“I regret being petty sometimes, but the second thing I must ask is for all cell phones to be turned off and put away. There is a time and place for everything. Now isn’t the time, and out of respect for the people who elected us all to be here, I’m asking for your undivided attention.”
Some responded with boos. “You can ask for whatever you want,” shouted a congressman who sat near the front. “Doesn’t mean you’re going to get it. You’re doggone right, this is petty! Hell, you’re petty!”
There was a long, sharp silence. Many people gasped, heads shook, and mouths dropped wide open. Smiles could be seen too, but none wider than Speaker Robinson who had glee in his evil eyes. I could see the fire in Stephen’s eyes too. However, the smirk on his face implied that he had prepared himself for this moment. I wasn’t sure how he was going to respond, but I inched slightly forward, crossed my fingers, and held my breath, knowing that Stephen was about to put that sucker in his place.
2
President of the United States, Stephen C. Jefferson
From the second I walked in, I could feel the heat. I could sense that everyone wasn’t on my team, even before today. But politics as usual, I bravely stepped into my new role as commander in chief, observing as many others lived up to their unfortunate roles too. I expected whispers today. Expected that some would ignore me. Expected that those who ran to every media circuit that they could, dogging me out, would stand before me today with smiles on their faces and vigorously shake my hand. Many also wanted pictures. I happily smiled for the cameras and patted plenty of backs, telling them what a great job they’ve done. A great job making a mess of this country, and it was idiots like Senator Greg Brassley, who had just interrupted me, and Speaker Robinson, who played a huge part in getting us to where we are today.
Many Americans were fed up. They were unhappy and deeply discouraged with Congress. I’d heard about it every single day while on the campaign trail. I’d read numerous letters that addressed people’s concerns about the legislative branch of the federal government, and this fool, Senator Brassley, had the audacity to sit there and challenge me tonight. Just for a few seconds, I contracted my eyes, staring him down like prey. I was well aware of the plan, and since another senator had gotten away with this bullshit before, lashing out at me was now fair game. The sly grins on plenty of faces said so, and I could hear Speaker Robinson cackling underneath his foul breath while sitting there, looking as if he had sucked on a sour lemon. Others sat in disbelief, but little did they know, I came totally prepared. This was a new era, and I intended to use my bully pulpit to silence fools who had no business being here in the first place.
With all eyes zoned in on me, I moistened my thick, soft lips with my tongue, then cleared a small lump that felt stuck in my throat. No question, I was slightly nervous, but my closest advisor told me to never let them see me sweat. The smirk on my face remained locked in place, even when I asked Senator Brassley if there was something he needed to get off his chest.
“It appears that you have something vital to say, so by all means, stand up and express what is ailing you. Only a fucking coward remains slumped in his seat with his head hung low, and I’m sure you didn’t interrupt me in an attempt to be petty.”
If someone dropped a pin, you could have heard it. Half of the attendees looked as if they weren’t even breathing, and I was being eaten alive for sure.
“Proceed, please,” Senator Brassley said with a beet red face. Embarrassment was written all over it, and whoever put him up to attacking me, they needed to search the Grand Old Party for someone who could really handle the job.
“Are you sure it’s okay for me to proceed? I mean, you are free to speak up, but it is rude when your president is talking. All I ask is that you wait until I’m finished. Then you can join others in the spin room to say what exactly is on your mind.”
“Mr. Jefferson, let’s move this along,” Speaker Robinson said in a grouchy tone from behind me. He coughed to clear his throat. “Ma . . . Many of us don’t wish to be here all night, and I’m sure that you have plenty of other things on your agenda to do.”
The smirk on my face vanished as I swung around to correct him. “For the record, Mr. Robinson, only my closest confidants can refer to me as Mr. Jefferson. You, sir, need to address me as President Stephen Carter Jefferson, Mr. President or as President of the United States. I will not answer to any other name, so tuck away the names you all call me at the country club and save them for whenever I make my final departure from the White House. With that being said, now, I will proceed.”
Before I turned around, my VP stood and slowly clapped his hands. The loud clap echoed, causing numerous other Democratic leaders to stand and clap too. Many Republicans sat stone-faced and didn’t budge. I mean, if looks could kill, I’d be the first dead president on Capitol Hill. I laughed it off, and in an effort to amuse the crowd, I expressed my sympathy for Speaker Robinson’s nasty cough.
“Let’s all pray for his speedy recovery, because not only does his cough sound horrific, but he looks terrible too. We should all be able to agree on that.”
The crowd burst into laughter, especially when I turned to the Speaker to say I was just joking. The expression on his wrinkled face remained flat, and for the rest of the evening, all I heard were grunts, moans, and groans coming from behind me as I delivered my speech. It lasted almost an hour, and after it was over, I sat in the backseat of the motorcade with a person I sometimes felt was my number-one enemy. My wife, Raynetta. She placed her hand on top of mine, squeezing it.
“You did well,” she said with a sly smirk on her face. “I was real proud of you tonight, but you need to back away from the slick talk and present yourself as being more presidential. I know you can’t help yourself, but you know all they’re talking about on the news right now is how you conducted yourself.”
“And all we’re talking about in this car is about how much you’re starting to sound more like my mother every day. It’s really not a good look for you, baby, and since you despise her so much, I think you may want to rethink your ways.”
She hated when I compared her to my mother, but the truth was, they had a lot in common. In some ways, that was good, some ways bad. But I picked her, so, now, I had to deal with her. I gave her credit for standing by me, when need be, but Raynetta tricked me into marrying her. She knew she could never have children, and when she told me she was pregnant, I wanted to do the right thing. I was somewhat in love with her, but then there was a side of me that just wasn’t ready to commit to anyone. Unfortunately, I did. Then, I found myself creeping behind her back and doing things that no married man should do. When she found out about my affairs, she made me feel guilty for betraying her. The way I saw it was, we were both at fault for the mess we created. And even though too much damage had already been done, I still needed her to stand by me through this journey. I had a certain image to portray. Being happily married was one of them.
Feeling insulted by my words, Raynetta remained silent. She refused to attend a private party with me at the White House, and as we debated the issue in the Oval Office, she tore into me.
“Don’t you ever compare me to your crazy mother again.” She paced the plush, wheat-colored carpeted floor right next to the presidential seal while I sat on the striped sofa that was fitting to my taste. Gold-colored leather chairs were next to the sofas that faced each other, and the same gold was on much decor around the room, including the wallpaper and silk curtains that draped from the circular windows. As Raynetta continued to rant, I massaged my forehead that started to ache.
“I am nothing like that woman, and do you know that she had the nerve to call and tell me what to wear tonight? Shame on her. She got her face cracked when she heard everyone paying me compliments. But no matter what other people say, it would be real nice to hear you say something nice every once in a while too.”
“You look nice and thank you for representing tonight. I have no complaints ab
out how you look, and at some point, you have to ignore my mother and stop letting her get underneath your skin.”
“I can’t help it. She’s a thorn in my side. The only reason she hates me is because there won’t be any grandchildren. There’s not much that I can do about that, unless we decide to adopt.”
I was in no mood to talk about this. What I wanted was to make my way to the party, but Raynetta insisted on having a pity party of her own. Thankfully, it was interrupted by a knock on the door. When I looked up, Tyler came inside. One hand was in his pocket, the other hand he used to rake through his blond hair. He was two years younger than I was, and at thirty-six years old, he could pass for a preppy young man who was fresh out of college. He was smart as a whip, had politics embedded in his brain, and came from a family where every single person had been in public office or still was. Those were several of the reasons why I chose him to be my VP. He was sharp and prepared for anything. But the way he raked his hair was always a sign that he was nervous about something.
“Are you guys attending the party or not?” he asked. “Some of the guests have started to arrive.”
“I’ll be there shortly, but I think that Raynetta is going to sit this one out.”
“I may, then again, I may not,” she snapped.
“Well, either way, I want to prepare you guys for what to expect tonight.”
Tyler walked over to the Resolute desk, a desk that had been in the Oval Office since the late 1800s. He turned my laptop computer toward us, using a remote to change the screen. The first words we heard were, “What a disgrace this president is.”
“I’ve never been treated that way by anyone,” Senator Brassley said with fake hurt in his eyes. “And where was the respect for us? Have you ever heard any president use that kind of language on the House floor and speak like that to the Speaker?”
“No, I haven’t,” the news reporter said, adding his two cents. “I don’t know how anyone can work with that guy. He seems to be a real jerk. He’s very arrogant and comes across as a narcissist. I worry about his temperament, and I’m convinced that the American people will quickly grow to regret their decision for electing another black president. Douglas Franklin was a much better candidate. He would have won the election, had it not been for our ridiculous voting laws that allow some people to vote without the proper identification.”
The entire panel went on and on about me. So did Raynetta.
“See, I told you this would happen. All the good things you talked about tonight don’t even matter. They’re focusing on all the negative stuff. You can pat yourself on the back for giving them another reason to hate you.”
Tyler spoke up before I did. “There is nothing that Stephen can say or do to make certain people like him. Today was a good day, but let’s not go to this party and indulge in talk about Senator Brassley or Stephen’s critics. Keep all conversations short, especially with members of the media who will attempt to get the two of you stirred up.”
“They won’t be getting me stirred up because I won’t be there. I’m going to take a shower; and then I plan to enjoy the comfort of my bed. I’ll see you, Stephen, when the party is over.”
Raynetta strutted toward the door in all of her sexiness. Her curves were perfect, her body didn’t have an ounce of fat on it, and her ass was round enough to make any man’s steel rise to the occasion. As beautiful as she was, I often thought about what our daughter would look like. Raynetta’s hair was always so feathery, thick, and long. There was never one strand out of place, and her light skin glistened like tiny diamonds were embedded inside of it. I couldn’t ask for a better-looking woman to be by my side, and I had to admit that we were a very attractive couple. But that wasn’t enough. I wanted kids—a daughter or son to build on my legacy. I wondered who our son would resemble the most, but after thinking about it for so long, eventually, I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind and lived on.
After Raynetta walked out, I stood and reached for my jacket that was hanging on a chair. I covered my crisp white shirt that tightened on my shoulders, biceps, and chest. I then secured my leather belt that felt loose around my thirty-four-inch waistline. With Secret Service in tow, I swiftly walked beside Tyler as we made our way down the corridor and into the Blue Room where many of our guests were invited to come. The room was filled to capacity. Everyone seemed indulged in heavy conversation and laughter. I spotted my mother from across the room. She always knew how to mingle, or should I say, fit in. A small crowd surrounded her, and she appeared to be speaking about something very interesting. There were also several individuals there from my administration. Many had their spouses with them, while others didn’t. Some of the guests who sat with Raynetta tonight were there, as well as numerous people from the media who were invited to cover the event. I vowed that my administration would be transparent, and that the media would be granted access to everything that happened around here. But transparent I would not be. There were certain things that I wanted no one, including my wife, to know about.
I shook hands and conversed with several people who applauded my speech tonight and seemed delighted to see me. That included my mother who I finally stepped up to, giving her a hug.
“It’s about time,” she said with a wineglass in her hand. She giggled as she looked at the people around her. “I thought the president of the United States had already disappeared.”
They laughed, but I ignored my mother’s so-called sense of humor.
“How long are you planning to stay tonight?” We stepped away from the others to talk. “And you know you shouldn’t be drinking any alcohol, right?”
“Well, it’s not like they have cherry Kool-Aid around here. This wine will suit me just fine. Besides, I’ve only had one drink. That sure as heck won’t send me back to AA.”
“I hope not. Just be cautious and you already know why.”
“I do, and I thank you for being so concerned about me. By the way, where is that conniving wife of yours? I hope she’s somewhere changing those tight clothes she had on. Did you see how tight that skirt was on her big tail? That’s ridiculous.”
I peeked over my mother’s shoulder, waving at Tyler’s wife and another woman from my administration. Tyler advised me to keep all conversations short tonight, and since I didn’t appreciate the route this conversation was going with my mother, I hurried to wrap things up.
“I wish you wouldn’t speak of Raynetta that way because she can’t help it, Mother. Her backside just happens to suit me, and it always looks very inviting in anything she puts on. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to go and mingle with other people.”
“I don’t mind, but the only reason you married her was because of that ass. If she had brains to go with it, she’d be fine. Unfortunately, she’s lacking in a very important area. A man of your caliber deserves better.”
Without replying, I walked away from my mother with a slight frown on my face. I got tired of hearing her nasty comments about Raynetta, and telling my mother how I felt, over and over again, hadn’t done much good. I wasn’t going to allow her comments to frustrate me tonight. I felt so much better when I started conversing with several other guests.
“Do you mind if we take a picture with you, Mr. President?” said one of the wounded soldiers. “If I don’t take one, my daughter will never believe I was actually here.”
We all gathered to take pictures, and several others rushed over to take photos on their cell phones as well. I shook more hands, and when I spotted Tyler near the doorway that led to the Red Room, I excused myself from the people I was speaking with, making my way toward him. After several steps in his direction, a reporter reached for my arm. She was a black woman, no more than five-three or -four inches tall, but made to look taller in her silver high heels. Her long, wavy hair was pulled away from her round face and clipped in the back where much of it fell past her shoulders. Her caramel-colored skin glowed, and her doe-shaped eyes were enhanced with thick liner, extended lash
es, and shimmery eyeshadow. I had seen her nightly show on MSNBC, and I was slightly taken aback by some of her negative comments about me.
“Mr. President, do you care to elaborate on your behavior tonight?” she asked. “Many people felt as if your comments, especially about Speaker Robinson, were inappropriate.”
“A lot of things that I have said, done, and will continue to do, will be deemed as inappropriate. I’m not here to please Mr. Speaker, and if you care for me to elaborate more on the state of our union, then schedule an exclusive interview with me.”
I proceeded to walk away, but the reporter halted my steps when she reached for my arm again.
“I would love to schedule an interview with you, but when, Mr. President? When can I interview you and your lovely wife?”
“Tomorrow. Schedule it for tomorrow.”
She cocked her head back and widened her eyes, as if she was surprised. “Tomorrow? I need a little more time to plan accordingly for an exclusive interview with you. How about one day early next week?”
Giving it no thought at all, I gazed at the reporter, remaining firm in my decision. “Tomorrow. If not then, I’ll make the opportunity available to someone else.”
I walked away, again, only to hear her say, “Thank you, Mr. President. I’ll see you tomorrow. But I need to know one thing. Will any questions be off-limits?”
“No,” I said without turning around. “Your show, your call.”
I stopped to speak to the man who had lost his daughter to gun violence. After promising him that I would do everything in my power to change our gun laws, we departed. I finally caught up with Tyler who was standing next to my chief of staff, Andrew McAllister. He was also one of my advisors; he managed my schedule and decided who was appropriate for me to meet with. Andrew was sharp-minded like Tyler was, but he wasn’t as clean-cut. He dressed rather slouchy, and his too big shirts always gathered outside of his slacks. The suspenders he wore never matched anything, and his dark-brown hair always looked as if he slicked it down with grease.
Black President Page 2
