Broken Politics

by Janae Keyes

  As my eyes opened I saw a face I didn’t expect to see. I hadn’t expected it and my heart jumped at the most beautiful sight. In this moment I did consider that I might be dead because this had to be heaven. Looking at me with that soft beautiful smile that I knew so well was Kayla.

  “I’m so glad you’re awake.” She said softly. Just hearing her voice sent shivers through my body.

  “Kayla.” Was all I could manage out of my mouth. I took my left hand and reached it towards her, but suddenly the feeling of pain shot through my body.

  “Don’t move too much. You just only got out of surgery about 30 minutes ago.” She said as she ran a hand down my arm. I’d missed everything about her touch.

  “I can’t believe you’re here.” I said to her as I just stared at her. “Are you sure I’m not dead?”

  She let out a laugh. I loved her laugh. There was comfort found in her laugh. “You aren’t dead. I can assure you of that.”

  “Why aren’t you in San Francisco?” I asked her knowing that she was supposed to have gone already.

  “I was about to board my flight when I learned you were shot. I got here as fast as I could. I…I was afraid. So afraid. The thought of you dying and me not being by your side seemed criminal and wrong. I couldn’t lose you. Not that way. I love you too much.” I could see the tears in her eyes as she spoke. I wanted to wipe all her tears away.

  “I’m not going anywhere.” I said giving her a comforting smile. “I swear to you Kayla I’m not going and I will love you until my dying breath.”

  “I saw on the news that Victor resigned.” She said with a dismissive shrug.

  “He didn’t really. I fired him. When I learned that he was behind you leaving I was disgusted with him. He had the nerve to tell me he was making the White House white again. He even set up that ridiculous date with that girl. He is trash and he is now where trash goes.” I stated clearly. I needed her to know that I’d dealt with the problem and that Victor wasn’t going to bother us again.

  “I’m glad.” She simply said.

  “I’ve missed you beyond anything imaginable. It’s been so hard being without you. I’ve hated myself allowing myself to be bullied by Victor and I hated that I allowed him to do the same to you.” I said to her.

  “I should have never allowed him to do that to me. That night I should have just told you everything, but he’d threatened my mom and I couldn’t have anything happen to her. I’m sorry that I allowed him to break me. I should have come to you. I should have told you, but instead I broke both our hearts. I’d broken who we were.” She was once again wiping tears away. As much as my heart had been broken hers had been too. We’d both suffered in this.

  “I’d kiss you, but I can’t move well.” I said with a small laugh. She laughed to before she bent to me and pressed her full soft lips to mine. That exact feeling was what I needed. Those jolts that went down my spine and made me feel whole. That moment where it was as if everything was going to be perfectly fine. Her lips on mine did that and so much more. Her lips lingered on mine for a moment before she pulled back and smiled at me. “I love you beyond anything Kayla Johnson.”

  “I love you Matthew Von Hansen.” She said giving me a grin. There was no doubt that I had her back. We didn’t need to have a conversation about it. It was done.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Kayla

  I AWOKE THE same way I’d awoken for the past month. I was in Matthew’s arms. I could smell his beautiful scent of nutmeg and sage. I took a breath and snuggled into his arms a little more. This was how life should be and I wasn’t giving it up for anything.

  I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. I had the man I loved and an amazing new job. The San Francisco Herald still wanted me on despite the fact that I didn’t show up in San Francisco. I’d called to reject their offer and tell them I was staying in DC, but they said they wanted me badly. They were willing to have me stay in DC. Matthew even got them a space in the Press Corp and I was back at it again. It was nice to be back in action and with a publication that would allow me to write the things I wanted to write.

  There were hands moving up my body. I smiled to myself knowing it was Matthew. I looked up to his face and he was grinning at me. Now that I was back with him I didn’t know exactly how I’d gone those weeks without him in my life. He was everything I could ever want.

  “Good morning beautiful.” He said to me.

  “Good morning.” I said as I pulled myself up. I looked into his green eyes for a moment before and leaned into him and pressed my lips against his. I felt his hand slip to my hip and hold me just a little tighter. He then broke the kiss and looked at me. I took my left hand and moved some hair from my face.

  “What’s that on your hand?” he asked me. I quickly looked at my left hand. On my ring finger there was a beautiful diamond ring. The band of the ring was platinum with small diamonds all around while the middle held a large round yellow diamond surrounded by smaller white diamonds.

  “What’s this?” I asked at once sitting up on the bed. I was staring at the ring that I hadn’t noticed that Matthew had gotten off the bed. He was now next to the bed on one knee. I looked up and my heart was then pounding. I looked at him as he kneeled there shirtless. I saw the three scars on him from when he was shot. As much as I hated them they also had brought us back together.

  “Kayla. My Kayla. I’d promised you that when the time came I’d give you my last name only if you wanted to take it, it’s your choice.” I giggled a bit at his disclaimer on the last name. “I don’t have a world without you. I just exist in a space, but with you I have everything. I know that I want that everything for the rest of my life. I don’t want to eat, sleep, or breathe without knowing I have you always. So therefore Kayla Johnson I’m asking you to do something for me. I’m asking you to be my wife. Will you marry me?” I just looked at him. The only thing I could do was smile. I quickly jumped off the bed and into his arms nearly tackling him to the floor.

  “Yes!” I screamed before I pressed my lips to his hard.

  “Good I was so afraid you might say no.” he said with a laugh as I sat straddling above him.

  “Never and yes I will be taking your last name.” I said looking him right in the eyes.

  “Mrs. Kayla Von Hansen. First Lady Von Hansen. It sounds amazing.” He said looking at me. “And tonight I’m showing you off to the world.” He said grinning.

  “What?” I asked him my eyes going wide.

  “The State Dinner. I want you as my date. I want the world to know that I have the most amazing and beautiful girl and she is all mine. I want to introduce you to the world as my fiancée.” He said with no irony at all. He was completely serious and I knew it. I hadn’t expected this, but I knew we would eventually have to be public and now that we were engaged it was going to have to happen sooner rather than later. I was attending the dinner already, but I would be going alone. I wasn’t going alone anymore apparently.

  “Alright.” I answered.

  “Now, future First Lady.” He said grinning at me. He put his hands behind my back and laid me down on the floor slowly. “I want you. All of you.”

  “Yes.” I say instantly looking up at him. I knew what he meant by his words. He ran a hand softly down my arm. “Matthew.” I said softly to him. He looked at me with longing in his eyes.

  “Yes Baby.” He said.

  “Make love to me.” I said. My heart was pounding. I felt a strange feeling come over my body I felt like that first time we were together. It was a joyous and familiar feeling.

  Matthew slipped his hands down my torso to the hem of my tank top. I’d only slept in my tank top and panties. I allowed him to slip my tank top over my head and he threw it to the side. There was a hunger in his green eyes that I’d seen plenty of times before.

  He trailed his fingers up my now naked torso. They trailed over my breasts. I let out a sigh. He simply grinned down at me before he bent and placed his lips on mine. The
way he kissed me was so strong and passionately. I was going to marry this man. The man who loved every bit of me even the parts he disagreed with.

  He began to kisses down my neck and collarbone. His kisses continued softly down to one of my breasts and his lips took in my nipple. I gasped at the feeling that sent waves to my core. I then felt his teeth slightly graze my nipple making me moan out. He took the other nipple between his fingers twisting it just enough for me to gasp.

  “Matthew.” I breathed out feeling a warmth come over me and travel between my legs.

  Kisses were being trailed down my belly as his fingers hooked in the elastic of my panties. He slid them down my legs and discarded them. His lips returned to my neck. I instantly reached down into his pajama pants and glided my hands over his manhood.

  “Mmm Kayla.” He moaned into my ear. I grinned to myself. I continue and growls erupted from his throat. “No more. I want you.” He then growls as he pulls my hands from his pajama pants. He took his pants off and positioned himself above me grabbing up one of my legs. He plunged into me.

  “Fuck!” I cried out not expecting it that way, but the feeling was so good. He continued again over and over; harder and faster. I had nothing to hold onto lying on the floor except him. I gripped onto his shoulder. I don’t even think the words coming from either of our mouths were neither coherent nor English as gratification took us both.

  We lied there on the floor our legs intertwined. Matthew is running his fingers through my hair as I lied with my head on his chest listening to his heartbeat. I looked up at Matthew and smile as I remembered something.

  “I have to make a phone call.” I said at once.

  “Your mom knows I was asking. I called her a week ago and asked for permission.” He said matter-of-factly.

  “Not my mom nor Simone. I need to call Tatiana. I promised her an exclusive when we went public.” I explained to him. Tatiana was going to need to get the story before anyone else did as I’d promised her.

  MATTHEW SIMPLY SMILED at me as I walked into the room wearing my gown for the dinner. The gown I wore cost more than I’d like to think about. It was a strapless red silk trumpet gown. I felt like an actual princess. Matthew looked great in his black tux. He stood from his chair and walked to me. He instantly pulled me close and placed a soft kiss on my lips.

  “You look absolutely gorgeous.” He said to me. I could only smile and look into his eyes. Was this really the life I was about to enter? It was apparent at the flashes of a camera that went off. I looked over to where Tatiana was with her crew of a photographer and online content producer. They wanted candid photos of Matthew and I getting ready for the dinner.

  “I think I got the perfect shot. Even got the ring in it.” The photographer said as he rushed over to Tatiana and the online producer who were sitting at a laptop.

  “Great Zach if you can plug that into the article I think it can go live.” Tatiana said happily.

  “Alright give me two seconds.” Zach the online content producer for MetroGirl said. I looked away from them and to Matthew. I straightened his bow tie and gave him a grin as I slid my hands down his chest.

  “Perfect.” I said. He pecked me on the lips.

  “The article is live and has been posted across social media.” Tatiana said as she squealed with delight.

  I walked over to where she was setup and looked at the screen of her computer. I loved the photo of Matthew and I. It was the moment I’d looked into his eyes after he kissed me. My hand left hand was on his arm and my ring sparkled. The world had now been introduced to us as a couple.

  METROGIRL EXCLUSIVE: President Matthew Von Hansen Prepares to step out at State Dinner with fiancée

  Tonight the world will be introduced to the fiancée of President Von Hansen. She is no other than 29 year old former MetroGirl Political Lifestyle Journalist and the writer behind the genius political blog Broken Politics, Kayla Johnson. The couple has been together for nearly a year and has kept their relationship private, but as they are now engaged they have decided to give MetroGirl the first look as they prepare to sparkle and shine at the State Dinner in honor of Denmark. We here at MetroGirl send our congratulations and wish the happy couple a wonderful future.

  As I finished reading the article Matthew took my hand. I turned and looked at him. I knew it must be time to head down to the dinner. I was so nervous because the world was now expecting me. I wasn’t just Kayla Johnson Political Journalist, but also Kayla Johnson the fiancée of the President. I took a deep breath.

  “Everything will be fine. I promise.” Matthew said into my ear. I could only hope he was right as he led me from the room.

  We walked through the nearly empty hall down to where Ray and Chris were waiting for us. They opened the doors and followed them. I could now hear voices and an announcer announcing the guests who have arrived.

  “We will be going out to meet the Crown Prince and Princesses motorcade where there will be a photo-op.” Matthew said to me. We’d gone over the schedule already, but I was so nervous. This was my first time at any event like this and now I was here as the nearly First Lady.

  We were lead outside to the North Portico entrance of the White House. The limo pulled up and the door was opened for the Princess who stepped out first. I wanted to laugh because she was wearing the same gown that I was. She saw me and giggled as her husband then exited the limo. They then approached Matthew and I. I curtsied as practiced and Matthew took a bow before the Prince offered his hand to Matthew to shake.

  “Welcome Your Highness.” Matthew said to the Prince. The Princess offered her hand and Matthew kissed it. “Your Highness. Looking beautiful.”

  “Yes it seems I have a twin tonight.” She said in her thick Danish accent.

  “It seems so your Highness.” I said politely.

  “I think great minds think alike.” She said to me.

  “Can we get a photo?” a member of the press shouted. The Princess then stood next to me and the men stood on the ends. We all smiled for a few photos.

  I felt like I was able to breathe a little bit when we walked inside. Matthew and the Prince were already chatting away as they walked. I was so nervous. I’d never spoken to a Princess before. I didn’t even know what to say to her.

  “So you are the fiancée. I saw the story on our way over.” The Princess said to me. I turned to her as we continued to walk.

  “Yes.” I answered.

  “May I see your ring?” she asked. “I was only able to see the tiny photo on my phone in the car.” I held out my hand and she looked over my engagement ring that I’d only received that morning. “It is beautiful. You are a very lucky girl. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.” I said beaming. I could only think of when Matthew and I would actually marry. I wanted it to be soon. I didn’t want to wait too much longer to be his wife. There was so much to plan. My head was then swirling. I hadn’t even thought of all the planning until that moment.

  “Alright, ladies we are about to enter.” Matthew said. I walked to his side. I was once again shaking. Matthew took my hand into his and squeezed. “Don’t be nervous. I’m right here.” Just having that reassurance made me calm so much.

  The doors opened and there were so many more cameras than there had been outside. The moment Matthew and I walked in the cameras were going crazy. I stood next to Matthew who seemed to have it all down.

  “President Von Hansen is it true you are engaged?” asked a reporter.

  “It’s true. I asked this amazing woman to marry me just this morning.” He said. I looked at him and smiled. He was my dream and my everything. “Now tonight isn’t about us. It is about our amazing guests from Denmark.” Matthew pointed out as the doors opened again. The Princes and Princess had obviously been doing this for a long time. They both shined as they came out posing perfectly for every shot.

  THE NIGHT HAD been a long one, but a fantastic one. I think I did well at my first State Dinner. Matthew and I walked in
to the residence and the first thing I did was kick off my shoes. I reached down my side and unzipped my dress as I entered the bedroom. As beautiful as I’d felt being this beautiful could be uncomfortable and I was tired of this dress squeezing the life out of me.

  I changed into a tank top and pajama pants. I walked into the sitting room to find Matthew sitting down with a glass of bourbon. I picked up my laptop from the coffee table and sat next to him. He put his arm around me as I opened the laptop.

  Every single news story I saw come up was about Matthew and I. I smiled at the photos of us. We did look like a great couple. I then had a thought. These were the first photos of us together as a couple. We’d avoided taking any photos in case they got into the wrong hands. I’d never really seen us together and I loved the way we looked. I scrolled down the articles.

  “Look at this one from Wendy Williams. President Von Hansen down with the swirl. MetroGirl magazine broke the story that President Matthew Von Hansen has been in a relationship for nearly a year with former MetroGirl writer Kayla Johnson and they are engaged. Kayla is the writer behind the political blog Broken Politics and is an African-American beauty who stole the show at the White House State Dinner despite wearing the same dress as the Princess of Denmark. Congrats to the President and Kayla.” I read.

  “Down with the swirl?” questioned Matthew looking at me confused. I simply laughed.

  “It means you don’t mind racially mixing it up.” I said to him.

  “No I don’t. Like I told you I like my ice cream how I like my girl…Chocolate.” He said giving me a smirk.

  There was no way I was going to live my life without him. I had everything I could ever want and more. I’d gotten myself a fantastic career doing what I loved and I had the man of my dreams. He could piss me off sometimes, but I didn’t mind because I loved him with everything. He was mine and I was his.

  Epilogue • 3 Years Later