Page 79 of Power
“Wait. You met the kid?” Liam asks as he shifts forward on the sofa. “Shit, Bennett. When did this happen?”
“Yes, I met her,” I reply matching his tone. “Emily is none of your damn business.”
He stands from the sofa and paces back and forth in front of my desk. “I hate to tell you, Bennett, but this whole thing is my damn business.”
“You’ll watch your mouth,” I caution.
“Are you kidding me? I’m trying to protect you from yourself.”
“What the fuck?” I stand with enough force to tip my chair backward. “Protect me from myself?” I yell as I round the table, ready to confront him.
“Yes, protect you from yourself because you’ve decided to fall in love with a fucking prostitute, Bennett.” He pulls his shoulders back and stands up to me.
“You’ll speak about Reece with respect.” I lift my finger and point at him.
“Why, what are you going to do?” he pushes in a condescending tone.
I don’t know what comes over me, my right-hand balls into a fist and I take a swing at Liam, making contact with his jaw. Liam’s head angles to the left as he takes several steps back. The door opens and Mark and several of the other Secret Service agents are in here with their guns drawn. I step back and shake my head at them. “Leave,” I instruct Mark and his team.
He quickly flicks his gaze between Liam and me and motions his team out of my office. I walk over to my cabinet and pour both Liam and me a scotch. Handing one to him, I throw mine back in one movement. Liam takes the drink, and silently walks over to sit on the arm of the sofa again. He nurses the drink as he looks down at the floor. He finally lifts the glass and finishes it in one swallow. “We’ve been friends for as long as I can remember, and if you can’t take those words from me, how are you going to react if this gets out?”
I sit opposite Liam. “I’m sorry,” I say, truly ashamed of my temper. “I don’t know why I did that.”
“Because you’ve fallen for her.”
“And I can’t have her,” I add.
“Maybe you need to consider announcing your resignation once this term has been completed.”
“I should be able to have both,” I say, although in my heart, I know I have to make the decision. “I was an asshole to her when she reached out after the shooting.”
“Bad enough for you not to redeem yourself?”
I chew on the inside of my cheek. “She’s dragged her ass out of the worst of situations to make a life for herself and her daughter, and I treated her like...” I pause, hating myself for the words about to tumble out of my mouth. “Like a prostitute.”
“What do you want, Bennett? What’s more important to you?”
I lower my chin and look down at the carpet beneath my shoes. “I shouldn’t have to choose.”
“Do you know what? If you were a CEO of a company, it would make maybe page five of the newspaper if it were found out. But you’re not CEO of a company. You’re the president of the United States, and if it’s discovered, it’ll be on the front page of every newspaper and every social media site. Every person in the world will have an opinion.”
“I know.” My throat constricts with worry for Reece and Emily. I pull my shoulders back and lift my chin. “It’s over.”
“Are you sure?”
“Liam, you’ve been my best friend since I can remember. You, of all people, should know if I say it’s over, it’s over. I can’t put either of them through the toxic dissection from the public. I’m fine with whatever happens to me, but I won’t have them torn apart by relentless reporters.”
“The reporters are the least of their problems, and you know it.”
I exhale loudly and slowly nod. “I know. They’ll never have a moment of peace, which is why it has to be over.” I hate having to even think about never seeing Reece again. But it’s what I have to do to keep her and Emily safe.
Liam stands and moves past me. He stops to the side and places his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry you have to make this decision, but it’s for the best.”
“Yeah, it is.”
Liam pats my shoulder twice and heads toward the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Mr. President.” He’s switched from best friend to chief of staff.
“Thank you, Liam.” He looks at me and nods a silent, I’ve got your back.
