I swatted her on the shoulder, and she burst out laughing.
"Girlfriends who date it’s a thing," she teased, using a ridiculous Gen-Z phrase just to see me cringe.
"Kelsey!" I groaned.
"I love using these teenage expressions just to piss you off," she admitted, grinning.
"So, you’re saying you slept with his best friend?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I pulled her shirt toward me to steal a kiss.
"Actually, I was dating her," she corrected, her tone softening but remaining playful. "It was a bit complicated, but that was the gist of it. I protected her, and Don helped me protect her while he covered his own tracks."
I swung my leg over her, settling firmly into her lap. "I hate it when you talk to me like we’re eighteen," I murmured, before kissing her with a sudden, deep intensity. I felt her hands immediately find my rear, squeezing hard.
"Thank God we aren't," she whispered against my lips. "Otherwise, we’d have a hell of a lot of explaining to do to our parents."
I smiled into the kiss, but a moment later, I felt her hands slide under my shirt, her grip on my breasts firm and possessive. A soft, involuntary moan escaped me.
"You have a meeting in a few minutes, and you’re being a major distraction," I managed to say, punctuating the sentence with a sharp bite to her lower lip.
"Guilty as charged," she replied. She reluctantly let go of me, giving my ass one last squeeze before our eyes locked. I slid off her lap, watching as she smoothed out her shirt and prepped her desk, positioning the computer toward the wall for privacy. "Don't worry, Kitty. Tomorrow, we solve thirty-three percent of your headache."
#36
“You live and then you die. But the hardest pill to swallow is the meantime. Are the best days just the ones that we survive?" Alessia Cara
It was just past two o'clock when the doorbell rang. One of the staff members moved to answer it while Kelsey and I stood waiting, both of us dressed in formal attire. Since she had shredded my navy tube dress the night before, I was left with my most formal option—a sleek, off-the-shoulder gown.
Donald stepped into the hall, the confusion etched into his face the moment he saw me standing beside Kelsey. That was when I felt her hand slide firmly onto my waist, a quiet but undeniable claim.
"If someone had bet a million dollars that I’d see this happening," Don said, gesturing between us, "they would’ve lost every cent."
I laughed, opening my arms as I walked toward him to pull him into a tight, familiar hug.
"They certainly would have," Kelsey agreed with a chuckle, stepping forward to offer her hand for a firm shake. "Would you two prefer if I left you alone to talk for a bit? I can come back later."
I gave her a small nod, and in response, she claimed my lips in a long, lingering peck. "Don, take good care of her," she added, her tone light but layered with meaning. "I’m going to handle some business and I'll be back shortly so we can talk strategy."
The second the door closed behind Kelsey, Donald collapsed onto the sofa. He buried his face in his hands, his shoulders slumped in disbelief.
"You have Peter on your tail, and yet you're dating the first person he’ll look to for campaign financing?" Donald asked, his voice tight with anxiety.
"I thought the bigger surprise would be that I’m with a woman," I countered smoothly. I sat across from him and signaled the staff for a glass of wine for me and a double whiskey for him.
"That too, but hey, to each their own. Megs, this could tank your candidacy," he warned, leaning in. "Even if Kelsey bribes the entire Senate, the presidency is not something to be taken lightly. You’re playing with fire."
I raised a hand, signaling for him to let me speak. He was a nervous wreck, his eyes darting toward the raw, red marks still visible on my wrists.
"Breathe and have a drink, please," I said, my voice low and steady. I pointed to the glass being handed to him, thanked the employee, and took a long breath. "I think we both have secretsthat could jeopardize our careers. We should consider teaming up."
"What are you getting at? Megs... Peter is losing his mind over you. I saw him right before New Year’s, and he practically cornered me, demanding to know if I was with you."
"I think we should make a deal," I proposed, cutting straight to the chase. "A facade. We maintain a fake relationship, coordinate our schedules for social events, galas, and holidays the whole nine yards."
"Are you seriously proposing a sham relationship?" He took a long pull of his whiskey. He finally leaned back, his body relaxing as he fixed me with a sharp, decisive look.
"I am. I have no interest in men. And you… well, even though you’ve never officially told me, it’s clear you’re involved with men."
Donald let out a dry laugh and shook his head. "You never stop, do you? You’re always setting up the pieces on the chessboard. But," he held up his glass, pointing his finger at me, "I can’t deny it. It’s a brilliant move."
