Page 24 of Presidential Bargain
“Some of the gossipsites.”
Some? That meant more than one. Fuck! And the way that Lewis, Jenkins, and Sean were looking at one another meant it was more than just gossipsites.
“And some of the more conservative punditwebsites.”
“Talk to me about damagecontrol.”
We strategized and, every so often, I looked back at the counter to see Georgie throw back her head with sheer joy and laugh. Customers were lined up now, waiting to get their next milkshake made by Georgie Washington, possible First Lady. She gladly posed for pictures or took selfies and the entire time, she was oblivious to the fact that her world wascrumbling.
“I want to see thosepictures.Now.”
Sean shook his head and then motioned for me to follow him. We walked out of the restaurant and back onto the bus. He took out his phone and opened a browser, which was already pre-loaded with one of the gossipsites.
I still had no clue who the fuck Russell Atlee was. He was like a goddamn ghost. Even our contacts in the Republican Party didn’t know him. I hoped that if I saw his picture then I could figure out hisidentity.
The pictures loaded quickly one by one and I only saw red. His face was shadowed, but Georgie’s face was clear. It was also clear she was uncomfortable. I was finally able to see what Georgie refused to tell me. The hands of her tormentor all over her body, touching and groping her so intimately that it was a miracle she let me near. I grabbed Sean’s phone out of his hand and smashed it against the side of the bus. I’d buy him a new one later. These assholes published evidence of a sexual assault and it needed tocomedown.
“Get the lawyers on the phone. This shit needs to be removed. NOW!” The bus vibrated with my roar. “And get her the fuck back onthebus.”
Sean nodded and left. I needed to be alone, to calm down before she returned because if she saw me like this, then she’d immediately know something was wrong. I had to be able to tell her this myself, to tell her calmly, and to hold her when she inevitably begantocry.
Lewis and Jenkins were the first ones back on the bus. “Move up the Sierra Simmons shoot. We need that done ASAP. We need America to see Georgie as their next First Lady, not as the woman in those fuckingpictures.”
They nodded, taking notes on their phones. I paced the length of the bus, wearing a path in the carpeting. “And find out where the fuck those photos came from. Tell our friend at theTimeswe owe him for his tip but find out who sent those photographs. We need to go after anyone who publishes those pictures and anyone whodistributesthem.”
Through the bus’s wide front windshield, I could see Georgie saying goodbye to the small crowd that had gathered. She left them with huge, bright smiles and hugs. Sean escorted her out and I knew now was the time to get my shittogether.
“Leave us,” I demanded quietly once Georgie was back on the bus. Her face was bright and full of excitement, and I felt guilty knowing I was about to crush her. Sean, Lewis, and Jenkins left the bus and joined the other aides on a second bus, in what Georgie called our ‘campaign caravan’. I commanded the driver to get back ontheroad.
Georgie was still oblivious to what was happening. I turned back toward her to find her in the rear of the bus, humming happily and rummaging through her suitcase. I made my way down the narrow hallway that led to the bedroom and entered it, closing the doorbehindme.
“Thank you so much for stopping! I had the best time learning how to make milkshakes. Those are definitely on my White House must-havelist.”
“You have a White House must-have list?” I chuckled at the thought. Who knew what else she was dreaming up? It was quite possible that she was trying to come up with a way to serve chicken tenders at a Statedinner.
“There’s actually something I’ve wanted to ask you.” She looked nervous, worrying her lower lip between herteeth.
I reached out and gently touched it. She looked up at me with those big, green eyes that sometimes seemed to swallow me whole. We had become familiar enough that these intimate touches lost theirawkwardness.
“What is it, littledarling?”
“When my parents died, I had to sell a lot of things, but the antiques dealer in town wouldn’t buy my father’s desk. So, it’s sitting in storage. It’s been in my family forgenerations.”
I held up a hand, stopping her. I knew what she wanted, what she was goingtoask.
“We’ll bring it to the White House. I’ll put it in my private office. Or, you can have it in your ownoffice.”
Georgie launched herself at me, throwing her arms around my neck. I caught her around the waist and held her close as our lips met in a hard, fast kiss. Her lips were slightly chilled, no doubt from the milkshake she’d just consumed, and they had a milky sweetness to them. I could feast on them for days, maybe even weeks. We broke apart after a moment, both of us pantingheavily.
“You really are the most wonderful man,Jameson.”
“And you’re an extraordinary woman, Georgie.” I studied her face carefully. There was no way I could tell her what had happened; there was no way I could break herheart.
“But I have to tell yousomething.”
“But I haveto tell yousomething.”
Those words echoed in my brain. I just had the most wonderful evening, doing something totally spontaneous, and now I was filled withdread.
