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The younger woman looks up at him with adoring eyes, before turning to me. "You have my vote, Minister."
"Thank you." I tilt my head.
"Your strategy to launch your campaign a little later than the other candidates paid off."
"Thanks to the hard work put in by my team," I demur.
"They’ve done a stellar job in getting you off to a good start." Sinclair Sterling joins with his wife Summer. Lena and Summer embrace. Sinclair takes two glasses of juice from the hovering waiter and passes one to Summer.
"Thanks, darling." She takes a sip while Sinclair places his own glass on the table between us.
I glance at the glass, then back at him.
"Summer’s nursing; I’m keeping her company." He raises a shoulder.
"I told Sinclair he can drink for the both of us, but he insists he’ll start drinking once I wean off the baby completely." Summer laughs.
"He’s right." I raise my glass in their direction. "Parenting is bloody hard work, not that I know anything about it. But hats off to you guys, you’re doing an incredible job."
"Sinclair’s been so helpful. He insists on waking up at night when the baby starts crying and is really good at putting him back to bed."
"Good on you." JJ, too, raises his glass in their direction.
"This is our first night out in" —Sinclair shakes his head— "in forever. Speaking of," —he takes his wife’s hand in his— "I’m going to take my wife dancing."
"Go for it." I laugh and take a sip of my champagne.
Sinclair pulls away with Summer. JJ turns to Lena and asks, "Want to dance?"
She shakes her head, then wraps her arm about his waist. "I’m happy to watch."
He pulls her even closer. "And I’m happy to watch you."
They share a look, and it’s such an intimate moment, I feel like I’m intruding. "I think I need to get around and press the flesh and all that." I shuffle my feet.
JJ and Lena look at me. "You sure, you—" He looks past me and his jaw firms.
"What is it?"
Lena follows the direction of his glance and her gaze widens.
I begin to turn, when JJ shakes his head. "Don’t."
I arch an eyebrow. "Meaning, I really need to look at this."
I glance over my shoulder, and all of my muscles coil. The hair on my forearms rises. I curl my fingers so tightly around the stem of the glass that it cracks. "Fuck." I swipe out my other hand and catch the thin bowl of the flute before it can roll over the side. I place it back on the table upside down so it doesn’t fall, then shake out the champagne that’s fallen on my hand. Luckily, I didn’t cut myself. I pull out the handkerchief from my pocket and dry my fingers before stuffing the cloth back in my pocket.
"Excuse me."
I turn to leave, when JJ grips my shoulder. "Don’t do anything stupid."
I hesitate.
"The paps are salivating for gossip. Your enemies can’t wait for you to take a wrong step. It’s your career at stake."
I set my lips.
"And hers," he adds.
