Jack Drayson.
Moaning, I pressed my fingers against my eyeballs. Every time I stopped thinking about my hangover, I remembered that little smirk on his face.
Honey.
God, I wanted to smack him all over again for that little endearment. The worst thing was that I definitely owed him an apology. Not because I didn’t think he deserved everything that I’d thrown at him, but mostly because he could very easily block my project if he felt the need to be petty and vindictive.
Petty and vindictive. A cold chill swept through me that had nothing to do with my hangover. Was Hirsh’s actions because of that humiliating event that I was still trying to put behind me.
Shit. Suddenly, it made so much sense that the people who’d supported me before weren’t supporting me now. Someone was pulling their strings.
Double shit.
There was nothing that I could do about that now, and I had a far more current situation that I needed to fix. I prided myself in being a professional, and I’d acted very unprofessionally. As soon as I got into the office, I’d contact the congressman.
With any luck, he’ll be in a meeting at this time, and that will be that.
By the time I reached the office, my cup was empty, and my mood had not elevated. Climbing the stairs, I opened the door to the small office space that I rented, and a hand appeared just inches from my face with two white pain relievers in the palm.
Rachel to my rescue.
“I don’t mean to state the obvious, but you look like hell,” she said, handing me a glass of water.
Sitting my over-sized bag on my mess of a desk, I sank back in my chair and tossed the pills back. “I have to try to apologize today,” I said morosely.
She patted my hand sympathetically. I’d hired Rachel right after the initial success of the youth center. She’d been just as passionate as me about helping the youth, and the salary didn’t disappoint her. I knew that she transcribed court recordings in her spare time to make up for the pitiful paycheck that she received from me, but she seemed to enjoy working with the kids and me. She was pretty much my hero, although she often said the same thing about me.
Only a few years older than me, Rachel had a head for business and a winning smile. She’d been a great asset and a good friend. I was thankful for her.
“While an apology is probably the best thing for the charity, I can certainly say that watching you go off on him was the highlight of my year. His face was priceless!”
Even though I shouldn’t have, I laughed a little. At least I’d always have that memory even as I swallowed my pride and apologized. “I’m going to have more coffee and then call him, I guess.”
“You should eat something too. Your stomach is very loud.”
Even as she finished speaking, my stomach rumbled again, and I pressed my hand against it. “I saw the cream cheese in the mini-fridge last week. You still stashing bagels at your desk?”
Rachel was always hiding food around the office. Last month, I went to pee and found a Snickers bar in the small medicine cabinet over the sink.
“I do, but they’re stale. I wanted to run to the sandwich shop down the street once you got here. Want me to grab you a bagel?”
My stomach growled again, and I nodded. “Strawberry cream cheese if they have it.”
She grabbed her purse, but the buzzer in the front door down the stairs stopped her, and she held up an I’ll be back finger before strutting out of my office, leaving me alone with my throbbing headache and unhappy stomach.
The sound of her thundering up the steps alarmed me, and I was halfway out of my seat before she burst in. She had her drama face on. “Blythe!” Rachel squeaked, rushing back in. “Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh. My. God.”
“Breathe,” I ordered. “Who is at the door?”
“It’s Drayson. He’s here. At the door! And I just left him there. He asked to speak to you, and I just shut the door in his face.” The realization of what she did hit her, and the blood drained from her cheeks. “I shut the door in a congressman’s face.”
Wonderful. “It’s okay. I got drunk and yelled at him in public. Why don’t you let him in and then get us some food?”
“Food?” Her eyes rounded. “You think he wants food? Like…caviar or something?”
These were the situations that Rachel wasn’t good with. “No, Rachel. You don’t need to get him food. You need to get us food. Breakfast. Remember?”
“Yes. Right. Okay,” she squeaked and thundered back down the stairs. There was no way that Drayson couldn’t hear that outside. She sounded like a herd of elephants.
God only knew what he wanted. Maybe he was going to have me arrested. Or sue me. Or maybe he wanted to personally tell me that I’d never work again in Miami.
Was I being sued in addition to being closed down? My stomach turned. I was going to hurl my coffee.
As I heard him slowly climbing up the stairs, I took a deep breath to settle my nerves. Smoothing down my shirt, I realized my hands were shaking and linked them together, pressing both hands to my stomach. I had to keep the coffee down. I didn’t want to have to start the caffeinated process all over again.
He walked in slowly wearing an expensive looking dark suit and a scarlet tie that probably cost more than my car. He was infuriatingly gorgeous.
His gaze roamed over every inch of my tiny office, and I could practically hear what he was thinking when he smirked. I was a nobody pretending that I belonged in the big leagues.
If he called me honey, the apology was off.
“Good morning,” he said, tipping his head down in a friendly manner. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”
Why? Because I looked like something the cat dragged in?
Standing, I tried to reestablish my power over the office that suddenly seemed to belong to him as he stopped in front of my desk. Taking a deep breath, I held out my hand. “Congressman Drayson. I actually just got in, so this is a perfect time. I’m surprised to find you here.”
My voice trembled a little, but at least it didn’t squeak. He took my hand in a warm grasp, but rather than shaking it, he let his fingers slide over my knuckles almost seductively. My heart skipped a beat as something sparked at the touch.
Get it together, Blythe.
“Surprised? Disappointed? You made your disgust of me quite clear,” he murmured as he released my hand.
Hurrying around my desk, I pulled up the small leather chair for him to sit in. Too late, I saw the tear and stuffing sticking out of it. I hoped he didn’t notice.
He did.
As he sat down, I returned to my chair and cleared my throat. “About that. I was actually getting ready to call you this morning. I owe you an apology.”
“Which part were you going to apologize for, Miss Hemsey? The fact that you got drunk first? The accusations that you pinned against me? Or the fact that you bellowed them in public during my private acceptance party?” Damn. His voice was like silk.
Gritting my teeth, I narrowed my eyes. “The first part. And the third.”
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “So you would have rather said them sober and in private?”
That felt like a trap. I was no good at this political stuff. “If you need me to make a public apology, I can do that,” I said finally.
Shrugging, he didn’t confirm or deny. “Do you always keep late business hours?”
I glanced at the clock and blushed. “There was a basketball game at the sports center last night, and it ran late. Because of issues like that, we don’t keep regular hours and usually only take meetings by appointment. Rachel was in about an hour ago.”
“You’re a busy woman. Do you think that you have the time and energy to put into a second project?”
He’d researched me. Wasn’t that interesting? Folding my hands in front of me, I leaned forward and pretended this was nothing more than a business meeting. “The sports complex is fully funded for the next three years. It’s also fully staff
ed with volunteer teachers, coaches, and tutors. Our fundraisers now are just for the perks like new equipment, jerseys, meals for those who need it. I have no intentions of turning my back on it. I don’t plan on moving ahead with the arts project unless I know that it will be just as financially stable. As far as volunteers, I’ve already had interest from more than enough people who are willing to give their time.”
“You’re organized,” he observed as he raked his eyes over my desk. “At least your projects are organized. You’re also motivated. Unfortunately, that only gets you so far. You’re broke.”
Resentment bloomed inside of me. I was broke because of assholes like him. “I had an interested party who would fund fifty percent of what we were asking for, more than enough to secure a building which is currently for sale. The owners have agreed to hold off on marketing the sale for another six weeks. Unfortunately, our benefactor backed out last week.”
“That was the phone call,” he murmured, nodding at something I didn’t understand.
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
Jack ignored the question. “My staff sifts through charitable donation requests. That’s why your information never crossed my desk.”
Not an apology. An excuse.
“Having said that, you certainly have my attention now,” he continued. “My staff will be vetting you over the next week. I’d like you to send over whatever paperwork you have so they can review it. After that’s done, we’ll be able to talk more at length.”
My stomach rumbled. He raised an eyebrow, but I staunchly ignored it. “You’re going to fund me?” I asked carefully. Hirsh’s betrayal still stung, and I didn’t want to immediately jump for joy at Drayson’s offer. For all I knew, this was just a cruel joke to get back at me for embarrassing him.
“My hands are mostly tied in terms of allocation of resources,” he said calmly. “And we’re still reviewing the budget. I cannot and would not give you any promises so early in the stage of our research, but I’m considering giving you my support publicly, which would open more doors to you.”
Spoken like a true politician. Still, I wanted to grasp at the threads he was handing me and cheer. I didn’t even care how desperate that might look.
“Thank you for coming to me, Congressman. If you’ll give me your fax number, I’ll send over the paperwork right away.” And follow up immediately so he couldn’t pull another Hirsh.
He smiled slowly, and my heart skipped a beat. “So unlike the woman who drunkenly stood toe-to-toe with me on Friday.”
Now it was my time to smile. “Don’t mistake me, Congressman Drayson. For the benefits of the kids of Miami, I’ll stand toe-to-toe with you, drunk or sober, any day of the week.”
“I believe that you would.” Standing, he buttoned his jacket and looked around. “You should eat something. Your stomach is distracting. I’ll be in touch, Miss Hemsey.”
He walked out, and it took all of my control not to rush to the window and watch him. I had absolutely no idea what to make of him, but if I had his alliance, that pretty face of his would get me my art center. Jack Drayson didn’t seem like a man who was frequently denied.
Five
Blythe
The sun was high in the sky, and the soft breeze refreshed my senses, bringing the scent of the sea into my nostrils. It wasn’t at all difficult. The beach was just three hundred yards away. The fall had brought relief from the wrathful summer sun. It could not have been a better day to show off my pride and joy to Congressman Drayson.
Jack’s black Mercedes turned left and into the neighborhood of the sports center ten minutes early. “Do you think he’s going to bring his security?”
“It doesn’t look like it,” I replied tersely as I struggled not to nervously tug at my ponytail. Jack’s call early that morning to request a tour didn’t exactly fit into my schedule for today, but it was a step in the right direction. If he wanted a tour, then he must have seen something that he liked in the paperwork I’d sent him.
If we were vetted, then maybe we had his support. For that, I would have rearranged whatever he wanted.
“That’s an awfully nice car he’s driving,” Rachel muttered again and looked worriedly at the neighborhood across the street.
Our youth center wasn’t built in the safest of neighborhoods, but there was no point in building a sports complex for underprivileged youth if the youth couldn’t get to the center. Most of them walked. Those that couldn’t were able to take the bus from school to here and then home again. That wasn’t something we could swing in a more affluent neighborhood. We would have been shut down before we even began.
“Rachel, you’re making me nervous.”
“I can’t help it. It won’t reflect very well if someone steals his car while he’s on tour here. Where is his security?”
I wasn’t all that worried. There was plenty of gang activity in the surrounding neighborhoods, but the majority of the gang members supported the sports complex. I liked to think that most of them wanted better for their kids and siblings. Although I didn’t have proof, there was a surprising lack of criminal activity on the grounds. That was probably because we had their unlikely support.
As Jack unfolded his tall body out of his car, he looked around with narrow eyes, and I could practically hear what he was thinking. “Are you safe here at night?” he demanded.
There was a strange fire in his eyes, and I cleared my throat. “Congressman Drayson. Thank you for joining us today.”
“Cut the crap, Blythe. Are you safe here at night?” he asked again.
I was more than a little surprised by the vehemence in his voice. I didn’t think that my safety was part of his concern.
“We have several local officers who patrol the area when they’re both on- and off-duty. The kids and the volunteers here are safe,” I assured him. I’d prepared a speech to greet him. I wanted to keep things professional. Normally, that shouldn’t be difficult for me, but every time I’d thought about him, it wasn’t in a professional capacity.
Mostly, I’ve been wondering if his body was as hard beneath that suit as I imagined.
“Congressman Drayson,” I tried again.
“Jack. Call me Jack.” He gave me a boyish grin as he held his hand up to shade his eyes from the sun. “I have every intention of calling you Blythe.”
Wonderful. I was already ceding control to him, and we hadn’t even set foot in the building.
Rachel quickly jumped in. “Then I guess that means you should call me Rachel,” she said quickly as she held out her hand. “As Blythe was trying to say, we’re excited to show off Humane Miami Sports Complex to you.”
It was a good thing that Rachel wasn’t in the throes of her earlier dramatics. She gave me enough time to pull myself together. “Follow me, please.” Without waiting for a response, I strode toward the entrance.
“I started working on the idea of the sports complex when I was in college, and I started tackling the project as soon as I opened Humane Miami. It took a year before I could nab Mr. Hirsh. I’m sure that you know he’s the CEO of Hirsh Industries. He gave me a year to raise as much money as I could, and he promised to match what I raised. He also funded the initial money for us to throw fundraisers, and because of his support, we raised all we needed to clear out the abandoned buildings on the block and rebuild. With his addition, we were able to add the full-sized baseball and soccer fields. We didn’t have enough space for a football field, but we could make a small practice field, which is working out well. If we receive the accreditation that we’re hoping for, the teams will play on other school fields.”
Jack was silent as we walked down the short hall from the entrance. “There are two entrances into the building. These are the offices that Rachel and I share. We also added an office here for our security volunteers. For safety reasons, we do have some interior and exterior cameras, although we only view them if there’s a problem. The footage links to the computer in the office.”
Rachel a
nd I led him up a short flight of stairs. I could already hear the laughter and shouts and the echoes of a ball bouncing. “We have one basketball court outside that’s open for anyone who wants to start up a game. The inside court has designated hours for high-school athletes who want to train. It’s also used for intermural games, and if we can get an accreditation for the community schools, it’ll be used for our team. During undesignated hours, like right now, it’s good for people who want to play when it’s too hot out.”
Opening the door, I stepped in. There was a group of six players enjoying a game. “We’re very strict about the grounds being used during school hours. We don’t tolerate truancy. High school students get out first, but most of our kids are in middle and elementary school. They should be over running the place in about an hour,” I said as I glanced at the clock.
“Hey, Miss B! There aren’t any sandwiches in the fridge,” one of the players called out.
“Sorry, Jay. The fridge is actually on the fritz. There’s a cooler on the floor on the other side of the room. You’ll find the sandwiches there.”
“Cool, cool. Who’s the suit?”
The basketball bounced from the hands of one of the players and rolled in our direction. Jack reached down and picked it up. “Jay, this is Congressman Drayson. He wanted a tour of the facility.”
“A congressman, huh?” he cackled. “You play, suit?”
A smile tugged at the corners of Jack’s lips. “It’s been a while, but I’m not unfamiliar with the game.”
“Oh, yeah? Let’s see what you got, suit!” The other players started cheering. I stepped forward to make excuses for Jack, but to my surprise, he put the ball down and stripped off his jacket. Eyes wide, Rachel took it. Bending down, he retrieved the ball and started dribbling it.
Realizing I was missing a great PR opportunity for my business, I tapped the video camera on my phone.
“What are you doing?” Rachel whispered.
“For the blog,” I whispered back.
“And if they humiliate him on the court?”
His Rise to Power: Book 1 Page 3