Page 31 of Presidential Bargain
Lamar Huntley wasn’t often challenged. I could tell that from his expression, the shock in his eyes. He nodded toward one of his aides who had remained in the living area of the suite and, in seconds, he was holding afolder.
“We know who Russell Atlee is. Everything you need to know about him is in this file.” He held the information hostage beneath hisfingers.
I itched to grab the folder and finally find out the identity of the man who dared to touch whatwasmine.
“I know you’re eager for thisinformation,son.”
I despised the patronizing way he spoke to me, and that he had just called me “son.” This asshole was not even old enough to be myfather.
“But nothing is ever free, isn’t that right, Governor?” I looked at him through anarrowedgaze.
“Absolutely.”
“What doyouwant?”
The governor sucked in a sharp breath and let it out before giving me a nervoussmile.
“The man cannot ever be prosecuted. His identity can never be revealedpublicly.”
I laughed. Seriously, I laughed at the sheer audacity of the man who sat in front of me. “Are you fucking kidding me, Lamar?” Fuck respect and decorum. He was asking me to do something that was completely out of thequestion.
“Language, James. We are bothgentlemen.”
“Fuck being a gentleman. Do you seriously expect me to not go after the man who assaulted my fiancée? That bastard put his hands all over her. He touched what is mine. How can you ask me that, as a man? How can you ask me that as a husband? As afather?”
His jaw ticked and his fingers drummed nervously on the thick manila folder. Then it dawned on me. He knew Russell Atleepersonally.
“Fuck your folder, Lamar. I’ll find out who he is myself, and I promise you that if he’s connected to you in any way, I will make youbothpay.”
“There is no need to get ugly, James. I am not unwilling to give you something in return. My campaign will acknowledge receiving funds from the super PAC and we will return the money, or donate it to victims of sexual assault. Yourchoice.”
“That is not good enough. Not even remotely close. She deserves morethanthat.”
“Then we are at animpasse.”
Fuck the impasse. If he knew who Russell Atlee was, then there was a way to find out ourselves. I had a point of reference now, somewheretolook.
“I’ll see you on the campaign trail,Governor.”
Governor Lamar Alexander nodded and slid the folder off the table. He stood and immediately left. There was no need to shake hands or keep up the pretense of civility. He asked me to do the unthinkable. To borrow a famous phrase, it was time to gorogue.
Ileftthe spa feelingtotally relaxed. My hair was trimmed and glossy, my body exfoliated and silky soft. I felt sinful and decadent for having enjoyed a few hours away from the campaign chaos. In the car, I pulled out my phone and saw all of the media alerts that had popped up about the campaign. I was excited to see Jameson’s speech to the union. Jameson was totally different when he was in front of a room full of blue-collar workers. He never wore suits. He explained to me that he wanted to seem approachable and a suit cut him off from his constituents. The speeches he gave in union halls were always fiery and passionate. Blue-collar workers had once defected from the Democratic Party, and Jameson was ensuring they returned this timearound.
I cued up one of the videos, eager to see Jameson’s angular features and pitch-black hair. Instead, it was a video of DeWayne and Avon. They were speaking at Jameson’s event, in Jameson’s place. Confused, I listened to the speech anyway because DeWayne was still a powerful and passionate orator. I closed out the video and read through the other campaign alerts, the headlines only adding to my confusion. Image and after image of Jameson’s opponent, Louisiana governor Lamar Huntley leaving our hotel. It was clear he wasn’t expecting to be seen by anyone because he was heavily flanked by security and his head was down, but his identity could not bemistaken.
Confusion was replaced with anger. Jameson had lied to me. Goodbye relaxation, hellotension.
I read through the articles, all speculating about why Jameson and Lamar Huntley had secretly met. Was Jameson going to drop out? Was Governor Huntley? What scam were they inflicting upon the American people? Disgusted, I tossed my phone back in my bag. Jameson better have a good explanationforthis.
As it turned out, when I returned to the suite, Jameson wasn’t even there. Was this the plan? According to my calculations and Jameson’s schedule, he was still supposed to be at an event. I stewed silently, waiting for him to return. I also ordered cake and wine from the roomservicemenu.
It was hours before Jameson returned. Hours, and many glasses of wine later. He walked through the door and looked at me, tension ticking away athisjaw.
“I see you had dinner,” Jameson rumbled, nodding toward my empty plate and the now empty bottleofwine.
“Yep.” I held up my phone. “I see you liedtome.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,Georgie.”
