“Not at all. He’s only here to scope out the enemy and parley with me and a few others.”
“You’ve been busy.”
She shrugs. “When you’ve been around southern politics as long as I have, it’s easy to speak the lingo.” She smiles. “I’m hammering out a few deals on your behalf, Mister President. Helping some of the House reps figure out how to give themselves cover and still vote for a few pieces of your agenda. They’re centrists who, along with Benchley, don’t take kindly to the racist Q-natic fucks.”
“You are worth way more than we’re paying you.”
“Totally agree but I’m having fun, so there is that.” Someone holds a hand up and waves her over. “Let me go confab some more, sir.”
“Have fun.”
“Always.”
Once the attendees have vacated the space we take more family pictures and it’s obvious from the body language of many in Ellis’ family that he’s not their favorite person and they’re enjoying the hell out of what happened during the ceremony at his and Stella’s expense. I quickly pinpoint without Casey-Marie’s confirmation which granddaughter is the one who will be adding an additional layer of hell to Ellis’ life in short order from the frigid glares she sends to him and the way she refuses to smile in any pictures unless I’m in it. And in pictures with me included, she tries to get close to me. She appears to be in her early twenties and doesn’t seem to be there with a date.
Once we’re done taking pictures I make a point of walking over to her to personally introduce myself and shake hands with her.
She leans in and drops her voice. “The only reason I came today was that I hoped I could meet you, Mister President. I’m honored. Looking forward to voting for you at re-election. I volunteered for my county’s Democratic org and knocked on doors to get out the vote for you.”
“Aww, thank you. I’m flattered. Would you like to take some selfies together?”
Her eyes widen. “Really? Thank you!” She nearly drops her phone digging it out of her purse and I not only take several pictures with her but I also encourage her to start an Instagram Live post so I can say hello to her friends.
My sister’s not the only petty bitch in our family.
Although I do ease up a little on the departure timeframe. We end up staying until nearly six, which is still half an hour earlier than we were originally slated to leave, but even some of the guests are already clearing out, many before the cake was cut.
Stella’s been mortified enough today. I can be charitable, even if she deserves everything she got.
It’s unsurprising we don’t see any more of Ludlow. I hope the granddaughter makes Ellis’ life a living hell starting immediately.
Also, maybe Ellis is marrying Stella for more than political clout. Maybe she really is the breadwinner in their family. Not that it’s any of my business but I hope for Stella’s sake she hired an attorney better than Ellis who made Ellis sign a prenup so he can’t soak her during their inevitable divorce.
She’s damn sure not getting any money out of me if she loses everything. I don’t know her exact worth but I do know she’s got a hell of a lot more in the bank than I do.
After we’re in the air I let Mom and Dad change clothes in the private cabin first once the pilot’s turned off the seatbelt sign. Casey-Marie signals one of the flight attendants for a drink. It’s just the four of us sitting in my office, so we don’t have to worry about anyone overhearing our conversation once the flight attendant departs.
“That was frickinginsane,” Casey-Marie says. “And considering I hail from the world of Tennessee politics, that’s saying something. Man, George and Declan are gonna kick themselves in the ass that they missed that show.”
Leo loosens his tie but Jordan’s remaining the epitome of professionalism since he is, technically, on the clock. “Obviously, I haven’t been able to scan for everything,” Jordan says, “but it’s already hitWaPoand theNYT.”
“Stella is going to shit a brick and lose her ever-loving mind tomorrow,” Leo says. “Or maybe tonight. Considering what I know about some of her past boyfriends, I suspect there won’t be much in the way of romance tonight.”
I snort. “Why, Leo, are you insinuating my sister married Ellis for reasons other than true and everlasting love?”
All four of us burst out laughing.
“All I know,” Casey-Marie finally manages, “is that with Ellis out of town for several days, I might have told the granddaughter that she should strike while the iron is hot and Ellis is distracted and get her grandfather moved ASAP.”
“Benchley will help her,” Leo says. “Anything he can do to fuck Ellis over, he’ll do it.”
“Can you imagine what Ludlow will say once the drugs are out of his system?” Jordan muses. “I mean, let’s be honest, he’s obviously not nearly as incoherent as Ellis has told people.”
Casey-Marie’s smile fades and she looks at me. “Don’t be shocked if we have to call for a special prosecutor to investigate Stella or Ellis at some future point,” she says. “You’d better not bail her out, either.”
I hold up my hands. “No worries. She’s on her own. Especially after how she treated everyone today. And how she lied to my parents.” I think about the pain in my mother’s eyes and fresh anger roils inside me. “Stella’s made her damned bed.”
Casey-Marie nods. “Excellent. Makes my job infinitely easier.”
