Page 31 of A Man of Power

“You gonna bankroll the rest?”

“I’d prefer to. I mean, I’m sure other smaller donations will roll in, but this could make my win an easy one.” Aiden knows that I’m not concerned about my in-party competition, but the other party’s likely candidate would give me a literal run for my money.

“Well, let me dig around after my workout,” he says.

“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”

I get in my car and crank the music as I drive home, my brain still filtering the day’s information.

“Text from Alexis Martin,” comes blaring through my speakers as my sound system pauses my music.

“Thank you for the wonderful opportunity, but I don’t think this is going to work. I will send you my official resignation on Monday.”

My fingers grip the steering wheel so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t crush beneath them. What the fuck is she doing?

“Reply,” I say to the prompt at the end of the message. “Resignation not accepted. I’m sending a car for you right now. We will discuss this in person, immediately.”

“Text from Alexis Martin,” the woman’s voice states seconds after sending my message. “There’s nothing to discuss, Sebastian.”

Against my better judgment, I pull a U-turn and head straight back to her apartment. Goddamn stubborn-headed woman is going to be the death of me.

I race through the streets at high speeds, risking a ticket, but not caring. I double-park in front of her building because my level of giving a fuck is at an all-time low. What has she done to me?

I’m up to her floor in record time and manage two loud knocks on her door before it flies open. A very stunned Alexis stands in front of me wearing only a t-shirt that barely covers her ass. Her eyes are wide and her mouth is gaping. I don’t say anything as I breeze past her, turn and shut the door. Walking forward, I trap her between me and the cold steel.

“We ‘will’ talk and we ‘will’ talk right the fuck now,” I command in a low voice, my jaw twitching with each word. I hear a sound behind her. Great, her roommates are home. “Now get dressed and we’re going to my house.”

I step to the side and turn to see a young blonde woman standing in the hallway looking quite amused. She’s in pajamas that look expensive, but her hair is a mess, and she looks like she just woke up.

“Hi there,” she says with a smirk as she leans against the wall and crosses her arms. “I’m Whitney and you must be Congressman North.”

My jaw clenches as I look from her to Alexis. There is zero doubt in my mind that Miss Whitney over here knows exactly what has transpired between Alexis and me, and I don’t like that one little bit.

“I’ll be right back,” Alexis mutters quickly and nearly runs down the hall past Whitney who doesn’t budge but does give Alexis a look as she flies by her.

“So, Mr. Congressman, what are your intentions with my roommate? Because she is hella pissed at you,” she says, giving me a pointed look.

“Whitney, is it?” She gives me the slightest nod. “The only person that needs to know my intentions about Alexis, is Alexis.”

She whistles and puts her hands up in defense. “Well, best of luck with that.” She swivels as Alexis emerges from a doorway behind her. I see Alexis give her a look and then walk past her. She says nothing to me, but I open her door and she walks across the threshold. I place my hand on the small of her back as we walk down the hallway because apparently, I’m a magnet and she’s a wall of metal.

She keeps trying to walk faster, but my legs are longer. If she thinks she’s getting away from me, she’s grossly mistaken. She presses the button for the elevator and stands with her arms crossed, a large purse over her shoulder, her foot tapping in anger.

Oh, little dove, I think you think you are angry. Except, you don’t know what angry is.

The doors open and we walk inside, my finger pressing the first-floor button, neither of us speaking. The tension is so thick I don’t think a knife could cut it.

The bell dings and the door opens. She walks out first, pushing open the front doors, and then pauses. There’s a cop at my car.

I walk over to him.

“Congressman, is this your vehicle?” he asks as he glances at my plates.

“It is. I apologize, there’s a matter of national security and I needed to pick up my staffer to attend a security briefing.”

“O-oh,” he stammers. “Uh, just be careful where you park, Congressman,” he says as he scurries back to his car and leaves.

Alexis doesn’t move.

---