“You must be used to people blowing smoke up your ass 24/7, huh?”
Adrian glances at me and shrugs. “Maybe.”
“It seems to bother you when I don’t.”
“Maybe I just want you to like me.”
“You don’t seem like the kind of person who craves validation.”
“Maybe that’s exactly what I am. I went into politics, didn’t I? All politicians are narcissists at heart.”
“Exactly. You’re narcissistic and self-centered, so you couldn’t possibly care what I think of you.”
“First of all, your kind words flatter me.” He shakes his head and I laugh despite myself. “Second of all, don’t you think that narcissists are the exact opposite? There’s something lacking in their personal fulfilment, and so they seek out these positions of authority to get some kind of validation for their perceived superiority.”
“That’s deep,” I deadpan.
Adrian laughs and I can see the frustration building up inside him. “I’m serious!”
“Alright, alright,” I laugh. “I won’t be so hard on you. So are you telling me that you are lacking personal fulfilment?”
“Definitely.”
“The first time I met you, you told me you went into politics to help people.”
Adrian scoffs. “That was a lie.”
My immediate gut reaction is aversion, and then I take a breath and tilt my head. “That’s actually really refreshing to hear. That’s probably the first truly honest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
He swings his eyes over to me and takes a deep breath. I watch him take a sip of wine and swallow it slowly. His Adam’s apple bobs up and down, and then he looks at me.
“You’re right about me. I’m selfish and I’m an asshole ninety-nine percent of the time. I just… I don’t want that to be me anymore.”
“So change.”
He holds my gaze for a few seconds. He swallows again and inhales slowly. Then, he nods. “Yeah.”
My heart thumps. When he’s sitting here with his shirt undone and his hair messed up, he looks so human. He’s vulnerable and honest. He’s real.
He’s so different from the man that I met in the conference room. This is the Adrian that I like. Right here, when he’s not posturing or pretending. When he’s just being himself. He loses himself in thought for a few seconds until I poke him with my foot.
“You’re not that bad, Adrian.”
“That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
I grin. “You also have a nice penis. That’s two nice things.”
“Whoa, slow down. Don’t want to use them all up at once.”
I laugh and he shifts himself down the couch to get closer to me. I lay my legs across his lap and sit up to give him a gentle kiss. Then, I lean back and we sip our wine in silence.
22
Adrian
Stella still has her guard up around me. After our second glass of wine, she sighs and glances at me.
“I have to work tomorrow, so I might go to bed.” She stands up and stretches her back, then glances down at me on the couch.
“Is that a subtle hint for me to leave?”
“I didn’t think it was that subtle,” she laughs. “But yes.”
“I was kind of hoping to stay.” I stand up and put my hand on her hip and give her a soft kiss. I don’t want to let her go. I want to hold her in my arms until morning. I want to fuck her all night long, taste her and touch her until we stumble to our offices, bleary-eyed and happy.
But Stella takes a deep breath. “Adrian, I really enjoyed tonight. I… I like you. Despite my best efforts, I actually do like you.”
I lean my forehead against hers. “But…”
“But this is all happening really fast. If my sister knew…”
“What? What would happen if she knew?”
“I’m pretty sure it would be worse than when she found out I was working with you. ‘Sleeping with the enemy’ comes to mind.”
“The enemy!” I laugh, pulling her close. She wraps her arms around me and kisses me softly. Then I pull away and sigh. “I understand.”
“Thank you. I’ll call you tomorrow or the next day. I… I’d like to see you again.”
“Me too.”
She smiles and walks me to the door. I kiss her one last time before slipping out into the cool night air. Summer is ending, and the nights have a chill these days. I glance back at her house and see the porch lights flick off. Disappointment curls in the depth of my chest, but I shake it off.
She’s right, of course.
Getting involved would be messy. It would be amazing, and I’m pretty sure we would have the best sex of our lives… but it would be messy. There’s no way that we could get out of this without the whole thing crashing and burning.
I get in my car—I parked it on the street in front of her house. With one last glance toward her home, I drive off.
A part of me wants to crash and burn with her. I want her so badly that I’ll do anything, ruin anything, cause chaos just so I can have her again.
But that’s the old me. I’m trying to be less selfish. Stella makes me want to be better. She gently, but firmly reminds me when I’m only thinking of myself. And right now, I don’t need her to remind me. I know I’m being selfish. I don’t care about her sister, or about tabloids, or about anything.
I do care about Stella, though. If she wants to take it slow, I can respect that. By the time I get back to the Mayor’s Residence, my disappointment has been replaced with excitement.
I know I’ll see her again. I could see it in her eyes that she wanted me to stay and she was fighting it with every fiber of her being. She wants me just as much as I want her. She loved being fucked like that, and I loved every second of it.
So I’ll give her time, and I’ll enjoy every second of it when she comes back for more.
Walking back into City Hall in the morning feels strange. It’ll most likely be my last day here, provided everything with the case closes up today. I’ll resign as soon as the case is dropped. People glance at me through open doorways and then look away. I’m a dead man walking.
I’m not as disappointed as I thought I would be. I walk into my office and nod to Cheryl.
“Morning,” I smile.
She frowns. “Hi. You’re in a good mood!”
“Is that not allowed?”
“I just thought with the case and everything that you might be a bit disappointed.”
“I was.” I stand in front of her desk and scratch my chin. “But I guess last night, I had an epiphany.”
“What’s that?”
“There’s more to life than playing a futile political game.”
Cheryl snorts. “Everything is a game to you, Mr. Mayor. My guess is, you’ve found a new game to occupy you already.”
My eyebrows arch and I shrug. “Maybe. In any case, I’ll leave the politics to the politicians. Draft my resignation speech, I need to be ready for tonight.”
Cheryl nods. “The first draft is on your desk.” She smiles at me.
“Well done, Cheryl. I hope you’ll find someone who appreciates that.”
Her smile fades a bit, and she nods, turning back to her computer. I head to my desk and sit back in the big leather chair. I glance around, taking a deep breath.
I was only in this office for a year, but it feels like half my life. The first day I walked through those doors, I was on top of the world. It felt like I was unstoppable. I was going to be Governor, or President.
Now that it’s almost over, it seems almost foolish to think those things. My goals grew and grew and grew over the years until I didn’t even recognize them anymore. I’m not even sure why I went into politics in the first place.
I take out my phone and glance at the screen, mildly disappointed that Stella hasn’t texted me yet. I take a deep breath and slip my phone back in my jacket pocket.
The phone call from my lawyer, Theresa, comes at 3 p
.m.
“You’d better come down to the courthouse, Mr. Mayor. I have a few documents for you to sign.”
“Is everything agreed as we discussed?”
“Charges dropped, nothing on your record. As long as you resign from office immediately, you’re free to go and live your life.”
I blow the air out of my lungs and grunt. “The DA was that afraid to lose this case?”
“The holes that Stella found in that contract spooked him. He didn’t want to risk it. You’re a lucky man.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen.” I hang up the phone and call Cheryl into my office. “It’s time. Call the media, I’m going to the courthouse.”
She stands in the doorway, her eyes misting up. I stand up and slide my jacket on, straightening my tie and smoothing down my hair. Cheryl dips her chin down and extends her hand.
“It’s been an honor, Adrian.”
My heart squeezes. Cheryl cared. She bought the dream I sold her, and she was here with me every step of the way. I told her I’d take her to the White House with me, and now it’s all over—for both of us.
The look in her eyes reminds me of Stella when I told her I’d rather fight the case than protect my team. Deep, undeniable sadness stares back at me. I clear my throat.
“Thank you for everything, Cheryl.”
She opens her mouth to say something. Her cheeks flush and she looks away.
I clear my throat. “Alright. Make the phone calls, I’ll meet you at the car.”
“Yes, boss.”
I walk down the hallways with my head held high. News travels like wildfire, and I know that most of City Hall knows what’s about to happen. By the time I get to the courthouse there are throngs of reporters outside. They clamor for my attention, jostling to get their microphones in my face as I walk through the crowd. Cameras flash and people yell.
When I make it inside the courthouse, Theresa is there to greet me. She shakes my hand and nods.
“This way.”
It doesn’t take long. The judge agrees to drop the case, I sign some papers, and within an hour it’s all over. Theresa puts a hand on my shoulder.
“You ready?”
I nod.
When I step back outside, the reporters are still there. I walk halfway down the steps, to where a podium has been placed on the landing. I raise my hands to quiet the crowd.
“Good afternoon,” I start. The reporters yell and I raise my hands. “As most of you already know, the charges against me have been dropped. I have, and will always, maintain my innocence in this case. I thank the people who have stood by me through the turmoil.”
I glance at Cheryl, whose eyes are filled with tears, and then turn back to the cameras.
“It is with great sadness that I’m announcing my resignation as the Mayor of our great city. I have served in this post for fourteen months, and they have been the finest months of my life. We’ve managed to introduce important education programs, start fixing the roads in the City’s west, and invested in our City’s future.”
My voice falters. This is more difficult than I expected. Doubt floods my heart and I wonder if I’ve made the right decision. What if I had fought this? What if I could continue serving as mayor? I could have won.
I take a deep breath.
“In light of the turmoil this ordeal has caused, I do not think I will be able to lead effectively. I am hereby stepping down as mayor. Thank you.”
The questions start flying toward me, but I step away from the podium. I glance at Theresa, who stands next to me. She nods and squeezes my arm. From the corner of my eye, I see movement near the courthouse doors. Stella is standing there. She smiles at me and puts a hand to her heart.
The doubt in my heart evaporates. Her eyes are bright, and for the first time, she looks at me with not hatred, or contempt, or dislike, but actual admiration. A smile lifts her lips and makes her eyes sparkle, and my heart soars.
It was the right decision. With that one look, Stella shows me that I’ve done the right thing. I needed to resign to make things right. I nod, ignoring the reporters’ questions and stepping away from the podium. Courthouse security helps to clear a way through the reporters, and I get into the back seat of a waiting car. Cheryl climbs into the front seat after me and glances back.
Her face looks different—not sad, exactly, but almost angry. She looks crushed. She tries to smile at me and nods her head.
“You spoke beautifully.”
“Thanks, Cheryl.” She looks like she’s expecting me to say something else, but I just turn to look out the window. I try to catch another glimpse of Stella, but all I can see are reporters crushing against the car. I sigh and lean my head against the headrest as we drive away.
23
Stella
Watching Adrian speak gives me chills. I can’t help but respect the man. A few days ago, he was convinced that he would fight the charges and come out on top. Now, he’s standing tall, facing the horde of reporters with grace and dignity.
He surprises me more and more every day. I thought he was an asshole—still do, sometimes—but I hadn’t considered that there might be redeeming qualities behind the political ambitions.
Adrian glances back at me after his speech, as if he could sense me looking at him. With a hundred other people around us, reporters hurling questions at him, cameras, microphones… for a moment, it feels like we’re alone. His eyes meet mine, and my whole body thrums.
Everything else blurs. Air whooshes out of my lungs and the whole world falls away in that moment. He says a thousand things in that gaze without uttering a word. Then, the crush of media becomes more intense and he’s led out toward a car.
My eyes sweep the crowd until I meet a particularly hostile face. I vaguely recognize her, but I can’t place it. She’s got shoulder-length, stick-straight brown hair and big brown doe eyes. Her round cheeks are dappled red, but it’s her eyes that shock me.
Venom. Pure, poisonous venom emanates from her gaze until she turns away and disappears into the crowd. I lean against the column beside me to catch my breath, my head spinning from the two stares I’ve just experienced. When I glance back toward the street, the car carrying the Mayor is gone, and reporters are still talking excitedly.
It’s exhausting. I know Theresa saw this as a career case for me, but I’m not sure I’m cut out for it. The media just makes me feel tired. It’s like a giant hamster wheel that goes around and around and around, looking for the next story and crushing unsuspecting victims every day.
It’s not for me. Adrian handles it gallantly, and I admire that in him, but I’d rather be behind the scenes and win my cases without much fanfare.
In a way, that makes me glad that I took the job with Martin and Nicole. I’ve worked with Nicole before—she was a paralegal at our firm before she and Martin started their own practice. Martin is a shark, and I’ll definitely be able to learn from him.
It’s a lateral career move, but it feels good.
Theresa materializes beside me. She arches an eyebrow at me.
“Didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Had some motions to file.”
“That’s good timing.” She glances to the podium and the mass of reporters that is slowly starting to dissipate.
I grin and shrug a shoulder. Theresa nods down the street, and we start walking together. Our office is only three blocks away from here. She takes a deep breath and then glances at me.
“I’m disappointed you’re leaving us.”
I nod. “Me too. It’s been great working with you. I’ll start handing things over to Michael and he’ll be up to speed by the time I’m leaving.”
“There’s still time to reconsider. I’ll rip up your letter of resignation and we’ll never speak of it again.”
I smile at her and shake my head. “It’s time for a change.”
Her intelligent eyes bore into mine, and she nods. “Maybe it is.”
Her tone switches to business, a
nd we discuss a couple cases that have slid across my desk. By the time we get back to the office, she’s her usual, hard-ass self. As much as I’m glad to be leaving, I will miss Theresa and her mentorship.
Around 7 p.m., I pack up my things to leave the office. I glance toward Theresa’s office and see her light still on. I pause.
Theresa never got married, never had kids, never did anything but work. She’s now at the top of her game, making incredible money as one of the top lawyers in the state—maybe even the country. I admire her guts, her intelligence, and her doggedness.
But when I look at the quiet office, empty except for her… I’m not so sure it’s what I want with my life. Nicole and Martin have carved out careers for themselves and they still have a life and a family.
For a long time, I’d convinced myself that it isn’t possible to have it both ways. I had to choose either career or family. Sacrifice one for the other.
I chose to be like Theresa.
But now… I’m not so sure. My heels click on the shiny tile floors as I make my way to the elevators and I take a deep breath. I lean against the wall as the elevator goes down, closing my eyes for the minute ride down to the lobby. Is this really how I want to feel at the end of the day, every day, for the next three decades? When I’m sixty-five, is this where I want to be?
When the doors open onto the lobby, I step out and see movement from one of the chairs in the corner. Adrian stands up with a shy smile on his face.
I alter my trajectory and start walking toward him, shaking my head.
“You ever heard of a phone call? I’m not sure I’m a fan of this whole showing up at my house and my work thing. Some would call it creepy.”
“I had to turn my phone off,” he says. “It was going off like crazy after I made that announcement.”
I come to stop a foot away from him. My whole body wants to take another step forward. I want to lean into his chest and feel his arms wrapped around me. I want to inhale his scent and kiss him, right here in the lobby of my office, in full view of the floor-to-ceiling windows beside us.
Love/Hate: The Complete Enemies to Lovers Series Page 45