Page 55 of An Impossible Love
Chapter Twenty-Four
Orin Bennett stood at the lectern in the White House press room and waited for the media to settle down. It had been a week since the shooting, a week since his darling love, his Emmy, had taken that bullet for him.
Three days since the press had found out about his and Emmy’s relationship—Kevin McKee’s parting gift before he was arrested for conspiracy in the attempted murder of the president.
Two days since Emmy’s research had finally come up with the goods on Max Neal and Kevin McKee’s shared history and friendship.
One day since Emmy had finally woken up from a coma. They’d operated on her and removed the bullet, but she lost so much blood that it was touch and go.
When finally, Lucas Harper had allowed Orin to go to the hospital, he hadn’t left her side. He told his team not to interfere with the running of the hospital, but he was staying by Emmy’s side. The press had caught wind of it, of course, and the media had been full of speculation until Kevin confirmed it all in the last moments of his job.
Now, Orin stood in front of the press to make the most important statement of his political life. “Thanks for coming, ladies and gentlemen. I’ll be making a short statement then I’ll take any questions you might have.”
He cleared his throat and stood tall, his hands on the podium. “A week ago, my life was saved from an assassin’s bullet by an exemplary member of the US Secret Service. Her name is Emerson Sati. Emmy. Emmy is her name, and she is not only a national hero, she is the woman I love. A few days ago, former Communications Director Kevin McKee was arrested for conspiracy based on Emmy’s investigation into the threats made against me. Before that, he leaked to the press details of my relationship with Emerson Sati.”
Orin, his face set and grim, looked at every member of the press corps. “And some of you have tried to destroy Agent Sati’s character based on gossip and rumor. You know who you are. Shame on you.Shameon you. That young woman is a hero. You have painted her as a gold digging unprofessional whore. Shame on you. So here, for the record, is the true story, not that it is in any way your business.”
Orin could see Moxie out of the corner, looking worried about what he was going to say but he had no fucks left to give now.
“I fell in love with Emmy Sati the moment I saw her. Over the course of many weeks, we had the opportunity to talk, and it became clear that a mutual attraction existed between us. A month ago, we began a discreet sexual relationship. Agent Sati recused herself, ironically, from my protection, and concentrated on investigating the threats against me, and the connection to the bombing at the school in Maryland. Agent Sati also informed her superiors of the relationship and offered her resignation which was not accepted by Lucas Harper—and I would not be alive today if he had.”
Orin paused. “Over the past few weeks I’ve been given advice from many sources about who I should love, who they should be, what the American public will accept. I say to you now… last night I asked Emerson Sati to be my wife.YourFirst Lady. And if you think that an American heroine is not fit to be First Lady… then by all means, vote me out of office in three and a half years’-time. Now I’ll take your questions.”
Across town, in George Washington Hospital, Marge and Tim were whooping with delight at the president’s words as Emmy looked on, blushing furiously and smiling. Orin’s words were a shot of pure morphine to her aching body.
Marge nudged her. “Well? Come on, don’t leave us in suspense. What did you say?”
Emmy’s eyes shone. “I said yes, of course,” she said softly and groaned as Marge hugged her.
“Whoops, sorry Moo. Oh, Moo…First Lady...”
“Damn, you’ll be too fancy for the likes of us now.” Tim grinned at her, and she was happy to see no rancor or recrimination in his eyes.
“I will be,” she sniffed haughtily. “In fact, whoareyou people? How did you get in?” She giggled as they both stuck out their tongues at her—Marge and Tim were quite the double act these days. Tim nodded wisely.
“Listen… do they knowing about the chronic farting?”
“And the snoring. Don’t forget the snoring.”
“The kleptomania,” Tim added, and Marge cackled.
“The weird fetish magazines.”
Emmy chuckled. “You mean National Geographic?”
“Those ones.”
Emmy listened to their teasing but before long, she found herself falling asleep again. When she woke, Tim and Marge had left, and next to her, his fingers linked in hers, was her fiancé. Her Orin. The man she loved.
“Hey you.”
He looked up and his eyes lit up. “Hey, beautiful. How are you feeling?”
“So much better after seeing your press conference. You really gave it to them.”
“They deserved it.” He stroked her face. “Emerson Sati, have you any idea how much I love you?”
“At least as much as I love you, Mr. President.”
