“Sorry, I only ever see you from afar—Senator Morgan in action.”I laugh lightly.Those billboards are everywhere on our way here.
“Is that too much for the election campaign?”He steps closer with a smirk.
“Uh, no.You’re kind of a big deal in this state, and that tagline fits your image.I wouldn’t even dare imagine chatting with you like this.”I smile after throwing a few more compliments.
“I never imagined meeting a woman like you either.Has Alan ever told you that you look like an angel?”His eyes shine with admiration as he leans in, charm and confidence radiating all at once.He tilts closer, whispering near my ear.God, he makes me sick.“Just say the word, and your senator will come running to help his favorite citizen.”
“Ooh, such a reliable senator.”I glance up at him, my voice dipping lower.My lips curl into a knowing smile.“Guess that means I need your number, don’t I?”
“You can give it to my assistant,” he murmurs, leaning even closer, his breath warm against my cheek.
“Um, no.I hate middlemen.One agent’s already enough of a headache,” I whisper, my hand brushing the fabric of his jacket across his chest.
Damn.The old man’s still got it.His chest is firm beneath the suit, and that small touch makes him visibly more tempted.His jaw tenses and his breathing quickens.
“Fine,” he says, pulling his phone from his pocket.I recite my number slowly, watching as he types it in a rush.A second later, my phone buzzes in my bag.I pull it out and see the unfamiliar number.
“That’s me.Save it for later,” he says with a confident smile.
“Of course.If I ever need yourhelp, I’ll call you, Mr.Senator,” I tease, watching him slide his phone back into his pocket.
“I like hearing that name coming from you.”Peter’s fingers trail over the fake fur trim of my coat.
Alan suddenly appears behind him.His face is tense, eyes sharp.He taps Peter’s shoulder, hard enough to make him turn around.
“Didn’t you hear that every day from your secretaries?Fenella won’t be enough for you.”Alan grabs Peter’s shoulder hard, pulling him away from me.
“Hey, calm down, buddy.I’m not doing anything to her.”Peter steps back, hands up, like he’s dealing with a hostile crowd.
Alan plants himself between Peter and me, eyes cold.“Great.I hope you remember she’ll be your sister-in-law.”
“Yes, of course.I hope you remember I’m the one who gave you the money.”Peter laughs, sharp and easy, and punches Alan lightly on the shoulder.
Alan freezes.His eyes flash.Peter doesn’t stop.He keeps taunting, fists raised, thumping Alan’s arm in a rhythm full of arrogance.
“Why don’t you say something back to me, huh?Scared?Finally realized how much you owe me?”
“Stop it, Peter.”Alan grits his teeth, voice low and dangerous.
“Oh, come on.Show me those muscles you built in that gym of yours.”
“I said stop it.”
“Oh right, I forgot.That gym’s mine, technically, so your muscles are mine.Funny, right?”Peter laughs and hits Alan’s arm again, faster.
Without warning, Alan swings.His fist cracks against Peter’s cheek.My breath catches as I cover my mouth.The world narrows to the two of them.They explode into a rapid, ugly fight.
Alan punches.Peter punches back.They trade blows, neither giving ground.When Peter stumbles and falls under Alan’s onslaught, he scrambles up and bolts, but Alan chases him.They circle a long buffet table, crashing into platters and legs.
“Come back here, you bastard!I’ll kill you!”Alan roars.
“Guards!Call for help!Arrest this lunatic!”Peter screams.
“I’ll chop off your filthy tongue!”Alan bellows like a mad bull.
“Help!”
People start recording with their phones, some too stunned to intervene.Jessy cutting through the crowd, trying to break them up, grabbing Peter before he can swing again.A line of men in neat black suits rushes in to restrain Alan—Peter’s bodyguards.I push through and hold Alan too, because I can’t let him hurt himself or them.Out of the corner of my eye, Jessy slips away, silent as a shadow.
