I’m enormously proud of Jude and his campaign for governor. But if I went with him on the campaign trail, I’d be there as his wife. He’d have my emotional support. I could charm crusty old donors and chat up women he’s seeking support from. We’d go to bed together every night.
But Jude has a talented staff to help him with his campaign. He wants me there, but he doesn’tneedme. The independent woman in me needs to keep some things for myself, and my career means a lot to me.
He’s so domineering that I don’t think he’d hear me if I tried to tell him all of this. I don’t even know how to say it in a way he’d listen to. Jude is like a tall, looming ocean wave—inescapable and all-consuming. We’d just end up fighting, and I hate that.
So, for now, I’m keeping these thoughts to myself. Jude needs to focus on his work, and I need to focus on mine. He’s likely to get so busy he’ll forget about asking me to join him on the campaign trail anyway, so why invite trouble?
8
Jude
Louis Branch staresat me over the rim of his brandy. “While you’re an honorable man and possibly the best candidate for governor, we still have concerns.”
I dip my head, gripping the armrests of the chair a little tighter. The man has been hung up on Reagan since the moment we sat down. He’s mentioned her name at least ten times, bringing her father into the conversation too. I’m beyond annoyed, but somehow, I maintain my cool. Coming from a military background, I know how to stay calm in a sticky situation, but politics is another beast and my wife is completely off-limits. “I understand your concerns, but my private life is just that…private.”
Tyson adjusts in his seat, clearing his voice because he doesn’t like my tone. The glance he shoots across the table is anything but pleasant. “What Jude’s trying to say…”
“I know exactly what I’m trying to say,” I interrupt Tyson, waving him off with my hand to silence him. “Politics is something my wife and I don’t discuss in the privacy of our home. Just as I don’t discuss my wife when it comes to my campaign and political office.”
“I see,” Thomas Branch says before taking a sip of his brandy, staring at me the same way his brother is. “We both understand separating our business and personal lives, Mr. Titan, but every man at this table knows that women have a way of…what’s the word I’m—”
“Playing with our heads until they get their way,” Louis finishes the statement and laughs, placing his glass on the table in front of him. “I know my wife always has an opinion.” He twists the base of his snifter against the crisp white linen and shakes his head. “And her opinions sometimes affect my decisions.”
“My wife is not short on opinions, that I can assure you. But she plays no role in my decisions. We’re too opposite of each other to ever allow the political realm to enter our home. She has her work, which she enjoys and keeps her focused on her goals, and I have my work, which I believe is important, and I work my ass off to represent my constituents.”
“I’m sure your father-in-law has things to say.”
I lean forward and fold my hands together on top of the table. “My father-in-law is a piece of shit. He has no part in my life or my campaign. I married his daughter, not the man.”
“How did you convince a woman with such a deep political background and fierce spirit to quit the race?” Louis asked, taking another sip. His eyes don’t waver from mine.
I laugh at the absurdity of his statement. “You don’tmakea woman like Reagan do anything, Mr. Branch.”
“Maybe she’s secretly a Republican,” Thomas says.
“I can assure you that’s not the case.” The statement is so absurd, I can’t say anything more.
Louis shoves his hand inside his suit jacket, retrieving his checkbook. “Mr. Titan,” he says, twisting the top of his pen, “I feel you’re a man of your word. I’ve never heard anything to contradict my perception of you. Over the last five years, you’ve never swayed from your original platform and have remained true to your constituents.”
Tyson smirks as he watches Louis Branch write out the check. He’s practically salivating at all the zeros. I, on the other hand, am wondering if they’re just a more reputable version of Mr. Marino, hiding behind their fancy suits and corporations. Behind that much wealth, there’s always a dark side. No one becomes as powerful as the Branch brothers without bending a few rules and strong-arming a few people, including politicians.
Mr. Branch tears off the check, and he slides the tiny slip of paper across the table but doesn’t lift his fingers. “We have faith in you. Don’t let us down.”
There’s a seriousness to his tone I haven’t heard before. Every dollar I take toward my campaign feels like I’m digging a hole filled with favors and IOUs. I thought my race for Senate was a pain in the ass, but it doesn’t hold a candle to running for governor.
“I will stay true to my platform and the promises I make to the voters.”
He stares at me for a moment, probably wondering if that means I’d bow to his wishes when he finally decides to put pressure on me about some issue that could affect Branch Enterprises. But what he doesn’t know is his donation is just that and nothing more. It’s not a promise for a future favor or passing legislation that’ll hurt the people I serve while making him richer.
He taps the check with his fingernail before finally pulling his hand away. I don’t move right away, never wanting to seem too eager to take money from anyone because that’s the way I’m built.
But Tyson, he’s nothing like me, and he snatches the check off the table, folding it neatly before stowing it away in his jacket pocket. “Thank you.” Tyson’s smile widens. “We’ll put this to good use.”
Pushing back from the table, I shake Louis’s and Thomas’s hands before I make up some bullshit to excuse myself from the final small talk. The last thing I want is to sit there and listen to the three of them talk about Washington and “old times.”
I walk into my room, shrugging off my suit jacket and loosening my tie. More than anything, including sitting with the three men downstairs, I want to see my wife’s face. I fire up the laptop, making myself comfortable on the bed while I wait for her to answer my online call.
After three short rings, her beautiful face fills my screen. “Hey, handsome,” she says, leaning forward and pushing the laptop across the bed to get comfortable.
