Page 18 of Presidential Bargain
When I finished speaking and turned back toward Jameson, I did what any woman would do. I kissed him. And it felt so fucking good. It felt unbelievable to have his hands on me, to have his lips against mine…to feel like I was his. But we both had to protect ourselves. He had to stay focused on winning the election and I had to stay focused on not getting my heartbroken.
We rode in silence for the remainder of the trip back to the hotel. We didn’t say a word as we walked through the lobby, boarded the elevator, and returned to the hotel suite we now shared. We went our separate ways once inside, disappearing into our respective bedrooms. I wasn’t sure how much time we had before we needed to leave for another fundraiser, so I didn’t bother with a shower. I quickly washed the heat of the day away with just a lukewarm washcloth and then touched up my makeup and hair. I slipped on a pair of olive green shorts and the cool air felt heavenly on my bare legs. I pulled a loose, ivory top over my head and tucked it into my shorts, and completed my outfit by cinching a leather belt around my waist and stepping into a pair of leather sandals. I kept the other accessories, a gold chain and pearl earrings, on because they still complimented myoutfit.
When I walked into the living area, Jameson was alone, standing by the wall of windows that overlooked the city. He was wearing a pair of red shorts and a loose, light blue button-down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. From his posture, I could tell he didn’t want to bedisturbed.
I busied myself preparing the little brown leather cross-body purse the stylist had kindly left for me. I didn’t think I’d need much, but I still slipped in my compact, lip gloss, a hair tie, and myidentification.
“I didn’t hear you come out.” Jameson’s solemn voice startled me. I looked up to find his expression was somber. “You look nice. Are youready?”
“Yes. Thank you. You look nice as well.” I hadn’t noticed Jameson holding one of the crystal tumblers from the bar until he placed it to his lips. He finished his drink in one large swallow and then set it in the wetbarsink.
Jameson grabbed his wallet from the credenza in the suite’s foyer and opened the door, holding it long enough for me to pass through, then continued walking ahead of me. The silent treatment lasted the entire elevator ride, through the lobby, and made its way into the back ofourSUV.
“Jameson.” I saw his jaw tense. “What’swrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just exhausted. This is our third fundraiser this week. Thank fuck it’s aclambake.”
“Areyousure?”
Jameson turned toward me, patted my hand gently, and then looked away. I suspected more than just exhaustion was the cause of his coldshoulder.
The awkwardness between Jameson andme continued for the rest of the evening. Once we arrived at the clambake fundraiser, Jameson disappeared. I felt like a floundering fish, gasping for air. I was a stranger in a foreign environment. People tried to make small talk but mostly ignored me. The one saving grace was tonight’s event took place on a massive waterfront estate that had a privatebeach.
I walked down to the beach and found a row of Adirondack chairs lined up, facing the ocean. There were some torches lit in the area, giving it a warm, cozy glow, as well as a fire pit that had a roaring fire. I bypassed the chairs and went for the water’s edge where I sat down and let the ocean teasemytoes.
I loved the saltiness of the air and the pungent smell that was distinctly ocean. There was a light breeze that took the edge off the humid night and I was perfectly content to sit there and stare out at the moonlitwaves.
“Well, what’s a pretty girl like you doing out here all alone?” The voice was male, raspy, and had a definite Southern twang. I looked up to find the owner of the voice and saw the brightest, whitest, and fakestsmileever.
“Just enjoying the fresh ocean breeze,” I replied politely. I didn’t want to make small talk with the guy. In fact, I wanted him to leave so I could continue enjoying my own company. He took my answer as an invitation to join me. I rolled my eyes and scooted over in the sand just alittlebit.
“I know who you are, Ms. Washington, but let me take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Russell Atlee.” He held out his hand, but I declined to take it. Something about him rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it was the disingenuous smile. Maybe it was his too-tan skin. Or maybe it was the way he wore a stupid white sweater over his navy blue polo. Seriously, did he think that everyone who lived on the East Coast was a Yuppie fromthe’80s?
“I regret to inform you, Mr. Atlee, that I’m not really in the mood for company right now.” My voice was cool and low. I refused to look him in the eye, so I remained focused on theocean.
“Trouble in paradise already?” Something about his tone made me finally look up at him and make eye contact. His brown eyes gleamed with nothing but the worst ofintentions.
“That’s none of your business. I’d really like to be left alone,please.”
Then he did something so unexpected and vile that I remained frozen in place. He slapped his hand down on my thigh and moved it up my leg until he was at the spot where leg fused with hip. Then, he slid his hand down my inner thigh and back up until he was literally cupping my sex. “That’s not going to happen,littlegirl.”
I swallowed. I felt my entire body tremble in fear. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him lean in close. I felt his hot breath on my neck as his hand held me firmly. His nose grazed my earlobe and then I felt the wetness of his tongue and sharpness of his teeth as he nipped it. I felt sick to my stomach and wanted to scream, to flee, but my fear kept meimmobile.
“I can smell the scam that you and Jameson Martin are trying to pull on the American people.” His voice grated overmyskin.
I shivered with revulsion and choked back the bile stuck in mythroat.
“I have no idea what you mean,” I replied through grittedteeth.
“I think you’re a liar, Ms. Washington.” Mr. Atlee’s voice was a menacing hiss. “I’m going to figure out this little scheme you’ve got going on and when I do, you and Senator Martin will pay. And while we’re on the subject of payment, our little exchange has been photographed. Kindly inform the senator that it will cost him to keep these photographs from accidentally leaking. He can give me a call when he’s ready tonegotiate.”
Russell Atlee held a white business card in front of my face so that I could see it. Then he tucked it into the pocket on the front of my shirt, palming my breast roughly before removing his hand. He leaned in once more and kissed my cheek sloppily before standing. I waited until he was gone before I doubled over and retched until my body had nothing lefttogive.
I remained on the beach, permanently affixed to that one spot. His touch lingered on my body, causing another round of dryheaves.
“Georgie!” I could hear Jameson’s shout from behind me, but I couldn’t bring myself to move, to look at him. This was his presidency to lose and I was now the weak link, the chink in hisarmor.
“Georgie!” he shouted for me again. It must have been hard for him to see me on the beach, but his voice was closer. I wanted to call out to him, but my vocal chords were just as paralyzed asmybody.
