They chuckled, then Chanel hurried to speak up. “I can assure you that those photos were not manipulated. That is the president, for sure.”
“Chanel is right. That is, indeed, our president with his mouth all over that woman. I’m appalled.”
Just then, the door to the Oval Office flew open. Andrew and Sam rushed in, as if someone had been chasing them.
“We . . . We have a serious problem, Mr. President,” Andrew said, stuttering.
“You’re damn right we do.”
15
Vice President Tyler McNeil
“I told you that pretty black bitch would come through for us, didn’t I?” Speaker Robinson said while rocking in a chair. We were gathered around on my grandfather’s back porch, discussing Stephen. A fire pit was lit and a chess game was in the middle of the table that was surrounded by the chairs we relaxed in.
“Yes, Chanel definitely put his business out there in a major way,” I said. “I didn’t think she would do it, but let’s see how he responds.”
“It doesn’t matter how he responds,” my grandfather hissed while displaying his white, bushy brows that were arched inward. “The American people won’t go for this. Many will ask for him to step down right away, and you need to haul ass back to Capitol Hill and make sure every member of the Republican Party speaks out about this. The more noise we make, the better.”
“I will do what I can on my end, but keep in mind that many are still catching hell from their constituents about what Roy said.” I looked at Roy. “I can’t believe that you never suspected Stephen would have a recorder. And now that you’re out, do you think that Senator Bass will be able to keep the majority of our party in line?”
My grandfather quickly spoke up, after spitting out tobacco. “She’d better keep her fat, freckled-faced ass in line, for sure, or else we’ll get someone in there who can hold our caucus together. Roy, I’m damn disappointed in you too. It has always been our motive to take down that nigger, not for him to cause you to lose your fucking job. I’m getting nervous about this, and you’d better hope that those photos are enough to shake things up. I must admit that with a physique like Mr. President’s, he surely would have been a darn good slave for my kinfolk.”
He and Roy laughed.
“For mine too,” Roy said, then coughed. “I reckon that the Republican Party will hold it together, no matter who’s in charge. And for God’s sake, forgive me. I didn’t know that bastard had sense enough to be that slick, but I can still do some damage behind the scenes. I intend to still lead behind closed doors, and I already warned every single Republican about the consequences of wavering when it comes to that fool’s agenda.”
“As long as they know,” my grandfather said, “there will be consequences. Remind them of that, Tyler, and thank you for getting those pictures. This is as big as his dick. We are going to use everything we have to our advantage.”
“Getting those pictures was like taking candy from a baby. I almost took something else too when I saw the first lady in her nightgown, looking sweet and sexy that night. Luckily for her, I don’t screw around with women of her caliber. But she had me pretty darn close to changing my mind.”
My grandfather’s face tightened. “Just the thought of it makes my skin crawl. And you’re doggone right that you don’t screw women of her caliber. The blood that runs through her veins is tainted. You don’t want to mix it with our blood, and God help you if you ever do.”
I chuckled at my grandfather’s dislike of others; I had heard it for many years. “No worries, Grandpa. I assure you, no worries.”
Roy laughed, then started to cough again. Normally, he was able to control his cough, but this time, his hacking got louder and louder. Spit flew from his mouth as he covered it with his fist, and his whole face started to turn red.
“Roy, are you okay?” my grandfather shouted as he jumped to his feet. He grabbed his cane and started hitting Roy on the back with it. I, on the other hand, delivered sharp blows to his shoulder blade with the palm of my hand. It didn’t seem to help much, and when Roy tumbled to the ground, my grandfather glared at me with terrified eyes.
“Call 911. Now!”
16
President of the United States, Stephen C. Jefferson
Andrew and I were running around, trying to do some damage control. The first person I went to was Raynetta. She was the one who had those photos. I wanted to know who she got them from, and if there were anymore. She sat stone-faced with her arms crossed, revealing an attitude.
“As intelligent as you are,” she said, “you also have some rather dumb tendencies too. I warned you about those photos, but you blew them off as if they weren’t a big deal. Claire got those photos for me because I asked for them. Whoever removed them from our bedroom, they took all of them.”
“I didn’t come here for you to insult me. And why would you ask Claire for pictures like that anyway? I haven’t denied anything that I’ve done, and if you’re curious about something, all you have to do is ask. Now, because of your actions, I have a problem. I can’t believe what Chanel did, but payback will be a motherfucker.”
Raynetta laughed and shook her head. “You can’t believe it? Is that what you just said? Well, I can believe it. I know a snake when I see one, and it’s a shame that you keep missing the mark. I’m sure you will manage to make her pay for what she has done, but how does this look, Stephen? How do you think this makes me feel? I just don’t get it, and you still have the nerve to arrogantly stand there and not even apologize to me.”
“What good is saying I’m sorry going to do for us right now, especially when you already know how much I regret that our marriage is failing? Meanwhile, I have to get control of this situation. Is there any chance that you removed one of those photos, just one, before someone took them all? Maybe you put one in a drawer or hid it somewhere else. What about Claire? Can you find out from her if she has anymore in her possession?”
Raynetta shrugged. “What I had was stolen. I’ll give Claire a call, but I doubt that she kept any with her.”
“Please call and let me know. I’m going back to the Oval Office so I can prepare a statement in the Press Briefing Room about these unfortunate killings and make mention of those photos. I don’t have much time, but anything you can do, other than insult me, would really help.”
Raynetta cut her eyes at me before I walked away. I returned to the Oval Office, and as I began to prepare my statement, Tyler rushed in. His shirt was wrinkled, and his hair was spiked and out of place. He appeared severely on edge—sweat spots were visible on his face, as well as on his clothes.
“It’s the Speaker,” he said, barely able to catch his breath. “He was just rushed to the hospital. Had a massive heart attack, and isn’t expected to make it.”
I calmly laid my pen on my desk. “Who? Former Speaker Robinson?”
“Yes, Speaker Robinson.”
I shrugged while looking at Tyler with a blank expression. “I’m curious. What in the hell do you want me to do?”
Tyler blinked his teary eyes. “I . . . I just thought you may want to know. That way, you can release some kind of statement in support of him. He has served in this institution for many years, Stephen. It would send the right message, if you wouldn’t mind showing some concern for his status.”
I didn’t know what to say, other than . . . “Get the fuck out of here. He didn’t serve anybody but himself and the wealthy while in this institution. Meanwhile, many Americans continue to suffer. I will not waste my breath on saying anything about him, but I will say this to you. You reap what you sow. If he dies, he dies. His ass was casket ready anyway, and may he finally rest in peace.”
Tyler scratched his head and narrowed his eyes while gazing at me as if I had said something wrong. His frown annoyed me, and as he continued to speak fondly of the Speaker, all I did was listen in.
“Maybe you’re confused, Stephen. You fail to realize that Roy has done a lot for this coun
try over the years. He has made some very tough decisions and has put up with a heap of crap from other presidents, as well as from members of his own party. It will be a sad day on Capitol Hill if he dies. None of us can deny that.”
“I can, and I will, because it will be a joyous day in the White House. Now, if you don’t mind, I have an important speech to prepare. If you want to prepare one on Speaker Robinson’s behalf, feel free to do so, and deliver it after I’m done.”
Tyler didn’t like my response. He abruptly left my office, and minutes later, Andrew came in to inform me about Speaker Robinson as well. He too felt as if I should acknowledge the Speaker’s situation and offer my condolences.
“The one thing I am not is a phony. I will not stand at that podium today and recite loving words about the Speaker that do not apply. I will not mention his name, and if I decide to, I will offend his wife and children. You don’t want me to do that, so please get out of my office and go tell Sam that I will be speaking to the press this afternoon.”
He nodded. “Will do, Mr. President. I apologize for interrupting you.”
I liked Andrew a lot. He knew when to push and when not to. And the second he left my office, I got a call from Raynetta.
“One,” she said. “All Claire has is one. I don’t know why she held on to it, but you are welcome to it.”
“Thank you. And just so you know, I am sorry.”
Raynetta ended the call without responding. Minutes later, I obtained the photo from her, and then continued to prepare my speech. My mother called in the midst of me finishing, but I was too busy to take her call.
* * *
Less than an hour later, the Press Briefing Room was crowded with wall-to-wall reporters who couldn’t wait to hear what I had to say. They didn’t care how late it was—none would miss the opportunity to show glee in their eyes in hopes that I would deliver an announcement about stepping down. But showing all of the confidence that I could, I stepped to the podium, addressing all that had happened in one day.
“Good evening and thanks to everyone for being here. It has been a very sad day for this country, and I offer my sincere condolences and prayers to the families of every brave soldier who lost their lives due to gun violence, to the families of another innocent black man who was killed by cops who continue to believe they are above the law, and to the families of the police officers whose lives ended tragically due to cowards. I can’t stress enough that our country has to do better. Terrorism exists right here at home, and blood from our brothers and sisters are on the hands of every member of Congress, including myself. Every time we choose to ignore the serious racism problems in this country, hatred grows, people take sides, and we continue to be divided. Hardworking police officers who are determined to do a good job are targeted, and the end result is exactly what happened today.
“There are plenty of things that Congress can do to assist with some of these unfortunate matters, and as your president, I will fight to make sure we get the ball rolling. Meanwhile, there are also things that the American people can do to help us change course and put an end to some of these very tragic incidents. One, if you notice someone spewing hate and threatening lives on social media, report it. Two, if you know of anyone with a mental illness who seems unstable and has possession of a firearm, don’t be afraid to reach out and get help. If you work for a police department and you see or notice people within the same department who have hatred for other races, especially for black men and women who continue to be the main targets, go to your supervisors. If your supervisors share the same hate, don’t hesitate to call the Department of Justice. My administration created a call center that is able to handle concerns about all of these issues. We will thoroughly review each report and follow up on it. Your name will remain anonymous.
“As Americans, we have to be brave. We have to stand for others, even when they don’t look like us or share the same views as we do. We have to speak up when we know things are not right, and hold those who are wrong accountable. We also have to demand that our government do whatever is possible to prevent people who should not have guns, from having them. With an all-hands-on-deck effort, we can, and will, begin to create a new America.
“Finally, I know some of you have concerns about photos that were seen today on many of your televisions, computers . . . what have you. The man in those photos is undeniably me, and the woman in the photos was the one who decided to put our personal business out there on her nightly show. The photos were doctored to hide her identity, but since it’s out there in the open now, then we must tell the full truth. For many reasons that revolve around very unfortunate situations with my wife, I have been unfaithful to her. Not once, however, have I ever had sexual relations with a prostitute or stripper.
“My wife is well aware of the individuals I’ve been with, and I ask no one to define me based on the flaws in my marriage, but rather on what I can, and will, do for our nation. Judge me on that alone, or judge me not. I will not elaborate further on this private matter, but I will conclude with this. Anyone looking or hoping for me to step down, go ahead and wipe your tears because that will not happen today.” I looked into the audience at the reporters who all looked to be frozen. “You all can breathe now. And two questions are all I will take.”
I called on one reporter who was sitting up close.
“Mr. President, many people probably feel that you owe a better explanation and an apology to the American people for what our eyes witnessed today. If you’re not committed to your wife, how can you be committed to getting things done for the American people?”
I just stared at the fool for a few seconds. “I guess you didn’t hear me when I said I wasn’t going to elaborate more on that subject. But just so you know, the only person who will get an apology from me is my wife.”
I looked past Michelle Peoples who had been staring at me ever since I stepped up to the podium. Called on a reporter who sat directly behind her.
“Mr. President, I like the idea of having a call center for people to reach out to, and there really isn’t much else for us to say on that subject. What I would like to know is how the first lady feels about all of this. Also, there are plenty of women with shows on the nightly news. Can you tell us the woman’s name in the photos?”
I didn’t have time for this—really, I didn’t. The media didn’t understand what was really important and what wasn’t. But just for the hell of it, I removed from my pocket one of the most salacious photos there were of me and Chanel . . . held it in my hand, then flicked it into the audience.
“Any more questions on that subject matter, ask her.”
Many reporters scrambled to get the photo. And as they examined it, I walked out.
17
President of the United States, Stephen C. Jefferson
As expected, the news spun for the next forty-eight hours, and then everyone was on to the next big stories, which were Speaker Robinson’s death and Chanel Hamilton being fired. I too had lost some support, but I knew what I had to do to gain it back. I sat with Andrew, discussing ways that I could do just that.
“You need to work harder on gun control,” he said. “And as you mentioned before, now is the time for you to go out there and walk the streets with people of color who feel as if this country is against them. There will be time for us to meet with leaders from other countries, but we must take care of America first. We’re losing right now, and you have an opportunity to use all of that energy inside of you in a positive way.”
I nodded with my hands clenched behind my head. “I feel the same way. Senator Bass and I are scheduled to meet, again, tomorrow. And from what I’ve heard, she’s got some good news for me.”
“I’m hearing the same. Maybe people are feeling some kind of way after Roy’s death—I’m not sure. But his funeral is tomorrow. We’ll all be in attendance. I guess I don’t have to ask if you will be there.”
“Don’t ask, because you already know. Thanks for everythi
ng and let me know if you hear anything from Tyler. I know he’s been busy trying to console people who are grieving the Speaker’s death, and he mentioned something about going to see his father. We haven’t spoken much lately, and I’m starting to feel, even more, that there is something wrong with him.”
“I’ve had that feeling for a long time, but we’ll discuss it later. Meanwhile, why don’t you get out of this office and go get some fresh air? I don’t think you’ve left this office in two days, have you?”
“I have, but not for long. Just working on some things; things that are very important. But getting some fresh air sounds good. I just may do that later.”
“Good. And stay away from Chanel Hamilton. She’s very upset about losing her job. She’s been trying to reach you, but I figured that you didn’t have much to say to her.”
“I don’t, but the next time she calls or wants to stop by, please allow her to. The harm has been done, and the only person she hurt was herself.”
Andrew nodded, then left my office a few minutes later. I started to review some classified information that was given to me earlier from the director of National Intelligence. Terror attacks were on the rise, but we now had major capabilities to shut down many of those attacks. That was a good thing. The bad thing was a possible war brewing. Countries that used to be our allies were now our enemies. The backlash happened before I became president, and many felt that I wasn’t the kind of president who was capable of mending fences. That was false. I was more than willing to meet with anyone. My tone would remain as is, and any leader who disrespected the United States would be cussed the fuck out and never allowed to step on American soil again.
I was in deep thought, wondering if I should reach out to Michelle. She had left me numerous messages since the other day. The real reason I hadn’t reached out to her was not because of Raynetta. She was still acting nasty toward me, and we were barely speaking to each other. I hadn’t called because I had been extremely busy. I also knew that many people were watching my every move, and Michelle was the kind of woman that I didn’t want involved in any scandals. There were already people who knew too much, and she definitely had her plate full with her husband. We hadn’t talked that much about him, but in her last message, she sounded tearful. She expressed that she was going to finally call it quits with him. All she wanted to do was talk to someone who could make her feel better about her decision. I wasn’t sure if I was the one who could do it, but I decided to finally return her call. She answered immediately.
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