Leif stood there, looming over me.
“I think that’s it.”
“You should make sure that you are satisfied with your purchase,” he said, mouth slightly crooked. “And… I must admit, I have been fantasizing about seeing your reaction.”
I opened the envelope, unwinding the red string holding the folder closed. My hands trembled as I took out the papers, notarized forms, and photos.
“This is… this is a marriage certificate,” I said, eyes swimming.
“I told you,” Leif crooned. “I know his deepest darkest secrets.”
“Hunter is married?” I choked out.
There were wedding pictures. In the photo, a young Hunter stood next to a happy-looking young woman.
“Why? When?”
“He was going to be part of the cult. This was his first wife.” Leif smirked at me. “Maybe he was going to make you his second?”
“Does he…” I was going to puke. “Does he have children?”
A slow smile spread across Leif’s face. “Let’s just say there’s more information where that came from… if you’re willing to pay for it, of course.”
70
Hunter
Ispent the night before and the morning of the debate preparing. Karen had adopted a professional attitude and only referred to me as Mr. Svensson. I didn’t feel bad about leading her on. It had gotten me what I wanted—Meg.
Just make it through this debate, then the election, then you will move in with her and live happily ever after.But I was concerned. I hadn’t heard from Meg since yesterday afternoon. I had tried not to descend into a maelstrom of doubt and fear that she had decided to leave me for good after all.
She’s prepping for the debate, I assured myself as I changed into a fresh suit. I adjusted my tie in the mirror and checked to make sure my hair was parted evenly before I headed to city hall.
The atrium was packed for the final debate. The election was in three days. Meg was wearing a single-button black suit with a pencil skirt. Her suit jacket was quarter sleeved and low-cut and framed her tits perfectly. She was wearing patent leather black pumps that pushed her ass up enticingly.
After this, I’m going to fuck her. Maybe in the stairwell again.
I smiled at her lazily. “Ready to get this over with?”
“Debates are an important part of the political process, Hunter.” She practically spat my name.
“Sure,” I said, frowning as I took my place behind the lectern and adjusted the microphone.
“Welcome to the final debate,” Edna said. “To everyone in the audience or watching at home, please do keep in mind when you vote three days from now that you are not voting for the homecoming court. You are voting for the person most likely to be a competent, successful mayor of our town. To that end, the first question is about your new administration. Who will you choose to be your deputy mayor and why? Hunter.”
I gave the crowd a winning smile. “If I am elected, obviously Meg will be my deputy mayor. She’s been excellent at it the past few years, and I’d be honored to work with her.” The answer earned me a smattering of applause. I looked over to Meg, expecting her to be gazing up at me adoringly, but her face was a cold mask.
“Let me make one thing clear,” she said, turning her furious gaze to the audience, “if you do not elect me as mayor, I will not be the deputy mayor for Hunter. The past five years, I have propped up a corrupt, lazy, ineffective mayor in my great-uncle Barry. He and Hunter are cut from the same cloth, and I will not enable bad behavior any longer. If you vote for Hunter, you can forget about all the extra hours, all the times I have gone the extra mile, and all the sacrifices I have made to make sure this town has run smoothly. And let’s be very clear. Mayor Barry was this close to embezzling funds from the town just like he did from me and my sisters. The only reason the town has been running as well as it has and growing and improving the last few years is because of me and my hard work.” She glared at me, mouth a tight line.
“Hunter was even given a chance to step up to the plate and prove that he had what it takes to be mayor. He managed to attend four meetings in the last two weeks while I have attended fifty-seven. So, if Hunter wins, he will have to do all of that work by himself. I will not be providing any more free labor, nor will I continue to clean up after men who will not pull their own weight.”
Shit.There were knowing smirks from the women in the audience. My tie constricted around my throat.
“With that being said,” Meg continued, “if you elect me, my deputy mayor will be Susie. She has served this town as a police officer for a number of years and is committed to a brighter future for Harrogate.”
“Women get it done! Women get it done! If you vote for that man, he’s just going to be a bum!” Ida and her fellow Harrogate Girls Club members chanted.
“Ida!” Her sister turned around to yell at her. “This is a serious event.”
