"So how did the party go?" She asked. "Are you making friends and influencing people, Ash?"
"I certainly hope so," I admitted. "We gave away almost all of that lingerie. I am going to need more - a lot more. Ideally, we need the larger sizes. About the only people around here who are a small or medium are young enough that their family wouldn't want them coming to the party. Quite a few of these girls work with livestock, so they're more muscular than our average demographic."
"How about I send you some of our holiday promotional stuff?" Leslie asked. "Halloween, Thanksgiving, and of course the winter holidays like Christmas and New Year's. That means you have a lot of reds, but I'll mix it up with other colors, because not all of us can wear red well."
"Can you add in some athletic wear and loungewear along with it?" I asked.
"In case you forgot," she teased, "you still own this company. Ash, I can send you anything you want. The real question, however, is if it's making a difference down there. How are things really going?"
A sigh fell from my lips before I could stop it. "In all honesty, I'm not sure. This is a small town, Leslie. People here have very strong opinions, and they don't like a lot of new things. Shit, they think Violet is shocking. When they found out that I was sleeping withaman - let alone two men and a woman? Yeah, I can't tell if they're waiting to burn us at the stake, or if they want to cheer us on."
"Did anything ever come of the death threat on the door?" She asked.
"No," I admitted. "Then again, we didn't expect it to. That goes back to the small town thing. The cops around here don't like us. One of them made a point of saying that we had started a war. Now, one of my brothers is involved in politics -"
"Brothers?" She interrupted. "I thought you didn't have anything to do with your family."
"It's like a foster brother," I corrected. "I don't really know any other way to explain my relationship with all the people in this house right now. Leslie, it's packed. It's also kind of wonderful. We have people I grew up with who came back to make sure that Southwind can get the permissions to open, and more of our family members are trying to help in other ways. We weren't exactly foster kids, though thinking of them as my foster brothers and sisters makes it easier to talk about."
"Then I guess that means you have a pretty big family," she told me. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Just the lingerie," I assured her. "We have to convince the people around here that we're on their side. Freebies work. The fact that I know that once they wear my lingerie, they will be long-time customers certainly doesn't hurt. Mostly, though, I really am trying to buy these people to vote for us opening up Southwind."
"Have you considered some political donations?" Leslie suggested.
"The problem is that the person who wants us gone the most is their main donor. I have no doubt that the mayor and city council would be more than happy to take my money, but I don't actually think it would sway their vote at all. In this case, the entire town has a say. If everybody in Cats Peak wants Southwind to open, then the city council will have to let us - if they don't, they won't have jobs next year."
"Or they'll be like most politicians and assume that everyone will forget," she pointed out. "Ash, that's the problem with politicians. They say they're working for us, but they really aren't. I'm just worried that you're gonna work so hard for this and end up getting screwed even if you should've won."
"Well, since one of those brothers I have helping me is a state politician, he does have a little sway there. Another one works with politicians, basically covering their ass. He knows how to make sure they do what he wants. Right now, I'm just hoping that the pair of them can make this work out. My job is to make people love my panties. And when the professionals tell me to do that, then I am more than willing to brag about underwear all day long."
"Which basically translates to send some of the best stuff," she joked. "I will have them pack it up today and drop ship it. You should expect everything to arrive tomorrow afternoon. And Ash, if there's anything else I can do, please don't hesitate to ask. Work-related, not work-related, or anything else. I know how much Southwind means to you. You deserve to actually be happy."
"Sounds to me like you're trying to get another raise," I teased. "And I promise I will take you up on it if there's anything. Thanks, Leslie. I think you're the best decision I ever made for that company - and that says a lot since my first decision was hiring Violet."
I was just getting off the phone with her when I realized that I was no longer alone in the room. Berto was leaning against the door, smiling at me. I set my phone down on my desk, he pointed at the second chair in my office, silently asking if he could interrupt.
"If the door's open, you're welcome to come in," I assured him. "If the door's closed, there's no telling what I'm doing in here, and it could be Violet."
Berto laughed, probably because he believed me. "So, I heard a bit of your conversation when I was in the kitchen. I'll have to check, but I think the only party-affiliated politician in this town may be the mayor. Like me, he's a Republican, which means I can assert some influence, but that doesn't mean it'll work. The best threat I have is to back someone who runs against him."
I lifted a brow. "Are you trying to suggest that I should run for city office as a Republican?" I couldn't wrap my mind around that, and it sounded even worse out loud than it had in my head.
Berto just laughed. "You? Fuck no. You are basically everything my constituents hate. Your boyfriend, however…"
"I don't think Cy has any interest in politics," I told him.
Berto just shook his head. "The other boyfriend. Luke has everything we want in a freshman politician. He's a handsome man, he has a very attractive girlfriend, and he has a wonderful daughter. He's also a good country boy with a good reputation in town, and he's got local appeal. Now, that doesn't do anything to help our current situation, but if we can't win this vote, our backup plan has to be to change the people voting."
"Wait," I begged. "So you're saying that if they won't let us open Southwind this time, we fight back by taking over the city government?"
"You know Luke would be damned good at it," Berto said. "And I'd much rather get Southwind open and running now rather than later, but yes. It's a backup plan, Ash."
"Talk to Luke," I said. "I may have strong political opinions, but I promise I'm not going to love him any less if he becomes one of your lackeys. Just know that who he's sleeping with will be a problem for getting him elected."
"It would also keep him from advancing to anything bigger than the city level. If he had a lot of money behind him - and I mean more than you have - then maybe he could jump straight up to state, but it's not likely. The problem also isn't the fact that he likes men. It's the fact that he's not in a couple. If he wants to be serious in politics, then he's going to have to choose."
I heard everything Berto said, but that didn't mean I liked it. Just the thought made my guts twist and churn. I also knew that I would support Luke no matter what he chose. The man had once said that he didn't want to be just the guy feeding cows. When he'd been younger, he had such big dreams, and now Berto was all but offering Luke the chance to make them into a reality. Unfortunately, that reality could not include Cy and me.
