I shake myself back to the present as she turns and looks at me. “Don’t worry about George or his brothers, sweetie. Remember, Ellen knows and is all for it. She’ll keep George under control and on the track we need him to run for us. Remember though—even around George, we’rejustfriends and co-workers. Theonlyone we can be open in front of right now is Ellen. And anything you learn about me and Ellen’s past? That’s never to be spoken around George. Privileged.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
I’m eighteen and she’s almost thirty-four, but she’s one of the firm’s top earners, in addition to being George’s chief of staff when the General Assembly’s in session. She’s juggling two jobs, in addition to managing George’s political campaigns.
Everyone thinks of me as more her son than a potential romantic partner. At least in that way, there is no suspicion regarding us spending so much time together. It’s widespread knowledge at the firm that she’s watched out for me ever since we first met, even more after Mom died.
It doesn’t hurt that everyone knows my professional aspirations. Among political circles, I’m known as her protege, under her personal protection and mentorship. She always includes me in political and professional conversations, where I soak up every bit of knowledge I can.
Tonight, we’re going over to George and Ellen’s for a holiday dinner. Christmas is in three days, and we’ve already attended the office dinner party. Our plan is to spend most of the time between now and when I have to return to school on January third in bed together.
She’s wearing a blouse and long skirt, casual by her standards. I’m dressed in slacks and a button-up, but no tie required tonight.
“Oh. I have something for you,” she says. “Come here.” She leads me out to the bedroom and produces a small, wrapped box from her top dresser drawer and hands it to me with a playful smile on her face.
I immediately feel horrible. “I…I didn’t get you anything, Ma’am. I thought we weren’t doing presents?” I watch every penny so I don’t have to worry about money, and she knows that. It was her idea not to trade presents, just cards.
“It’s not a Christmas present. Open it.”
I do…and I nearly pass out.
It’s a Breitling Chronomat watch, with the blue face, and rose gold and stainless bezel and band. One of the partners just bought one similar to it, was showing it off at the office party, and he bragged it cost him fifteen grand.
She’s studying my face. “Do you like it?”
I’m…stunned. I nod, I think. “I love it,” I finally manage. I’m still trying to process that I know she spent at least as much as I could’ve bought two good used cars for on awatch.
Forme.
She smiles. “This isn’t your Christmas present, because it has nothing to do with Christmas.” She takes the box from me, removes the watch from it, and shows me the back, where there’s engraving.
boy
Property of Ma’am
I gasp, stunned—the good kind of stunned.
She takes the cheap ten-dollar flea-market watch off my wrist and sets it on the bed. Then she fastens the watch around my wrist and tucks my hand against her chest. The watch is heavier than I thought I would be, solid,there.
“This is your day collar,” she softly says. “Obviously, you can’t wear a collar around school or the office. I thought about getting you a ring, or a bracelet, but then I saw the way you looked at Lou’s watch at the office party. You really liked it, I could tell.
“I wanted your day collar to be a couple of things—a statement of my love for you, a statement of how fucking serious I take our relationship, and a testament of my faith in you. You’re going to be an attorney. When things get more difficult in school, and you’re wondering how you’re going to dig down and find the strength you need to make it through your classes, I want you to see that watch on your arm and remember there’s someone who knows you have it in you to make it, who thinks you’re more than good enough.”
She smiles. “Don’t worry, I insured it. But starting next year, we need to get you an apartment. If you can’t afford it by yourself, that’s fine, I’ll help you out until you can. Something close to the office, little one-bedroom that isn’t expensive.”
I swallow back the slight sting over that revelation. “You don’t want me staying here with you?”
“On the contrary, I want you to have your own address so there aren’t any questions from people about why you’re living with me at your age. Having your own address will eliminate all of that. No one will be keeping track of how often you’re here with me.”
I immediately feel better, because, of course, she’s right. She’s a brilliant strategist.
“Do you really like it?” she asks. There’s a borderline vulnerable tone in her voice I’m not used to hearing.
I pull her into my arms and kiss her, although not really taking charge of it because she hasn’t given me permission to do that. “Iloveit, Ma’am. It’samazing. Thank you.”
Her smile turns easy and confident once more. “It’s waterproof, too, so you don’t need to take it off. If anyone dares give you grief about it, feel free to tell them I gave it to you as a Christmas present, and as a reward for your grades. Which isn’t completely a lie. I’m damned proud of you making straightAs.”
“This is really happening, isn’t it? This isn’t a dream?”
