Page 86 of Power
I take a step back and run my hands through my hair. I said some horrible things to Reece, and I need her to know that was a knee-jerk reaction. “I’ll let you know.”
Mark quietly leaves my office, and I head back over to sit with my advisors. Liam glances toward the door, then back to me, silently asking if everything is okay. I give him a nod and attempt to focus on what my advisors are throwing around.
Where is Reece? Has she gone to Tash’s to hide? What about Emily? Is Emily okay?
“Mr. President?” Alison asks.
“Sorry, what?” I reply trying to listen, but all my mind can think about is Reece and Emily’s safety. “Give me a minute.” I stand and walk to the door and open it. Mark is standing by the door. “Mark.”
“Sir.”
“Have you checked her friend Tash’s house?”
“No, sir. They were under instructions to report back to me once they reached her house.”
The muscles in my neck strain as I run my hand through my hair. Even though I was a total dick to her, I also need to make sure she’s safe. She can’t fend for herself with this broad scale clusterfuck. She’s not prepared. “Check the friend’s house, and if she’s not there...” I run my tongue over my teeth. “Do whatever you have to in order to find her.” With all the power of the world at my fingertips, I’m going to find her and protect her.
“Yes, sir.” Mark immediately turns to one of his team and clearly gives them instructions as I return to the office.
“Mr. President,” Alison says as I sit.
“Our official policy is to not comment on my damn personal life,” I say with determination.
“But—”
“That’s it, guys,” Liam interrupts Alison.
“Thank you,” they all echo, shuffling out of my office.
Liam stays seated, not moving. The door closes, giving us a moment. “She’s gone, hasn’t she?”
“Yeah.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I’ve instructed Mark to find her.” I can feel the tightness in my jaw where I haven’t stopped grinding my teeth together. “Are we any closer to the leak?”
“I have a meeting with the reporter who broke the story, but I don’t think he’s going to be giving anything up.”
“Do you think it was someone here?” I stiffen in my seat, as thoughts of suspicion run through my mind. I’d hate to think one of my staff would do this.
“It could’ve been anyone. There’s nothing concrete, but clearly someone was given information and with some digging, they found out.”
I look down at the rug with the presidential seal in my office. Specifically, to the eagle’s talons holding the olive branch, a marker of peace. This situation has invoked a cacophony of discord and mistrust. “Find out what you can.”
“I will.”
“Liam,” I call. He turns and waits. “Thank you. I know this must be difficult for you.”
The right side of his lip slightly tugs into a smirk. “You’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders, who you sleep with shouldn’t even play part in this.” He shakes his head and scoffs. “That’s fucked.” He turns and leaves the office.
I have to agree with Liam. It is fucked, and never in a million years did I think I’d ever find myself here.
But I can handle the political turmoil that’s going to come. My concern is Reece. I need to find her, or at the very least, call and speak with her. I rub at my temples, stressed and worried.
Reece
“Mom, your phone.” Emily nudges my arm before collapsing back asleep in a nanosecond.
