Page 61 of Power
“Used to?” I ask as I gauge his reaction.
“You can’t be serious? You’re going to go back to it?” Bennett abruptly stands and paces back and forth. “No, I refuse to allow it.”
“I beg your pardon? You refuse toallow it? Since when do you own me, Bennett?” I match his elevated tone.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Reece? That guy beat the fuck out of you, and you want to go back to it?” He steps into my space, passionately expressing himself.
“I have no idea if I’ll be returning to it. But you don’t make that decision. I do.”
Bennett’s eyes bulge as he steps back and brings his hand up to fiddle with a tie that he’s not wearing. He paces back and forth for a few seconds before he stops, turns and straightens. “I’m sorry, Reece, but I have to forbid it.”
“I’m sorry, Bennett, but you don’t have a say.”
“God damn it, yes I do.”
“My driving factor is not what you want, but what I need to do for my daughter.”
“Get a job in a coffee shop again,” he says in a higher pitch.
“Yes, because if either she or I get seriously sick, my coffee shop wage will pay for whatever treatment is needed. Do you have any idea that the number one reason for people declaring bankruptcy in this country is because of medical debt? Do you know that?” I push.
“Why is this turning into a debate about medical and bankruptcy? It’s about you being an escort, and I’m telling you, it ends now.” He points to the ground with finality.
“The reason why this is turning into a debate about medical bills and bankruptcy is because if something happened and I lost everything, Emily and I would go back to living in a fucking car. We don’t have a back-up plan, we don’t get a pension and paid medical after our time in the White House. We’re not entitled to Secret Service agents being with us until the day we die; we don’t get any benefits. If I don’t work, and something happens, we lose it all. And I’ll tell you this right now, hell would have to freeze over before Emily will ever have to turn a fucking trick the way I did just to survive.” I step back, my heart beating so fast it feels like it’s about to bounce out of my chest. “It ends, when I say it ends.”
Bennett and I are at an impasse. There are a few seconds of awkward and crackling tension between us. I can feel it coursing through the air, making it hard to take a deep breath. “Reece.” He steps forward to hug me, but I counter his movements.
“I think I need some space.”
“We really need to discuss what we’re going to do moving forward.”
“I’ve offloaded a lot on you today.” My mouth is dry, and my stomach is tight with upset tension. I have no idea how this will affect Bennett. “We should never have met,” I admit quietly.
“What? Why?”
Tilting my head to the side, I stare at Bennett. “Because this is a surefire way to end your term in office. I’m nearly positive this is cause for impeachment.”
“Let me talk to my lawyer.”
“Seriously?” I scoff. “You want to talk to your lawyer about us? What about the oath you took to the American people? You owe it to them.”
“Being with you is not impeding me in doing my job. Of course, I’m going to serve the American people.”
“Then serve them.” I’m trying to pick at anything to force him to walk away. “When your term is over, then maybe we can consider being together, but we can’t do this now.”
I begin walking out of the room, but Bennett leaps forward and grabs my upper arm. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because we’re not supposed to be together.” I shouldn’t have told him what I did. It’s too much for anyone to handle which is why I’ve kept most of this to myself and vowed I’d take it to the grave with me. But now, I’ve let someone else in. Not just anyone, but the president of the United States. I know what I’m about to do is a dick move, but I’m doing it to protect us all. “I can’t do this with you, Bennett.”
He appears to be as surprised as I am by my words. “Do what?”
A sharp pain shoots through my chest. “I can’t see you anymore.”
“What? Why?”
My hands wring together as I open the door leading to his bedroom. A deep burning ache courses through my veins. Because this will destroy him, Emily, and me if the public finds out. “When you were elected, you had a wife who wasn’t an escort. Whatever we have, has to end.”
“No, I’m not letting you go.”
