Innocent (Inequitable Trilogy Book 2)

by Lesli Richardson

  She’s a vicious attorney with a track record that would make any opposing counsel tuck their tails and run if they discovered they were going up against her. Her previous public gig was as chief of staff to former Tennessee governor George Forrester, her best friend’s widower and her law practice partner. By all public counts, he’s also her best and oldest friend, him and his husband, Declan, who was her deputy chief of staff while Governor Forrester was in office. George Forrester and Casey-Marie Blaine met back in college, when Casey was roommates with Ellen, who eventually married George. She worked on his campaigns, too.

  George Forrester is also close friends with Susa Evans—Benchley’s daughter. This much I knew, because of George and Susa’s shared ordeal almost fifteen years ago. George Forrester isn’t merely the former governor of Tennessee—he’s a celebrity due to surviving a plane crash and being shipwrecked for several weeks. Him and Susa Evans, both. The plane crash killed George’s wife and half the governors and other high-ranking state executives, and their spouses, from all over the Southeast.

  The tragedy consumed not just Tallahassee, but all of the nation, and even the world. Also made headlines because of George and Susa’s miracle rescue after several weeks, along with a couple of other survivors, when everyone assumed they’d died. I remember seeing Casey and Carter on TV during press conferences, because the two attorneys ended being de facto spokespersons for the group of family members overseas during the search and rescue process.

  I well remember all the news coverage about the plane crash that killed Ellen Forrester, because I was in high school and living with Mimi by then. The miraculous rescue made headlines all over the world. In school, all the teachers had their classroom TVs tuned to the press conferences once the rescue was announced.

  Casey’s fifty-six but definitely doesn’t look it, and not because of a plastic surgeon’s help, either. If I didn’t know her age, I’d guess her to be under fifty and closer to forty. Her honey-blonde hair has hints of grey in it, but if she’s coloring it, she’s got a damned good hairdresser who’s perfectly matching it. There are a few lines around her eyes, but she obviously avoided a lot of sun in her younger years, and likely religiously applied moisturizer. She wears wire-rimmed glasses with round frames. Behind them, her brown eyes appear keen and all-seeing.

  Breakfast has already been brought up. A selection of typical fare, along with coffee, juice, and water sits, on two room service carts. She points me to the other chair at the table and we sit.

  “First of all, let me assure you I’m not recording this meeting in any way,” she tells me. “I expect full discretion and privacy from you, and will offer you the same in return. Whatever is said within these four walls today is to never be repeated, unless we both agree. Deal?”

  “Deal.” We start fixing ourselves plates.

  She studies me. “Who’s the Top in your triad?”

  My eyes widen. “I-I’m sorry?”

  Her amused snort is one hundred percent Leo, or Chris. “Come on. Please. After I talked to Carter yesterday, between his subtext and a quick search through a few photo archives, it wasn’t difficult to puzzle out. It’s you, Elliot Woodley, and Leo Cruz. Am I correct?”

  I nod, my face heating. I haven’t felt this flustered in a long time. Definitely not since returning to Washington as Elliot’s Sir.

  She wears a quirky smile. “I need to know this before we go any further, because I know darn well there are…unique power dynamics at play. I want the full backstory. Quid pro quo, I’m in one of my own. So’s Carter. There are others out there, but not saying anything about them. I know Shae knows about Carter, Owen, and Susa. And, obviously, I know about Shae, Kev, and Chris.”

  With that said, of course I tell her.

  Everything. From the very beginning.

  Including detailing our separation, reconciliation, and the resulting new world order.

  When I finish, she studies me for a moment as she chews a bite of hash browns. “Plans for any of you to get married during Elliot’s first or second terms?”

  “Not right now. I know if Elliot asked Leo, he’d say yes.”

  “Of course he would. He’d be an idiot not to, after waiting him out all these years, bless his heart.” She looks at me. “And how would that make you feel?”

  “I love them. If they got married, it’d be the easiest way for us all to have more time together. Logistics would become infinitely easier.”

  “Wouldn’t feel jealous?”

  “No. We’re past that point.”

  “You sure?”

  I nod. “Absolutely.”

  She studies me for a moment. “Elliot proposes to Leo and fires you, out of the blue. You’re out in the cold. What then?”

  A nasty little tendril tries to snake its way around my heart like evil kudzu. It feeds upon my memories of our separation and what led to it. It’s fertilized by the anxieties and rejection and secret inadequacies that haunt my psyche.

  Then I take a deep breath and spray it all down with mental Agent Orange. She’s testing me. “I know that won’t happen. Even if it were to happen, I wouldn’t nuke the site from orbit, if that’s what you mean.”

  She arches an eyebrow at me. “That’s what I mean.”

  “I love them both enough to walk away, if I have to. I did it once before when, by all rights, I could have ruined not only them, but Shae, Chris and Kev. I think that proves I’m a mature adult. After nearly eight years in the White House, I am not lacking in employment opportunities. I could write my own paycheck at any number of political consulting firms, and have already turned down several mid-six-figure salary offers.”

  She changes directions on me. “What about Elliot’s current chief of staff? What’s his deal?”

  “We don’t officially have one. Elliot’s last chief of staff had a heart attack. Lyle, Elliot’s deputy chief of staff, stepped in as acting chief, but he’s already flat-refused to do it if Elliot’s elected POTUS. Ben, who’s currently Kev’s deputy, would prefer to be not-it.” I tell her about Kev and his conditions, too.

  She smirks. “Shittiest job in Washington. Can’t say I blame them.”

  “I can’t, either.”

  “What about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “For chief of staff?”

  I snort. “I don’t pretend I’m even remotely qualified to take that job. No way.”

  “You know people and things.”

  “I also know what I don’t know. Which is way more than what I do know. I serve Elliot best where I am. He needs someone qualified as his chief of staff.”

  “Exactly how’d a design grad student who didn’t finish his master’s end up not only as the body man to the president-elect, but trying to find him a chief of staff?”

  I know that’s more rhetorical than anything, because I told her our history. She’s looking for the why rather than the how.

  I shrug. “I serve at the pleasure of the vice president. I’m going to take care of my boy in whatever capacity he needs me. Never saw myself in politics, but apparently I have a…” I consider it. “I have a good disguise. Everyone thinks I’m an innocent.”

  She practically cackles. “You sure do. You are absolutely right about that. You’re also not the only one with a damn good disguise around here.”

  We eat, we talk, and she bounces questions off me from all angles until I quit trying to follow her train of thought and realize I’m simply along for the ride. I’m not an attorney and she obviously is.

  Whatever her point, she’ll make it in her time, not mine. I also fully understand she’s not the one being interviewed this morning.

  I am. And Elliot, by proxy, through me.

  I’m fine with that. I know her bona fides. She has nothing to prove to me.

  She’s also the one doing me a favor by being here in the first place, especially on such short notice.

  Once we’ve finished eating, she sits back. “Any questions for me so far?”<
br />
  “I appreciate you traveling to see me like this, but why today? I hope this hasn’t inconvenienced you.”

  She grins. “Like I said, I was bored. Even worse, George was a little bored and getting kind of feisty. Don’t get me wrong. I love my men, but I’ve always been someone able to live on her own and not need a partner up her asscrack all the fricking time. This was a delightful and guilt-free escape from them for a couple of days.”

  “A couple of days?”

  “Oh, you thought we’d be done after our chat if I say yes? That’s adorable, sweetie. Bless your heart.” She sips her coffee.

  I laugh and can’t even feel insulted by her snark.

  Her grin widens. “You’re easy-going. I like that.”

  “Why is that important? You’d be Elliot’s chief.”

  She shrugs. “I take this job, it’s going to be you and me shoulder-to-shoulder on a daily basis. Want to make sure you’re not a narcissistic, egotistic asshole I’ll be butting heads with.” She motions to me with her fingers, so much like the “come here” gesture Leo uses that it almost makes me shiver. “Give me your bottom line, hon. Hypothetically, if I take this job, lay down the law to me. Do not hold back.”

  “Seriously?”

  She nods. “Seriously. Don’t bullshit me, either. Don’t tell me what you think I want to hear—tell me what you want to say if there are zero ramifications of saying it. No harm, no foul. I want a no-filter, in-my-face, zero-fucks-left, shoe-pounding-the-table declaration. As if Elliot’s won the election, obviously.”

  “Shoe-pounding?”

  She laughs. “Sorry. That one’s a little dated, I know. Google it later.” Her smile fades. “Hit me, Jordan.”

  I think about it for a long moment and realize the only way I can phrase this is with the full honesty she’s demanding. If I’m going to piss her off, best I do it now, in secret, with no one the wiser and no repercussions.

  I look her in the eyes and drop into Sir mode. “Elliot’s my boy. I know he’ll be running the country and will swear an oath on a Bible in front of the world to uphold and defend the Constitution. My first loyalty, however, is to Elliot Woodley, and I don’t give a shit what my oath of office as a federal employee says. I will do whatever it takes to protect Elliot, even if it means throwing Leo or anyone else under the bus in the process.

  “You might think you’re working for Elliot and at the pleasure of the president, but the truth is, you’re working for me. His calendar goes through me. Contact and face-time goes through me. Unless I’ve stated otherwise, or it’s a national emergency, you go through me. The only thing above my head is NatSec.

  “I am Elliot’s gate-keeper. I won’t fight you doing your job, duh, because he’s POTUS. I want to work with you to make both our jobs easier. If there’s something going on with him, and I need to get him behind closed doors for a couple of minutes for a reset, I’ll verbally backhand you in the SitRoom in front of the Joint Chiefs, if I have to, to do what’s best for my boy. You and I will come up with a few secret signals of our own, and I’ll tell you all the ones I currently have with Elliot, so we can easily manage that process in secret.

  “I am absolutely not interested in having a pissing contest with you, or making your job difficult. I don’t want your job. I have a job—Elliot is my job. I want us to be able to work together easily, as a team. And I warn you now, if you fuck my boy over, I don’t give a shit how many connections you have, or how powerful you think you are, because I’ll find a way to make you regret it. I have no interest in running for office, ever. Once Elliot’s a private citizen again, believe me, I’m looking forward to handing the reins back to Leo full-time and enjoying our privacy. But I made a promise to Elliot, and I’m damn sure going to keep it.”

  She listens to all of that with her head cocked. “What about Leo?”

  “What about him?”

  “He’s Sir to both of you.”

  “Not when it comes to work, he’s not. He’s hands-off. I’m in charge. Until Elliot’s a private citizen, the only time Leo’s in charge of Elliot is behind a locked bedroom door, and he knows and accepts that. Leo absolutely will not override anything I say when it comes to Elliot and his job.”

  I don’t understand her amused grin. “Guess what?”

  “What?”

  She reaches across the table. “Congratulations. You just hired yourself a chief of staff. When it’s you and me alone, always feel free to be that blunt with me. I respect you for it. Just be advised I won’t hesitate to be that blunt with you, either. Or with him. I’m nobody’s yes-man.”

  Confused, I shake with her. “Um, thank you?”

  “Yes, I’ll tell you why, because I’m sure you’re curious.” She pours herself another cup of coffee first.

  Then, her smile fades. “Because you are loyal, and you are dedicated, and you’re not in this for yourself. I don’t want to deal with some political crony looking to feather his cap, who’s going to waste time trying to screw me over or play games for their own reasons. I’m not interested in running for office, either. I like being the power behind the throne. Your agenda and mine dovetail nicely. It sounds like I won’t have to worry about some messy personal wrestling match for control erupting between the three of you. But I have a condition.”

  “Okay.”

  “Right now, I’ll only guarantee you two years as chief of staff. We’ll look at it again closer to that, whether or not I stay longer. I’ll be bringing Declan on board as my deputy chief of staff, before we lose your Ben guy. So Declan can get acclimated. We can name Dec a special deputy advisor to the chief of staff, or something, in the interim.

  “When I’ve finally had my fill of the job, however long that is, Declan can take over. At least for a couple of years. He’ll still be plenty young enough to have the energy to do the job, too. At that point, we’ll have a better idea who to move into his position, once Declan’s ready to quit. If he doesn’t want to run out the clock and stay there with Elliot, that is. Provided, of course, Elliot’s elected in the first place, and then re-elected.”

  “He will be.”

  “I like that you’re so cocky about his chances.”

  I shrug. “Not cocky if it’s true. Poll numbers are there, and Kev’s got this under control for us. We’ve followed his strategy, and he’s been right every time. You think Declan will say yes?”

  She grins. “Honey, my boy will do whatever I tell him to do. George is more than bored enough that a move to DC will be fun for him.” She shakes her head but her smile has returned. “Time that sadist retires from law for good and takes up a hobby besides Declan and me. National politics could be a good distraction for him. He’s had offers to be a lobbyist and we’ve never been able to make him take them before. Maybe now he’ll want to dabble. Lucky for you, none of us need the damn money, and Dec and I can afford to take this job in the first place.”

  Her smile fades again. “Care to hear a piece of advice from an old political hack?”

  “Always.”

  She leans forward, her voice developing a softly sharp edge that sends shivers through me, for some reason. “You’re truly in the big leagues now. You need to be willing to kill or die for Elliot to protect him. Love isn’t going to be nearly enough. You must be willing to have blood in the game. VP doesn’t get a fraction of the attention POTUS does.

  “I don’t mean throwing yourself in front of a bullet like Kevin Markos did that time. Which, while admirable and heroic, is only one aspect of serving your president. I mean you might be forced one day to metaphorically gut Leo to protect Elliot. Or, you might one day be forced to throw yourself on the sword to take the heat off Elliot.” Her gaze holds mine. “Can you do that?”

  I nod. “Leo expects that of me, too.”

  “But can you do it?”

  Can I?

  I think about Elliot’s eyes staring up at me that afternoon on Air Force Two, when he pleaded with me to take this job.

  I think abo
ut the smiles he gives me, reserved only for me.

  Smiles he never gave Leo.

  I think about how much I love Leo, and how much he loves me…and Elliot.

  I think about how much I love Elliot.

  And how much he loves me.

  “I will do it, if forced to. I will protect Elliot at all costs, even to the expense of myself or Leo.”

  She nods. “Good. I think you actually mean it, too.”

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  It’s a few minutes past noon when I return to the West Wing after a stop by the Secret Service’s office to arrange Casey’s visitor pass. Elliot knows I had a meeting this morning, but I didn’t tell him anything beyond he had to trust me and not freak out that I would be out of pocket for several hours.

  Fortunately, he had a couple of meetings and conference calls this morning that I wouldn’t have been much use at, anyway. I’ll go through the readouts and talk to Lyle and Suzanne to see if there are any schedule additions or modifications as a result.

  This means I catch up with Elliot as he’s coming into his scheduled lunch break. When I walk into his inner office and lock the door behind me, he looks relieved as hell to see me. He has his lunch on his desk, and it must have just been delivered, since he hasn’t started eating yet.

  He’s also stressed the fuck out. I haven’t even made the hand gesture and he’s already out of his chair and down on the floor in front of me.

  My poor boy. He’s overwhelmed right now, and I get it. This is a huge change coming, obviously. We’ll be on the road a lot more over the next couple of months, with hardly any time to see Leo.

  I step around him and sit in his chair so I can massage his head. “Got some good news for you.”

  He leans against me, eyes closed, and arms wrapped around my lower legs. “What’s that, Sir?”

  “Just hired you a chief of staff.”

  That’s enough to make him look up in surprise. “You did? Who?”

  I tell him, and his eyes widen. “Holy smokes, really?”

  “Really. She’ll stop by later this afternoon to be properly introduced to you.”