Page 94 of Power
I lay my phone on the table and try to get to work. Jamie opens the door and walks in, placing a pile of papers in front of me. “Can I have your signature on these please, sir?”
I start signing the papers and stop to look up at him. “Jamie?”
“Yes, sir?”
“What do you think about this situation I find myself in?”
Jamie’s brows rise as he slowly lifts his left shoulder. “It’s not my business what you do in your personal time, sir.”
“But, she’s an escort.”
“She’s making a living the best way she knows how to. I don’t know enough of her background to judge her, and even if I did, it’s not my business what she does.”
“It doesn’t bother you that I’ve paid a woman for...”
“For her company? No, it doesn’t bother me. Don’t forget, sir, she’s an escort, and selling her time is how she makes her money, regardless of whether you’ve had a sexual relationship with her. Remember, sir, you’re not the first president to do this, nor will you be the last. Let’s also not forget, you’re also a widower, and it would be unreasonable for anyone to believe you’d go all this time without...” he clears his throat as he smirks. “Female attention,” Jamie carefully adds.
I tap my pen on the desk as I consider what Jamie has said. He pointedly looks at the documents I need to sign. I return my attention to them, and when I finish, I hand the stack back to him. “Thank you, Jamie.”
He quietly walks out of my office, closing the door behind him and leaving me with my thoughts. I really screwed this up with Reece. She reached out to me so I could help her, and I pushed her away. I’ve broken whatever we were heading toward.
Fuck.
My door opens, and Jamie stands at the door. “Alison?” I gesture for him to let her in. “You can go in, Alison.”
She walks in and stands on the opposite side of my desk. “Alison, what do you need?”
She clutches the papers she’s holding closer to her chest and looks down, breaking eye contact. Alison takes in a sharp breath and lifts her chin. “One of the press has been approached by a man who says he knew Reece when she was younger.”
Her implication of the word younger means he’s probably one of the mom’s boyfriends. “What does he want?”
“He’s asked for ten thousand for his interview.”
I shake my head and clench my hands into a fist. I want to bring him in here and pummel his fucking face in. “Thank you,” I say to Alison as I try to figure out what to do in this situation. As she walks out, Mark walks into my office and closes the door. “Did you find her?”
He stands tall with shoulders pulled back and his arms behind him. “She hasn’t used any of her cards, or her phone. Her car is a hybrid, which makes it easier to track. However, she’s left her car here with Tash.”
“Which means they’ve swapped cars.”
“Yes, sir. Tash’s car is older, and we can’t track it.” Fuck. “We’re already moving toward checking traffic cameras.”
“No.” I wave my hand at him. “Cease the search.”
“Yes, sir.” Mark nods and leaves my office.
“What a mess,” I groan as I stare at my computer. She doesn’t want me to find her, and I can’t use government funds inappropriately. Standing, I walk out of my office straight over to Liam’s.
“Mr. President,” his personal assistant says as she starts to stand.
I wave her down. “Does Liam have anyone in there?” I head toward his door.
“No, sir.”
I knock on his door and open it. “Mr. President,” he acknowledges.
“Did you send me Brice’s number?”
“I did. But I can get him on the phone now if you like?”
