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“No, you love me sweet thing,” was my fevered reply. “We’re made for each other, however unlikely. Because sweetheart, you’re the good to my bad, the heaven to my hell. You’re what keeps me going when I have nothing to look forward to. Shit, you made tonight’s dinner that much better by showing up.”
And for a moment, Susie stills, just looking at me.
“So you didn’t order your lawyer to prepare that NDA?” she asks in a teary voice. “That was his idea and not yours?”
“His,” I nod curtly. “And fuck but I’m gonna tear him a new one. Or whoever organized this shitshow because honey, you know the White House is a machine. It’s called the Deep State and fuck, but I have no idea myself how it works sometimes. Someone ordered something from somewhere and that piece of crap NDA is the result. But someone’s gonna pay, I can guarantee you that.”
The brunette relaxed a little bit, her curvy form going still beneath me.
“So you never wanted to shut me up,” she said quietly, a hitch to her voice. “It’s all a misunderstanding.”
Fuck, I didn’t know what to say. It was more than a misunderstanding. It was a giant clusterfuck which wires were crossed in the worst ways possible. No wonder nothing ever gets done around this shithole! I didn’t order the contract drawn up and yet somehow, my personal lawyer had come up with this grand idea from who knows where. Probably the Office of Professional Ethics, those asshats. They always think they know what they’re doing, when in fact they’re the new SS come to life.
So I looked deep into Susie’s eyes, imbuing the gaze with everything I felt for the woman.
“I’m so sorry,” was my growl. “I never asked for this. I never wanted things to get screwed up in this manner. In fact, I’ve only been thinking of you, and trying to figure out a way to get back up to the Flamingo. It’s been a hellish couple months to say the least.”
She gazed back at me, the caramel eyes still a little wary but at least the raging fear and anger were gone.
“Okay,” Susie said while taking a deep breath. “I get it. Okay.”
I levered myself off her body before pulling her close to my side.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” came my murmur again. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you or make you feel bad in any way. In fact, I love you. You’re the only one who means something to me in this cesspool of a city, and you don’t even live here,” I said wryly. “What I wouldn’t do to move back to Manhattan right now.”
She looked at me, before turning to face my form with those soft curves undulating.
“But you can move back,” she said in a gentle voice. “It’s not impossible.”
I let out a sharp bark.
“Are you kidding sweetheart? Not since Richard Nixon has a President of the United States resigned from office. I don’t exactly want to follow in the steps of Tricky Dick, if you get what I mean.”
She shook her head.
“Yes, I get it,” the female spoke. “But you’re so unhappy. Doesn’t that count for something? You can’t live life like this, stewing non-stop in your fancy suits. It’s not worth it Thomas. Life isn’t meant to be lived like this.”
I took a deep breath because how could I make her understand? I’m the President, for crying out loud. How could I just turn my back on the people who had elected me?
But on the other hand, Susie had a point. I hate my life. I hate getting up in the morning, my heart heavy with dread. I hate putting on these goddamn suits that all look the same, while making nice with diplomats who can’t wait until I’m gone. I hate the cameras, the endless news coverage, and the media barons, all who want to bring me down. I hate them all. So to my own surprise, I nodded.
“I’ll think about it,” came my low voice. “Because shit, I really want to quit.”
She nodded.
“We all do sometimes,” she said. “And there’s no shame in quitting, so long as the circumstances are right. Because we’re not here on Earth to hate every minute of existence, Thomas. We’re humans. We’re meant to be happy, and it’s our right to pursue happiness in life. Isn’t that what the Declaration of Independence says? And you’ve suffered enough. You never asked for this, and it was only through sheer chance that the office landed on you. So maybe it’s time to throw in the towel. Be happy, Thomas. Start your life over because you deserve it.?
??
And holy hell, but Susie’s words moved me. How did the girl do it? Somehow, her sentences stirred my soul deep within, tapping into what I really wanted. Because I was sick of this city. I was sick of this office and the in-fighting and squabbles, large and small, that happened each day. I was sick of the ceaseless demands, the non-stop traveling, and the rubber chicken dinners. I wanted peace and happiness once more, and becoming a private citizen was the first step on that path.
So I took her hands in mine.
“If I do it,” came my low growl. “Will you come with me? Because sweetheart, you mean the world to me. It doesn’t matter that you dance for a living. It doesn’t matter if you’re green, blue, or purple with polka dots. What matters is that we love each other, and want to be together.”
Susie looked at me then with light and adoration in her eyes.
“Yes, I’ll come with you, Mr. President.” She took a deep breath. “Because ultimately, it doesn’t matter to me if you’re the president or not. What matters is that I, Susie Hemphill, love you, Thomas Burke, and I want to be with you. So yes, Mr. President. Take that as my agreement.”
