CHAPTER 34
VICTOR
Victor stepped off the elevator swarmed by his campaign staff and the Secret Service.
As he walked the long hallway of the Waldorf Astoria to his suite, he listened to Kena giving him a rundown of the week ahead.
She was on maybe the fifteenth appointment when he realized she had only covered two days. A sigh was the most he could manage.
Seemingly, noting Victor’s apprehension, Kena offered a sympathetic smile. “It’s almost over.”
“I know,” Victor agreed with a nod. “But the press has been brutal.”
“Yeah, thanks to your raggedy-ass sister-in-law,” Kena grumbled. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and sighed, realizing that she was talking to her boss. “Sir, I’m sorry. That was out of line,” Kena apologized.
But Victor chuckled. “You were being kind. I can think of worse things to call my sister-in-law.”
“Governor, Senator Ballard hit it out of the park at the Phoenix townhall Q and A,” Nathan announced.
Victor smiled. He knew she would. He couldn’t have picked a better running mate.
Not only was Corrine Ballard a powerhouse on the senate floor, but much like Victor, she was a progressive conservative.
The senator shared a lot of his views on most of the issues coming up in the campaign.
She was well-qualified and unwavering when arguing on the floor.
And it didn’t hurt that she was an attractive, black, married mother of four.
She was strong and decisive, not at all intimidated by the racist rants hidden behind commentary from right-wing media outlets and social networks.
Renee cleared her throat to interject. “Yeah, she was great. But the temperature of the questions indicated that they’re gonna beat you upside the head on Right to Life, police reform, and some of your personal entanglements.”
“Nicole’s baby?” Victor grumbled.
“Not just that,” his press secretary warned. “There are still rumblings about a connection to Luca Savelli via Jack Storm.”
Victor blew out a frustrated breath. “I’ll handle this business with Nicole, but I have no comment about Jack Storm and Luca Savelli.”
“Yes, sir.”
When they reached the door to the hotel suite, Victor’s reach for the doorknob was intercepted by Greger, who, after the fastest training in history, had recently been assigned to his Secret Service detail.
When a few agents entered to secure the suite, Victor turned to Kena.
“See if you can get Jack Storm on the phone for me.”
“Will do,”
“In the meantime, sir,” Renee Griffin, Victor’s press secretary, interceded, “We must find a way to answer this question of paternity. Your sister-in-law is throwing a monkey wrench in this campaign.” Renee rolled her eyes.
“Really,” she scoffed. “Refusing to allow her son to be tested until after the election!” Renee blew out a frustrated breath. “It’s sabotage pure and simple!”
Victor placed his hand on Renee’s shoulder and looked her in the eye. Renee didn’t often show anger, but Taylor’s sister has tested every ounce of his press secretary’s patience. “I got it handled, Renee. Give me a bit of time.”
Renee pushed her curly hair out of her face and nodded. “Okay. But I need a response sooner than later.”
“Yes, ma’am, I understand. I’ll have your response by this evening.”
Renee smiled and stepped aside, making room for Victor to enter the hotel suite. Once inside, his dream of laying his head on a pillow was dashed. His staff had created a small campaign office in the living area.
“You're up five points with black women, Governor,” Cammy, the pollster announced enthusiastically before he could put his briefcase down. “The good people of the United States don’t seem to care if you fathered a child with your wife's sister.
Victor cringed at the thought. “Good to know. Thanks,” he muttered as he made his way through a sea of campaign workers, fielding questions along the way.
A young man who Victor didn’t recognize handed him a stack of cue cards. “Debate prep,” he offered, noting Victor’s confusion.
“Oh, thank you. And, Corrine, is she prepping as well?”
“Not now,” Nathan answered. “Her staff is tweaking her remarks about her environmental standings.”
Victor nodded and turned to Kena, “Where’s my wife?”
Kena looked down and fidgeted with her phone. “I believe she’s giving a speech at the Police Union in Ohio, but I’ll tell you for sure in a minute.”
Victor looked around the suite and realized the buzz of activity would not come to an end any time soon. So he headed to the bedroom. Since the campaign had begun, his life had been a marathon of shit to do. A twenty-minute power nap was what got him through most days.
Victor nodded toward the bedroom and told Renee and Kena, “I’ll be in there.”
“Okay,” Kena responded but froze. “Umm, you have a visitor.”
Victor frowned. “What?” He was irritated by the possibility of someone fucking up his twenty-minute nap.
“With my integrity in question, who on earth besides my wife would be waiting for me in the bedroom. Now, you’ve told me that Taylor was in Ohio, so it can’t be her.
Were you wrong, Kena? Is my wife in that bedroom? ”
Kena shrugged. “She’s not your wife, but she may be the next best thing.” Kena headed down a short hall.
Victor sighed and took off behind her. When she opened the door to the bedroom, Victor walked over and discovered his mother-in-law lying across the bed with a coat covering her like a blanket.
“Close the door,” Victor ordered, hoping the noise wouldn’t wake her.
He peeled the blanket from the other side of the bed and pulled it over his mother-in-law.
When she startled, Victor shooshed and held her shoulder.
“Get some rest, Mama,” he whispered. Victor saw pure exhaustion when her lids fluttered open.
“Go back to sleep, Ma. I’ll get you some more blankets. ”
“No!” Martha Montgomery pushed herself upright and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She patted for Victor to sit on the edge of the bed.
He did as he’d been instructed and rubbed his mother-in-law's shoulders. “What are you doing here, Mom?”
Martha cleared her throat and looked up at Victor with guilt in her pretty brown eyes. “I don’t know where I went wrong with Nicole. Me and her daddy loved on that girl to no end. I can’t tell you how she turned out to be so jealous and spiteful.”
“Oh, Ma, it’s not your fault. It’s nothing you did. Nicole was just running with the wrong man.”
Martha shook her head in vehement protest. “Nah, baby, Nicole was already like that even as child. I suppose that’s what drew her to that criminal she was trying to marry.” Martha got close and caressed Victor’s hand, “I’m so sorry, baby.”
Victor cupped his mother-in-law’s jaw and smiled. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ma get through this. Apparently, I’m still ahead in the polls.”
Martha smiled and reached under the pillow. “Let’s hope this helps.” She pulled a Ziplock baggie from under the pillow and handed it to Victor.
“What’s this?” he asked, looking through the bag at a white package nearly a foot long.”
Martha looked up at Victor with a raised brow. “That’s that boy's DNA.”
Victor’s mouth flew open. “How did you--”
“Honey, as soon as Nicole pulled the little rabbit out of her hat, she couldn’t wait to dump him on me.” Martha grinned. “He’s my grandbaby and he will be loved, but I will not let him be used as a tool to hurt my you and Taylor.”
She pointed at the Ziplock bag. “Is that gonna be enough to clear ya name?”
Victor was at a loss for words. He simply nodded and pulled his mother-in-law into a tight hug.
“All right, now,” she protested wiggling out of his arms. “Don’t you be rewarding me for doing what’s right.”
Victor smiled. “Well, thank you. And to show my appreciation, I’m taking you out for a night on the town.”
Martha’s eyes lit up. “Where we going?”
“I’m gonna take you to the Bay and get you some of the best seafood you’ve ever had.”
Martha reached up like an excited child and cupped Victor’s cheek. “You know I love me some seafood.”
Victor nodded. “I know. So, go on and get yourself pretty.”
Martha Montgomery took a step back and looked at Victor as if he’d offended her. “You mean prettier?”
Victor winked at her and chuckled. “Naw, just dressier. You can’t get any prettier.