratic nomination for president, we decided together how and when I would officially join hiscampaign.”
“But that was weeks ago! Why did you waitsolong?”
I wanted this press conference to be over. This dog-and-pony show annoyed me. Georgie was doing great, and she handled their questions perfectly, but I was ready to get backtowork.
“I wanted to enjoy our engagement and focus on that before switching gears. And then I wanted to finalize some policy items and get my campaign running before bringing out my ace-in-the-hole.” It was a bullshit answer and I ended it with a cheeky wink that I knew would distract everyone. They would be talking about how I looked at Georgie, not about my non-answer.
“We have time for one more question.” I pointed to a reporter who was loyal to our campaign, one who was ready with a question we hadplanted.
“Can you show us the ring? Does it have any specialmeaning?”
Georgie held out her hand and there was furiousclick-click-clickingof shutters as photographers snapped picture after picture of her ring. “It’s an antique ring that I found here in Boston. When I saw it, it immediately made me think of Georgie’s big green eyes and I knew it was the one, thatshewastheone.”
In a moment that I could only describe as spontaneous, I lifted her hand to my lips and kissed her ring. The gem felt cool against my lips, but the electric jolt that happened the moment I made contact sent a blinding trail of heat through my body. I dared to meet her gaze and found my own shock reflected in her expression. Georgie had felt it too. I smiled tightly before turning back to the podium. “That’s all for today. No more questions. Thank you forcomingout.”
I grabbed Georgie’s hand firmly and ushered her quickly off the stage. Lewis and Jenkins were waiting for us, cold bottles of water in their hands, and we were quickly led to the waiting SUV. I helped Georgie inside before sliding in next to her. One of my aides handed me my phone and I quickly got back into the rhythm of campaigning, desperate to avoid thinking about how I felt the moment my lips connected withherskin.
Ifully expectedto discussthe press conference, to be debriefed on the day, and talk about the next steps. I didn’t expect to be ignored. Lewis was in the front seat and Jenkins sat in between me and Jameson. Whatever the two of them were discussing, Jenkins had his back toward me, squishing me and my pretty dress against the door. I guess this was what a fake fiancéeshouldexpect, but I felt something more at the press conference. The electric current that surged through me the moment Jameson took my hand and kissed the ring I now wore surprised not only me but based on the way his eyes widened, Jameson too. How could heignorethat?
“Could someone tell me where we’re going?” Iasked.
“New York City,” Lewis replied. New York? I didn’t have any luggage or toiletries or even my computer. Hell, I didn’t even have a book to read on what was turning into the loneliest carrideever.
“Why are we driving and not flying?” Iasked.
“It saves the campaign money,” Lewis responded again. He seemed to be the only one talkingtome.
“What about myluggage?”
“It’s intheback.”
I didn’t bother even trying to glance in the back of the vehicle. Jameson ran a tight ship, so if Lewis said it was there, it wasthere.
“Ms. Washington, the campaign schedule has been uploaded to your calendar. You can just scroll through to find out when and where we will be.” This was old hat to everyone in the vehicle, except me. I knew there would be a learning curve, but I’d hoped someone would take the time to talk with me about my expected role in all of this. I reached into my black leather purse and pulled out my phone. I scrolled through the calendar and saw that this coming week was filled with events in and around New York City. What was I expected to do and say at these events? So many questions about the role I was supposed to play swirled like a thunderstorm in mybrain.
I tucked my phone back into my purse and pulled out the folder full of everything I needed to know about Jameson Martin. I continued reading through his life story, which was fairly interesting. He graduated from West Point only a few months before the attacks on the World Trade Center occurred. He was wounded during an ambush on his convoy, when he bravely pulled members of his platoon from a burning Humvee before it exploded. Jameson was awarded a bronze star for his heroism. When he returned from his last tour, he retired from the military but immediately went right back into public service by running against, and defeating, the incumbent Republican senator in his home state of Massachusetts. After winning his second term, Jameson added his name to a crowded field of potential Democratic nominees for president. While many candidates dropped like flies during the primary season, Jameson sailed through until he eventually won thenomination.
Reading through his biography, I hadn’t realized how much older he was than me. It didn’t bother me and clearly, it didn’t bother the people who showed up at the event today. But I also hadn’t seen the news. I had no idea what was being said about us and I didn’t mind being ignorant for a little whilelonger.
“Are we going to stop before we get to New York?” I finallyasked.
“Justforgas.”
I wasn’t sure who answered me and I didn’t care. I was being ignored for the most part, so I placed the folder back in my purse and closed my eyes, leaning my head against the window. The rhythm of the car soothed me until my eyes grew heavy and I fellasleep.
A light hand on myshoulder shook me, and my eyes fluttered open. I was in a parking garage, still in the backseat of the SUV. I looked to see who the hand belonged to and was met with the unfamiliar gaze of a woman I had been dying to meet.AvonWest.
Avon’s eyes were a striking chocolate brown rimmed with gold and her hair cascaded around her shoulders in soft waves. She had the perfect button nose and a wide smile. Her skin was a flawless mocha color that seemed to glow from within. I’d have to ask her about her skin careregimen.
“Where is everyone?” I asked, my voice still thick withsleep.
“They went up to their rooms.” She had a soft voice that dripped with a Southernaccent.
