Page 33 of The Press Secretary's Passion
He laughs. “I take it the news was mistaken?”
“Don’t joke,” I snap. “You know I’m not involved with him. Or anyone. I wouldn’t have slept with you if I was.”
“I had to ask, honey,” he says softly.
“No, you didn’t,” I argue. “You should have just known.”
“I didn’t—” he starts, but I cut him off again.
“But maybe you should have.” I sigh. “Look, Ryan, I’m tired, and I’ve had a really bad day, and I have to do it all over again tomorrow, so I’m going to let you go so I can try to get some sleep.”
“Baby, please,” he begs. “I wish you were in my arms.”
“But I’m not,” I say quietly. “I’m all alone.”
And then I hang up. I let my phone drop down to the sheets next to me. I tuck myself back into my protective ball and close my eyes tight while the stinging behind my eyes hits harder than before. And when I can’t choke it down, I let the tears come again.
And in the dark, I cry myself to sleep, and just like I told Ryan, I do it all alone.
“Global Bill Re-Introduced to House Floor”
Chapter 10
Please be prepared
I’m steaming mad. Truth be told, I’ve been mad since I walked into the offices this morning
A few days later, I rolled out of bed ready to take on the day as I carefully curled my long dark hair to fall in neat waves down my back and dusted a light amount of makeup on my face. Just enough to look good on camera but not so much that I look like I’m trying too hard or unprofessional. I dressed in a red shirt dress with a matching sash belt that ties in a knot. I slipped nude Louboutin heels on my feet and added a slim gold Rolex to my wrist and modest diamond stud earrings. I am who I am, and I will not hide that, but it also doesn’t need to be thrown in people’s faces either.
I sang along to the radio as I drove to the White House, and I smiled at the Marines who guard the offices as I went through the security protocols to enter. I just had this feeling that it was going to be a great day.
And then I walked into the briefing room.
“HB 2250 is being reintroduced to the house floor this morning,” Rick says once everyone is seated around the large conference table. “This time is an even greater donation of power, weapons, and money than before.”
“That’s insane,” someone says, and I can’t help but agree. This bill would be handing over a lot of global power the United States has held for ninety years to a country who has done nothing but act against the U.S.
“And this time, it comes with a trillion-dollar reparations check from the U.S.,” Rick adds.
“You’re kidding. Who would write a bill like that?” I ask.
“That’s the trillion-dollar question, isn’t it?” Jake prompts softly. “Do we have any leads on where this is coming from?”
“The bill is being introduced by Congressman Grissom this morning, but otherwise, we can’t find any ties to him,” Rick shares.
“Aren’t we still technically involved in a conflict with this nation?” I ask.
“Yes, while it’s not a war, per se, we are still involved in a military conflict,” Ryan answers, and I nod while not letting my eyes move from his shoulder.
Ryan and I have not spoken more than two words since our odd phone call a few nights ago. I’m pretty sure he realized, like all men do, that I’m more trouble than I’m worth, and that’s fine with me. I have enough on my plate right now to add a man to complicate the mix. For most of the week, he was laying low, but now, he’s back in the offices.
Lately, there’s something different about him. Like he’s watching me. And I don’t know what to do about it. I cannot acknowledge it, because if I do, I might begin to hope. And I had just begun to hope, when he delivered the kill shot that put the budding affections I held for him recently by making his great escape after I fell asleep. So I can’t let the change in him affect me as he watches me. He can; it’s a free country, and I can’t stop him. But I also don’t have to be a willing participant either.
“So our public response should be…?” I ask as I hold my pen just above my notebook, ready to begin crafting my response to any questions that might come up during the press conference later this morning.
“The president’s stance on HB 2250 has not changed,” Rick said. “And he does not believe that it is in the best interest of the United States and her people.”
“Sounds good.”
