Her gaze softens. She’s still cupping my cheek. “In exchange,” she says, “I’m going to give you to him.”
From despair to hope in the blink of an eye. “Ma’am?”
“You’re stillmine, don’t get me wrong. You’remyresponsibility. And I’m going to want time with you, obviously. But depending on how my little chat with the man goes this morning…”
She sighs again, and it sounds weary, resigned. “Unless it contradicts something I’ve already ruled on, you’ll be his, at his beck and call, his schedule. I’ll tell you when and how I need you and work around that. If anything skirts the edges of what I have already told you is a no, assume it’s a no until you clarify it withme. If you’re feeling any doubts about something, assume it’s a no untilIokay it. Are we clear, boy?”
My pulse races, excitement coursing through me. “Yes, Ma’am.”
She pats my cheek before releasing me. It feels like an eternity before she eventually speaks again. “Get dressed,” she quietly says. “Go home, get your stuff done, and go back to George’s this evening like we originally planned. Donotcontact him before you return, unless I tell you otherwise. If he contacts you, forward it to me. Keep your personal phone on and handy in case I need to talk to you. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Ma’am.” I’d hoped that, at the very least, she’d let me take a shower with her this morning.
But I know better than to argue, or to question her.
I start to lean over and grab my clothes, but she speaks again. “Hey.”
I look up.
She motions with her finger, and I straighten. She leans in and brushes a kiss across my lips. “You’re myverygood boy,” she says. “And I love you very much.”
Joy rolls through me. “I love you, too, Ma’am.”
“You already love him, don’t you?”
I start to protest…except I’m not allowed to lie.
And it hits me that admitting it to someone else makes it…real.
“Yes, Ma’am. I do.”
“That’s all right.” She sadly smiles. “I never would’ve done this if I thought it’d harm you, or you wouldn’t want to. I willalwaysprotect you, as long as you’re mine. You understand that, right?”
I nod. “Yes, Ma’am.”
“I didn’t arrange all of this just for sadistic kicks, either.”
“I’m starting to see that, Ma’am.”
She even sounds sad. “I honestly think we were close to losing him for good. I don’t think he would’ve survived the election. I don’t mean that metaphorically, either. I mean it literally. I’ve been worried ever since Aussie left for school.”
Shit. Well, that confirms it. It wasn’t just me. “I don’t think you’re wrong, Ma’am.”
“I’m not asking you to tell me everything he says to you, but if you haveanyhint he might be about to hurt himself—”
“I tell you immediately.”
She nods. “Exactly. Well, you take steps to keep him safefirst, andthencall me when you can do so without leaving him alone.”
She motions for me to lean in and give her another kiss, so I do. “Let yourself out, sweetie.” She heads for the stairs. “I’m going to take my shower and get some work done before I go talk to George. Text me before you head back to George’s. You don’t have to wait for a reply from me.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
She ascends the stairs, leaving me standing there and full of thoughts that make little sense in some ways. Plausible deniability rules everything she says and does with me and George, especially since he became Governor.
I know she and Ellen were extremely close as friends, and likely had something between them even before Ellen met George. I know Casey used Ellen to help convince George to run for office, to nudge him the direction Casey wanted or needed him to vote or act. Ellen was his political muse, fed intel by Casey.
But now, as the governor’s chief of staff, Casey’s had to be extremely careful how and what she says to him without that extra buffer of Ellen to help feed things to George. She’s walked a treacherous tightrope between best friend and trusted advisor.
