Chapter 39 Alina
ALINA
These past few weeks have been chaotic, to say the least. I scheduled Marco to do some big pushes across the state.
We covered every voter demographic we could—and I mean all of them.
He went from speaking at city halls to kitchen tables and then ending with TikTok and Instagram live events with popular influencers.
Yes, we're still riding the wave from when Marco blew up on social, but we had to be delicate about it since the man in the video who harassed me disappeared. When I asked Marco about it, he smiled and said, "the fishes." So, yeah. But people forgot, and his social events have been great.
During all this, I've been working with some sources I've made at various press offices and some of Marco's contacts at the Tribune and other high-profile news outlets to slowly leak the incriminating evidence we have on Sandra.
The beautiful thing about all this is that when we first started our attack, she fired back with some stuff about Marco. And while it was true, she'd been lobbing so much crap our way that people didn't really bite, unlike the stuff we sent back.
A woman whose entire campaign platform is built on anti-corruption and cleaning up the state ends up being corrupt herself—that's the better news story. That's the sensational headline, and boy, did it work.
Sandra Reeves: As Corrupt as They Come
If Sandra Reeves Is Cleaning Up Chicago's Corruption, She Better Start Packing
And my favorite:
Sandra Reeves Cleans Up the State by Throwing Herself in Jail
I played chess with the information Marco gave me, and our sources leaked everything according to plan. It was perfect.
This all leads up to tonight. Mrs. Reeves has scheduled a press conference, and we're all here to watch it. Our sources say she'll resign. If she does, she'll also be handing Marco the nomination and securing his position as Senator.
I can't fucking wait. It's been a long road to get here, and while I would have liked to have won a bit more above board, all that goes out the window when you try to kill me.
I stand from my desk and make my way to the others. It's almost time.
I enter the conference room where our campaign team is sitting around the large glass table, pizza boxes scattered across it with red plastic cups. The smell of pepperoni pizza fills the air, but my stomach churns at the thought of food. I can barely keep anything down.
Marco's noticed, but I told him I'm just in the zone since we're at the end of the campaign and elections are approaching. More recently, I've said that I've been full of anticipation for Sandra's announcement.
However, the truth is—I'm pregnant.
Last week, when we were up north in a small town doing some PR, I stopped in a little mom-and-pop shop and picked up some tests.
I took one, then another, and another.
At first, I was relieved and happy. Then scared. Terrified, actually. What the hell do I know about being a mom?
I'm going to tell Marco. In a few more weeks, on election night, when he wins and we celebrate and after everyone's gone and it's just the two of us, wherever we are, I'll let him know. It'll be the perfect end to the perfect day.
I take my seat next to Marco. He smiles at me as he finishes talking to Gio.
"Shh," one of the staffers yells. "It's starting."
"Sarah, could you turn it up, please?" I ask, and Sarah quickly increases the volume.
Marco grabs my thigh, and we both lean forward to listen.
"Good evening, citizens of Illinois," Sandra begins, her voice steady but strained. Her smug look is gone, and I can see sweet defeat in her eyes. "I come before you today with a heavy heart and an important announcement."
I grab the top of Marco's hand as it tightens on my thigh.
"After much-needed soul-searching, reflection, and consultation with those closest to me, I have decided to withdraw my candidacy from the Illinois state Senate."
The room erupts in cheers. I start clapping, a prideful smile spreading across my face. Gio whistles sharply, and Marco laughs with excitement.
"Quiet, everyone. There's more," I say without thinking. I want to hear every word she says.
Sandra continues, the politician's mask slipping just enough to show her true distress. "I am deeply ashamed to admit that my ambition has led me astray and down paths I should never have traveled. In my fervor to serve you, I lost sight of the very principles I swore to uphold."
I watch her closely, noting the slight tremor in her hands, the sweat on her brow. She's good, I'll give her that. But we know the truth behind those rehearsed words.
"While I maintain that my intentions were pure," she continues, her eyes darting off-screen for a moment, "I cannot deny that certain individuals within my campaign engaged in activities that go against everything I stand for."
I scoff. Clever woman, trying to distance herself from the worst of it. But it's too late for that now.
"By stepping down, I hope to set an example," Sandra says, her chin lifting slightly. "True leadership means taking responsibility, even when it's painful. Even when it means giving up your dreams."
I turn to Marco, my eyes shining with excitement. "We did it," I mouth, squeezing his arm.
"You did, Firefly," he mouths back.
"And so, while I may no longer be running for office, I want to assure you all that my fight against corruption is far from over," Sandra declares, her voice growing stronger. "I will continue to work tirelessly to expose those who would abuse their power and betray the public trust."
I roll my eyes. She's standing there, exposed as a Russian puppet, yet still claiming to be anti-corruption.
"Thank you for your support and understanding," Sandra concludes. "God bless you, and God bless Illinois."
The TV switches back to the news anchors, who immediately begin dissecting Sandra's statement. I turn to Marco with a triumphant grin.
"And that," I say, raising my water glass, "makes you Senator."
The room erupts once more in cheers and applause. Gio claps Marco on the back, his face carrying a wide grin. Staffers are hugging each other and high-fiving one another.
Marco stands. "Okay, okay, thank you all. As they say, it's not over until it's over, but none of this would have been possible without all of your tireless efforts. I thank each and every one of you. And as promised, we win on election night, you all get bonuses."
Marco turns to me and smiles. Everyone claps, and the room is so full of energy—I love it.
Nothing, and I mean nothing, can take away the joy I'm feeling. We're on top of the world.