I agreed, and as we continued to chat, I could see Teresa from afar, tossing back several drinks. The media had been all in her business. For the past week, she had been the subject of breaking news. Stephen was too busy indulged in political talk tonight, and all I kept hearing about was Speaker Robinson resigning. Stephen hadn’t noticed his reckless mother yet. And unfortunately for me, she was heading my way.
“Where does she get money from to buy a dress like that?” Claire asked while sipping from a glass of wine. She was referring to Teresa’s black dress with gold studs around the neckline and slits on the side. “Michael Kors, isn’t it?”
I winced and rolled my eyes. “Don’t know, don’t care. I never denied her classiness on the outside. It’s the inside of that woman that irks the hell out of me.”
Teresa swiped her bangs from her forehead, sashaying our way as if she was carrying a million bucks in her purse. She batted her lashes while searching me from head to toe. Her eyes said it all. She hated my purple flowing dress with no sleeves. It tightened at my waist and gave my breasts an extra boost. Cameras flashed throughout the evening on me, and I assumed that, by morning, my picture would be plastered all over the Internet, as well as in newspapers. On a scale from one-to-one hundred, I couldn’t be ranked. I knew it, and Teresa knew it too.
“Well, well,” she said with a crooked smile on her face. “If it isn’t Thelma and Louise over here. What are you two cooking up now? Whatever it is, it better not have anything to do with my Stephen.”
Claire didn’t bother to respond. She turned to me. “We’ll chat later. I’ll leave the two of you to discuss who or what we’ll be cooking.”
Teresa frowned at Claire as she walked away. “You know what, Ne-ne? I don’t like that bitch. Sometimes I want to just snatch her white ass up and slap her a few times. I know she’s your girl and everything, but she makes my ass itch.”
I couldn’t resist. “Hot soapy water can cure that. But it may take more than that to cure your alcohol problem. Why don’t you put the drinks down and chill tonight?”
“Chill?” She took another sip from the wineglass. “No, I’m having too much fun to chill. I’m also getting a kick out of you watching Chanel Hamilton. Just between us, she is days away from getting a piece of your man. I thought you had him under control, but from what a little birdie told me, that is not the case. All I can say is, you’d better get her. And, you’d better keep your eyes on a few other women in here too. I have a feeling that there are many coochies humming tonight, especially after that stellar performance by my son. He is soooo handsome, and when have you ever seen a tuxedo fit a man like that? As a mother, I’ve never been more proud of my child for always representing.”
“And as his wife, I’ve never been more disappointed in your child. He—”
“Oh my,” a cameraman said, interrupting us. “You ladies look spectacular tonight. Do you mind if I take a picture?”
“Sure,” Teresa said as she grabbed at my waist, pulling me close to her side. “Ne-ne and I would love for you to take our picture.”
Both of us displayed wide smiles as the cameras around us flashed. But once the cameraman walked away, our expressions fell flat.
“The only thing you should be disappointed with is that dress you have on,” Teresa said. “What’s with all the sheer? I feel like I’m at a ball or something with a wannabe Cinderella who will not get her Prince Charming tonight.”
“I may not get him, but the one thing I am going to get is the hell away from you and your alcoholic breath. Don’t drink too much more, Teresa. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
I cut my eyes at her, then walked off. And just as I stepped away, I saw Stephen and Tyler standing next to Michelle Peoples. They were all laughing, so I decided to go see what was so funny.
“I haven’t been able to catch up with you for at least an hour,” I said, walking up to Stephen. He slipped his arm around my waist, continuing to smile.
“Michelle, you haven’t met the first lady yet, have you?” he said.
Her smile was faker than a three-dollar bill. “No, as a matter of fact, I haven’t. But I’ve heard some wonderful things about her.”
“Yes, and I’ve heard some interesting things about you. I’m always eager to know more about the people I meet, and maybe one day, you and I can take a late-night walk in the park so we can learn more.”
I knew I was messy, but sometimes, I just didn’t care. Stephen’s arm slipped from around my waist, and Michelle looked as if she had choked on her spit. She swallowed hard; her eyes quickly shifted from Stephen, then back to me. Tyler was the only one clueless. But the more I thought about it, I doubted that he was.
“Uh, maybe so,” Michelle said. “Just let me know when.”
“I sure will. Real soon, okay?”
I left her speechless. All she could do was walk away. We all gazed at her backside.
“I guess if my ass was dimple free like hers,” I said to Stephen, “you’d be trying to screw me too.”
“Enough,” Stephen said in a sharp tone. “If you don’t want to be here, leave.”
I snapped my fingers. “I was just thinking the same thing. Good night, Tyler. I’m sure I’ll see you soon.”
I walked away, but not before I snatched up a wineglass with red wine in it and “accidentally” bumped into Michelle. The wine spilt all over her dress, and with her mouth wide open, she quickly blinked her eyes.
“I am so, so sorry,” I said as if it really was an accident. “Your dress is ruined, but please send it to me in the morning so I can have it cleaned for you.”
People were already staring. It was obvious that Michelle didn’t want to make a bigger scene. She accepted my apology, but the angry look in her eyes said that she was very upset.
“It . . . It’s okay. No problem. I’ll get it cleaned soon.”
“Are you sure? Silly me, I tripped on something and lost my balance. Again, I’m very sorry.”
Just then, several service members came to assist with the cleanup. And since they appeared to have everything under control, I excused myself from the crowd, then walked away. I made my way down the corridor, only to be stopped by Claire who had some information for me.
“I know who took those photos. You’re not going to believe who.”
“Who was it?”
“Tyler McNeil. The question is, why?”
I had an idea why. But I also had to decide if I should say something to Stephen or allow him to continue to fuck himself. I quickly made a decision to let him sweat a little.
13
Newsroom Contributor Chanel Hamilton
I didn’t like this feeling. Stephen had been ignoring me. At first, I thought it was just me, expecting more attention because of what had happened between us. But there was more to it. He seemed to be purposely avoiding me, and even though the first lady knew about us, that didn’t seem to be a problem for him from the beginning.
As for tonight, all I was trying to do was get one conversation with him. I couldn’t even get that. He had been locked in lengthy conversations all night, not to mention the long, fifteen minutes he spent talking to Michelle Peoples. I was on edge about that too. She was married with three kids. How in the heck was she even on the president’s radar puzzled me. Regardless, I carried on and indulged myself in many conversations, trying my best not to pay too much attention to the president.
“Chanel,” Jake said, giving me a hug. “You’re stunning. My heart keeps beating faster and faster as I look at you. You must allow me to take you out on a date.”
Jake was a nerd. Well, a rich nerd, but in no way was I interested in him. We had a lot of fun at the office, but that was it.
“You know I don’t do the dating thing, Jake, especially with coworkers. My schedule is too busy, but if I ever decide to change my mind, you’ll be the first to know.”
He smiled, then kissed the back of my hand. I was surprised when the vice president interrupted us.
<
br /> “I love your show,” he said with his hands in his pockets. “Very informative and so easy on the eyes.”
“Yes, indeed,” Jake replied. He said hello to Tyler, then walked off to chat with someone else.
“So, you watch my show too?” I said while blushing. “I thought the president was the only one at the White House who watched me.”
“No, we all watch you. And, as a matter of fact, I’ve been watching you all night.”
My brows rose—so did my curiosity. “What have you discovered by watching me all night?”
Tyler stroked the fine hair on his chin. “I’ve discovered a few things. One, that you’re super crazy about the president. Two, that you know he’s intrigued by someone else. And three, that you’re an amazingly beautiful woman who should never play second to another.”
“One out of three isn’t bad. I don’t intend to play anything, though, and I’m more concerned about where this conversation is going.”
Tyler looked around to observe our surroundings. “Let’s step outside to get some fresh air, shall we? It’s a little stuffy in here.”
I pivoted toward the door and made my way outside with Tyler following me. There were more people out there as well, but less noise. He reached into his suit jacket to retrieve an envelope. He tapped it against his hand while looking at me.
“I have something in my hand that may, unfortunately, make the news in a few days. It’s going to affect you in a major way, and that’s why I’m bringing this to your attention. I don’t think you want anyone to see this, but that’s your choice. It’s your reputation and job on the line, not mine.”
I hadn’t a clue what the vice president was talking about . . . until I opened the envelope and saw photos of Stephen and I having sex. To be blunt, two photos of me with his penis in my mouth, savoring it as if it was the best thing on earth. I was speechless.
“You don’t want anyone to see those photos. They are damaging to you, as well as to Stephen. Somehow or someway, you need to speak to him about the harm those photos can cause if the whole world sees them. Raynetta won’t be your only problem, and for God’s sake, what will your boss say if he knew the real reason you went to Africa? I’ll let you handle this little problem, and if you tell Stephen where you got the photos from, or about this conversation, I’m going to handle things on my own. I hope you understand what that means.”
I swallowed the sizeable lump in my throat, then nodded. “I’ll handle it, but I want to be clear. Your objective is to get Stephen to step down, correct? If not, my career, as well as his is finished.”
“I don’t know if we’re both clear, but I’ll say this. We’re both Republicans. And nothing should suit us better than to have a Republican president in the White House.”
I wasn’t sure if I agreed with him or not, but I told him I would do what was necessary to keep those photos a secret. Several minutes later, I finally caught up with Stephen. He had just wrapped up a conversation with two Democratic congressmen who applauded Speaker Robinson’s resignation.
“Do you have a minute?” I said to Stephen, touching his arm. “I know you’re quite busy, but I haven’t had a chance to say hello or anything. You also haven’t thanked me for putting the news out there about Speaker Robinson.”
“That’s because you should be thanking me for giving you the story. It would’ve gotten out there regardless.”
“Maybe so, but not how I delivered it. With that being said, if possible, I would like to see you, alone, tonight. There is an important matter on the rise that we need to discuss.”
Stephen hesitated before responding. “I’ll see what I can do, but I can’t make you any promises.”
“I don’t expect for you to, but keep in mind that this is urgent. I’m sure you know where to find me.”
“Yes, I do. Apartment 14C, correct?”
“Correct.”
After he walked away, I left the correspondence dinner almost thirty minutes later. I couldn’t stop thinking about those photos, and I pondered how to handle this. I guess that depended on Stephen. I needed him to show a little more enthusiasm about us.
On the drive home, I received a short text message that said: Be there soon. That caused a smile to wash across my face. The second I arrived home, I hurried to tidy up a bit and quickly changed into a soft pink silk negligee with black-lace trimmings. The panties were made of sheer fabric; I didn’t mind letting my goodies show. I removed the knot from my hair, allowing my curls to fall down my back. I definitely missed my calling as a Victoria’s Secret model, and as I glanced in the mirror, I couldn’t be more pleased.
Waiting patiently, I fluffed a few pillows on the couch, sprayed several splashes of perfume in the air, and then walked over to the huge picture windows to close the linen drapes so no one could see inside. My apartment was very spacious. The modern décor made the entire place fitting for a magazine cover. I had spent an enormous amount of money to make my place look unique. In no way was I embarrassed by the president coming here. I clicked on the fire in the mounted fireplace, then headed for the kitchen to go pour some wine. As far as I knew, Stephen wasn’t much of a drinker. But one could only assume what he was up to in private.
Just as I started to pour the wine, there was a light knock at my door. I tossed back a quick drink and dimmed the lights, just a little, before opening the door. On the other side stood Mr. President, still dressed in his black tuxedo and white crisp shirt with a bow tie. I noticed one of his Secret Service men by the elevator. I invited Stephen to come inside, and when his black leather shoes hit my hardwood floor, I was in awe that he was actually here. He scanned me with those hazel eyes, then shifted them elsewhere to examine the room.
“Nice place,” he said. “I expected nothing less.”
“Thanks for the compliment, but do you mind if I take your jacket?”
“No need. I won’t be staying long.”
Did my face just crack or what? Hoping that he would change his mind, I sashayed over to the sofa, inviting him to have a seat. I couldn’t help but to think how could he not be turned on by my butt cheeks that bulged through my tiny panties. How could he not be excited about the strawberry fragrance I sprayed all over myself to lure him right in. He didn’t appear . . . moved . . . but the night was still young.
Stephen sat on the sofa, crossing one of his legs over the other. I sat as close to him as I could with glee in my eyes.
“I wasn’t kidding when I said that we needed to talk about something important.” I rubbed the back of his head. His hair was so soft and lined perfectly. “But before we get down to business, do you mind if I steal a kiss?”
“Yes, I do mind. Kissing leads to other things, and I have to get back to the correspondence dinner before too many people notice I’m missing.”
“Then, I suggest that we save our talk for another day.”
I leaned in to kiss Stephen, but he cocked his head back. A blank expression appeared on his face. “What do we need to talk about that is so important?”
I didn’t appreciate his demeanor, but I tried to remain calm. “Right now, there is nothing more important than you spending just a little bit of time with me. I don’t get this. Why are you so . . . so cold?”
“If I was cold, I wouldn’t have come here when you asked me to. And since you don’t have anything important to talk about, then I need to check out of here and get back to the party.”
He stood; I did too.
“Fine. I won’t ever invite you here again. You will have to come to me, before I ever reach out to you again.”
He strutted toward the door as if my threat meant nothing. I followed closely behind him. “Normally, I don’t chase Republicans.” He turned to look at me. “They chase me.”
I stopped, then crossed my arms. “Okay. Now I know what this is about. You’re upset with me because I’m a Republican who didn’t vote for you, right? Is that what this is about?”
“Actually, it’s not. I just tol
d you that I was leaving because you didn’t have anything to discuss. I couldn’t care less if you voted for me or not. That was your mistake, not mine.”
“Maybe it was, but don’t hold it against me. I do have your back, but you need to have mine too.”
“If having your back means having sex with you when you want to, forget it. I’m good, and I don’t need your support in that way.”
Enough said, enough done. Stephen had gotten on my bad side, just that fast. I opened the door wide, so he could go. After he walked out, I slammed the door behind him, thinking hard about my next move. In no way was I a bad person, but some people were capable of bringing out the worst in me.
14
President of the United States, Stephen C. Jefferson
Chanel was a trip. The only reason I stopped by to see her was to see if she wanted to share with me the reason why she and Tyler stepped away from the dinner party tonight. I saw the two of them engaged in an intense conversation, and since Raynetta said someone had removed those photos from our bedroom, I figured that Chanel knew something about it. But, like always, I turned to someone I was starting to trust, more than anyone. That was Andrew. When I returned to the dinner party, I saw him outside on his cell phone. I walked up to him so we could talk.
“Lauren, I’ll have to call you back.” He hurried to put the phone in his pocket. “Thank God you’re here. I’ve been looking for you. I called your cell phone, twice.”
“I missed your call, but what’s up?”
“It’s your mother. She’s causing quite a scene inside. No one really wants to get in her way, and I’m sure you already know why.”
I had no idea what my mother was up to . . . until I went inside and saw her dancing around like an idiot with a red rose in her mouth. People surrounded her while clapping their hands and laughing. Plenty took pictures, and the band assisted in helping her make a fool of herself. She had kicked off her heels, and even though she seemed to be enjoying herself, I had seen enough. I signaled for Andrew to tell the band to cut it. Just for a moment, the music stopped, clapping continued. I didn’t want to embarrass myself, but I had to put a stop to this now. With a slight grin on my face, I made my way to the floor, pretending as if I was delighted to do the tango with my mother. I grabbed her in my arms, but looked deep into her eyes to let her know that I didn’t approve of her bullshit. The claps got louder, flashes from cameras got brighter. Nearly everyone looked on as we did the tango from one corner of the floor to the other. I eyed the nearest exit, and when I saw it, we danced our way right out of the room. The crowd erupted with cheers and chanted for more. I quickly closed the double doors, turning to my mother who could barely stand. A sheen of sweat covered her forehead, and with a glassy look in her eyes, I was sure her vision was blurred.
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