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“Oh, what will I wear!” Lilly jumps up, gushing. “I want to look perfect for your big night, Harrison!” She smiles wide, looking at me with her big brown eyes, the same ones her father Ronald has. One of the biggest funders of my campaign. My brother curses under his breath, but she doesn’t falter as I grit my teeth.
“Come, Lilly darling, let’s start the party planning and leave the boys to work,” my mother says, knowing she has pushed me as far as she is going to today and that her next move needs to be out the door.
The three of us watch as the two ladies walk and talk with such excitement it is already giving me a migraine. As the door closes behind them, Oscar opens his mouth.
“Your mother will plan a great party, and I am sure Lillian will look great on your arm,” he states diplomatically, knowing how important her father’s money and support is for my campaign.
“She is trying to get a ring on her finger. I love her like a sister, but seriously, she needs to know that you are not going to be marrying her,” Eddie says, sitting forward and placing his elbows on his knees, looking at me accusingly.
“I've told her,” I reply with a groan, running my hands through my hair in frustration. “I can’t make it any clearer without taking out a full-page ad in the society news. She is practically already part of the family. But between her and our mother, some wires have been crossed and before I know it, she’ll be expecting a diamond that I have no plans on giving her. It is something I have no plans on givinganyone.” They both nod their heads in silent understanding.
“You will need to take a date to the event, though, and she is a good choice,” Oscar continues, leaning back in his chair, assessing me.
“No.” I have no desire to make that kind of public statement. I have no romantic feelings for Lilly at all and have no intention of leading her on by having her on my arm during the campaign or after.
“You are well known for your bachelorhood and love for the ladies, but that is not going to win you votes. Your father did not leave a good legacy in that regard. You need to look all-American. You and Lillian have known each other for decades. Played together in the Hamptons as kids, the press has practically already written you off as married.” He just won’t quit.
“No,” I grit out, swallowing my growing irritation.
“Who then?” he challenges.
“No one. I don’t need the distraction,” I say firmly, committed to being focused on the campaign and not my sex life.
I need to ensure that my father’s philandering history is not something people think I will repeat. I am seen out and about with women. I love women. But right now, I need to focus. It is my one and only shot at putting myself on track for political success, and I would prefer to be judged by the new policies I plan to implement, not by the woman I take to events.
“He is afraid of commitment,” Eddie adds, and if looks could kill, he would be mush right about now.
“You have to have someone on your arm,” Oscar presses.
“No, I don’t,” I sigh out. I may be in my mid-thirties, but I have no plans to marry or commit myself to one person for the rest of my life. My parents proved to everyone that never works out.
“Yes. You. Do.” He punches the words out to further emphasize his never-ending point. He is right, of course. But taking Lilly will make a firm statement. A statement that she will be by my side not just during the election campaign but through life. It makes a statement thattogether, we will look after Maryland and make it better. That is not a statement I want to make. She is not my forever.
“Let’s announce it some other way,” I say, rubbing my chin, thinking of a way to get out of this situation, dreading the alternative.
I am staying right away from women during this campaign. I have worked too long and too hard to get this chance, so for the first time in my life, I am going to remain single and concentrate on my future. I will be a man for the people, so my dick just has to get into line.
“But your mother is already organizing the party?” Oscar reminds me.
“I think we should work out what our key focus point is and then announce my running at a place that’s relevant,” I suggest, and as I say it, I know it’s the perfect solution.
“Good idea,” Eddie jumps in, giving me a nod.
“Somewhere in the community, then. Somewhere with the people,” Oscar states, sitting forward with renewed interest, and I can already see his mind turning.
“Who is telling Mom?” Eddie asks, looking right at me with a smirk. I ignore his look of question because we both know our mother is not going to like this one bit.
“Great. I will investigate venues. Now that is sorted, let’s talk about the key points of your campaign. Inflation, jobs and infrastructure investment.” Oscar talks specifics, and we get down to business. I want Maryland to flourish. I want to help the communities who need the support, and most of all, I want to make a positive difference across the entire state.
It is a big challenge, trying to keep everyone happy, while also supporting those that can’t afford to support themselves. That’s why Eddie is here with me. Out of all of my brothers, he is not as enamored by the wealthy as the rest of us have been brought up to be. In fact, he purposefully rebels against it. Having backpacked around Asia for six months, living off two dollars a day, and surviving on cheap street food, there was more than one occasion when his travel insurance was needed due to hospitalization over food poisoning. Aside from that medical luxury, he didn’t live like the billionaire he is, and still doesn’t.
“So I have mapped out the state, and you have most of the areas in hand, which is good. Obviously, you’re well known and loved in Baltimore City and most outskirts. However, you have some work to do in the southeast, particularly toward D.C. that will need attention. Some areas have high poverty rates and high unemployment rates, so we really need to get our messaging on point before we delve into those areas.”
Oscar opens a map on my desk and the three of us look over it like a military tactical team, assessing the segmentation of areas that Oscar has already done, color coding it in a traffic light system. The areas of the state that are colored red are those that I need to be more active in, green are the ones that I already have a good following in. And amber are the ones that can go either way.
I go to D.C. often, although I live and work in Baltimore City. D.C. is the political capital of the country, where all the big players are, many of whom I am friends with. If I want to continue to climb the political ladder, it is where I will need to be spending my time, eventually.
“What do you suggest?” I ask him as I look over the map.
