"Your beloved is being fast-tracked for a Supreme Court seat, and she’ll have my shadow-support. I want to meet her as soon as possible. I want her as a direct associate."
"I’ll lay the groundwork and talk to her about it." I traced the rim of my glass with my finger, pondering the implications. "But Giorgia... I don’t share Megan."
"I figured as much. But I can't help but find your teenage jealousy amusing, Calama. We’ll talk soon."
#29
“Feels like I've been here all alone. Did you even know I was gone? Well, honey, I'm home” - McFLY
Iglanced at my watch and realized it was already past three in the afternoon. I decided to walk the streets of Capitol Hill, wandering past the gardens of the White House until I reached the National Mall. I stood by the Reflecting Pool for several minutes, maybe longer, staring at the water until my gaze fixed on the Lincoln Memorial.
One of the greatest luxuries of being a judge is the ability to slip through the shadows until the exact moment I choose to step into the spotlight. And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.
I attend the right dinners, the influential luncheons, and the necessary galas. I contribute to campaigns and universities. People know my name because of my family's legacy, but they recognize my face because of my own merit. I am only a fewsteps away from the Supreme Court, and when I arrive, I will be more than ready for the glare of the lights.
I scanned the tea room, looking for Donald. His shock of red hair stood out immediately, mostly due to his height, he’s nearly as tall as Kelsey. We greeted each other with a formal handshake, but he quickly pulled me into a brief, warm hug.
After we order, in my case, a classic apple pie with berry tea, and in his, a blueberry cobbler with lemon tea, we talk about family, and he recalls some moments when we read books together.
"You found an apartment in record time. How did that happen?" Donald asked, his tone laced with genuine surprise.
"I received a few options with photos via text; I discarded some, and two remained," I explained. "The real estate agent scheduled a viewing for today, and we went to see the one that appealed to me the most. It's close to the courthouse and convenient for hosting my mother, for example." I took another sip of tea, which, despite being piping hot, felt strangely refreshing.
"I see. You chose a loft specifically so your mother wouldn't stay at your place. That's very smart, Megs!" he teased. I smiled and nodded in agreement. Of course, I didn't want my mother living under my roof.
"I went to the courthouse today to get a feel for the office and take a look at the paperwork my predecessor left behind," I continued. He raised an eyebrow, and even as I held the rim of my cup to my lips, I couldn't help but laugh. "I know it was a man. The chair still smells like aftershave. Anyway, most of the cases are pretty straightforward. I honestly don't understandwhy he was dragging his feet on decisions like taxing certain party members' assets."
"Then you understand why he left, Megs," Donald countered. "Those are cases that require dialogue, and he wasn't particularly good at conversation. Besides, it wasn't exactly a departure. He switched parties and is now on the Republican side." I rolled my eyes, making Donald smile at the gesture. "I don't understand it either," he admitted.
"Either way, we're selling our souls to the devil," I remarked with a shrug. "It's just up to us to decide whether the devil wears blue or red this election. Personally, my principles are firmly against anyone who puts immigrant children in a jail and has the nerve to call it a 'reception center.'"
"Let's not get into that discussion right now," he urged, waving a hand. "You like controversial cases, if I remember correctly."
"But, Don, who doesn't?" I challenged. "Of course, in North Carolina, the cases bordered on the ridiculous. Like that COVID lawsuit." I pointed a spoonful of pie at him as if the memory had just sparked. "Do you believe they wanted the court to rule that it was an attack? I repeat: an attack?" He laughed through a mouthful of food, quickly covering his face with a napkin. "They claimed it violated the Fifth Amendment by forcing people to get vaccinated."
"Do you know who funded the research and vaccines in at least three states?" Donald asked suddenly.
"No," I replied.
"Kelsey Calama," he revealed. "She bought hospitals and funded researchers. All under the guise of being a major party donor."
"In exchange for... what, exactly?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I brought one of the last pieces of pie to my mouth. It struck me then—our paths had crossed long ago, even if we hadn't seen each other.
"Money and trust. The very foundations of our society," Donald explained. "She wanted everything to move faster so the stock market would stabilize. Naturally, she bought up a significant amount of shares. She doesn't pick a side or put herself in the line of fire, but she loves coordinating the board."
"She’s remarkably young for the role she plays," I remarked.
"She is," he agreed. "But the word is her father took her to work with him every day. She was raised in the boardroom. You almost never see her name in scandals, well, except for her reputation with women. In terms of business, she only appeared in the Pandora Papers, and even then, her footprint was so small it was almost imperceptible. She knows how to be a concierge of influence."
"It’s almost like me, being raised in the halls of the Supreme Court," I noted, a nostalgic smile tugging at my lips. "Remember when my dad took us and we hid under the podium?" We laughed together, and my cheeks actually ached at the memory.
"I got a federal-level punishment from my mom for that!" he joked. "She banned me from going out on Halloween!"
"My dad told me that if I wanted to sit in on hearings, I had to do community service for a month," I countered.
"And what did you do? Pick up trash at the Capitol?" Donald teased.
"No. Every week I went to help prepare meals for families at an NGO," I shared quietly. "I ended up liking it so much I stayed until college."
