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My arms encircle her, one grabbing her hip and the other snaking into her hair as I kiss her back. My tongue demands entrance, which she gives, parting her lips as a little moan escapes her throat.
I’m aware of cameras flashing around us, and various gasps and giggles, followed by light applause.
Then we’re breaking apart, and the moment is over.
Fumi turns to beam at a supremely pissed-off Emily. “Sorry, was there anything else you had questions about?”
“I…” Emily scowls. “No. I think that’s all.”
Without another word, she turns on her heel and storms off into the crowd. Fumi turns back to face me as I raise one brow.
“What was that?”
My body tenses as she leans up into me again, her lips nearing my ear while looking like she’s kissing my cheek.
“That was called acting.”
She pulls away, and that besotted look in her eyes that I saw when Emily was watching clicks off, like someone flipping a light switch. Then it’s just regular Fumi looking back at me, her shoulders lifting casually.
“Playing my part, right?”
My brows knit. “I see.”
“Also, your guest list tonight is rather…lacking.”
“Sorry, what?” Meredith interjects as she walks over. “I can promise you, Ms. Yamaguchi, the guest list tonight has been painstakingly selected for maximum?—”
“Where’s Ed Lee?”
Meredith frowns. “Excuse me?”
“Or Wendy Kanemoto? How about Kevin Wu? They’re?—”
“Yes, I’m aware who the larger Asian players in the caucus are, Ms. Yamaguchi.” Meredith gives her a tight smile. “Ms. Kanemoto and Mr. Wu were obviously invited. But with their busy schedules?—”
“See, that’s why you invite Ed Lee.”
Meredith looks pissed. “Ed Lee, the”…her brows knit tighter as she starts tapping on her phone… “alderman?”
“Yep.”
My campaign manager arches a brow. “All respect, Fumi, I’m really quite good at my job. Aldermen don’t swing state-wide elections.”
“No, of course not,” Fumi smiles sardonically. “But that particular alderman plays weekend pickup basketball with Kevin Wu of the tenth district. And his sister’s husband is a cousin of Wendy Kanemoto, of the sixth. If you’d invited Ed, he’d have brought two of the most influential party members from two of the biggest Asian voting districts in the state. It’s amazing how people’s schedules open up when they know their friends will also be at an event. But I’m sure you knew all that,” Fumi smiles. “You’re very good at your job.”
Without another word, she lifts her glass in salute, turns, and walks away, her violet dress swishing around her ass in a way I really don’t need it to right now.
I pull my attention back to Meredith, whose mouth is hanging open. “She’s…”
“Good,” Meredith finishes. “Very good, actually.” She turns to give me a small smile and a cocked brow. “We’ll have to work on that bitchy chip on her shoulder, but…” She shrugs. “I like her a lot.” She smirks at me. “Hope you can keep up, boss.”
Yeah…
I turn and manage one more glimpse of Fumi before she vanishes into the crowd.
Me too.
15
