Chapter 26 Isaac
Isaac
Having Livy in my bed—or I suppose me being in hers—is everything I always imagined it would be.
Since the first night of the summit, we’ve been strategic about our comings and goings, and so far haven’t been caught.
It’s the final day, and with power restored as well as the snowstorm settling down, we’ll have to face reality.
I’m only half-listening to James going over a few media inquiries when I blurt out, “I need to book a flight for California.”
He stills, then glances up from his tablet. “You’re going on vacation?”
“Not exactly,” I chuckle. “But we could use that as an excuse. We need to research homes in Sacramento.”
“Is this about Governor Harris calling you out for not doing enough for housing affordability in yesterday’s panel? She’s leading one of the most expensive states in America, so I wouldn’t read too much into it or use them as a model. People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”
“That’s my future wife you’re talking about,” I grunt.
“Your… what?”
Realizing my slip-up, I should correct myself, except it’s only a matter of time before everything is out in the open. I had big plans for after the conference, why not move up the timeline?
“Actually, can we call a press conference?”
“Not until you explain why you just called her your future wife. I know there were rumors about the two of you when she was elected, but are you two secretly engaged?”
“Not yet,” I sigh.
James glances away for a moment in thought, then his eyes snap to me. “You’ve been staying with her.”
“Yeah.” I can’t help my smirk. “I’ve been offered a position with UNICEF. One of the directors is stepping down, so… I’m going to take it. I’ve been assured I can split my time between New York and California, and—”
“Can I come with you?”
The question takes me by surprise, but I suppose it shouldn’t. I’ll need to find out how many people on my team will want to leave and who would prefer to stay once a new leader is in place. “If you’d like, but it may not be part of a communications team.”
“I’ve been saving up to move to California for personal reasons. If you have something in mind, I’d love to be considered.”
“Of course.”
There’s a knock at the door before Tim opens it. “Prime Minister, we have a problem.” James and I wait expectantly for him to continue, but he glances between us before adding, “I’m not sure if you want an audience for this.”
“If it’s regarding Governor Harris, James is privy to it.”
“Very well,” he sighs. “Ned Collins just notified me that we’ll need to increase security outside of the hotel. The streets will be cleared today and we’ll need to ensure the safety for you and the rest of the attendees.”
My brows furrow. “What’s going on? Is there some sort of threat on the hotel?”
“No. Someone has leaked a photo of you and Olivia in a not-so-platonic situation. It’s everywhere.”
James begins feverishly typing on his phone and locates a post on social media of me kissing Olivia in the conference room. “Looks like hashtag ‘barris’ is trending again,” he grumbles.
He shifts his phone over to me, and the photo appears to be from a security camera, and though it’s blurry, there’s no denying it’s us.
That afternoon, I was so tempted to lift her onto that table for a quick taste of her.
Thank fuck I didn’t. How the hell was I so careless?
Of course there were cameras. Being here with her has felt like we’re in a bubble—one that’s now burst spectacularly, all because I was selfish.
“I need to get ahead of this. Tim, please meet with the hotel security, anyone’s personal security, and Secret Service. Their safety is my number one priority. James, we need that press conference scheduled right fucking now.”
James reaches out to Joyce and Rhonda to alert the media who are in attendance.
We’ll also offer a livestream option, since it will be difficult for everyone to meet us here.
I take out my phone to text Olivia, and I must’ve had my phone on silent because there are no less than three dozen new texts from Livy, my family, and a few American numbers I don’t have saved in my phone.
I click on the one that has the most messages and missed calls.
916-555-9876
Isaac, this is Aubrey, we have a situation.
Please call me or Livy back ASAP.
As in right fucking now.
Isaac: Let her know I have it handled.
As much as I want to call Olivia, I know she’ll try to talk me out of what I’m about to do.
Once everything is organized, I make my way to one of the conference rooms we’ve set up for my announcement.
I’m about to begin, when Olivia and her team, as well as Ileah with her husband, enter in the back.
They all remain standing, and Olivia’s expression is unreadable, while Aubrey’s gaze is scorching.
I’m surprised there isn’t literal steam coming out of her ears.
With a deep breath, I dive in. “Thank you all for being here on short notice. We’ve had quite the week with a snowstorm, power outage, and of course, the summit itself.
This morning, I’ve been made aware of a photo circulating online.
It’s customary for communications teams to respond to inquiries with ‘no comment,’ but today, I’d like to personally address the speculation.
Yes, the photo is real.” There are a few gasps and murmurs.
Olivia blushes, but it isn’t the same crimson when I’m complimenting her—it’s embarrassment.
Needing to quickly remedy it, I announce, “I spent my entire adult life obsessed with a woman I couldn’t have.
That ends now. I’m resigning as Prime Minister of Canada because I have my eye on another position—First Partner of California. ”
All eyes shift to the back of the room, likely making her uncomfortable.
Aubrey squeezes her hand as Livy’s chest visibly rises and falls with a few deep breaths.
Ileah whispers something to her, and whatever it is has Olivia relaxing.
Part of me wonders if I’ve misread this week and I’ll lose her over this, but it’s the only way I can protect her reputation—my only shot at trying to keep her.
“There will be a transition team in place as soon as I’m back in office next week, and an interim leader will take my place during the appointment of my successor.
I love my country, but I also love Olivia Harris.
I always have and always will. I will not be opening the floor to questions, however, you may reach out to my media team for official statements. ”
Olivia rushes out the door and Aubrey follows.
I should chase her, but until I know for sure what I’ll be encountering, I give her space.
Ileah and Finn are both trying to hide their amusement and they leave out the same door.
I’m not surprised by his smirk, seeing as they had a very public engagement.
I didn’t intend for this to be a grand gesture, I needed to protect Olivia from any negative press.
I leave out a side door and James is hot on my heels. “I thought you said you weren’t engaged.”
“We’re not. Not yet at least. I apologize if you felt blindsided.”
“Not blindsided, just… confused,” he admits. “What do you want us to do now?”
“I’m not sure. All I know is I don’t want to spend another day without her.”
“I think making that happen is a little outside of my job description, but I’ll see what I can do.”
I chuckle, and as I’m about to tell him he’s off the hook for the big ask, Livy comes storming down the hall. “Isaac Jonas Banks, what the hell was that?”
“Is that what you think my middle name is?”
“No, but it felt right.” She pokes her finger into my chest. “Why didn’t you run it by me?”
“Because you’d tell me that I can’t sacrifice my political career for you.”
James slinks away, and I don’t blame him; Feisty-Olivia isn’t one to be messed with. “That’s… actually, that’s exactly what I would tell you,” she grumbles, placing her hands on her hips with a huff.
“And that’s why I had to keep you in the dark.
” I take a step closer but don’t touch her, even if my palm itches to take her pretty throat in my hand and bring her lips to mine.
“I warned you that you’d be my wife one day.
I don’t have a ring, but I’d drop to one knee right now if I knew you’d say yes. ”
Her face relaxes as her hands drop to her sides.
“We haven’t even dated since we were in college.
How can you be so sure this will even work once you move?
I don’t even remember your middle name! What if you hate how I always forget to replace the toilet paper roll?
Or how I eat ice cream straight from the container?
What if in five years you realize you were just in love with past-me? What if—”
Gliding my hand to her lower back, I pull our bodies flush, and she catches herself with her palms on my chest. “What if I fall more in love with you each day?” I lean my forehead to hers, our noses brushing.
“What if you let me spend the rest of my life giving you the balance in your life that you crave? Out there, you’ll change the world for the better, but at home, you let me take care of you. ”
“For the record, if you did ask me to marry you, I’d probably say yes.”
“Only probably?” Shifting down to one knee, I take her hands in mine, and she sucks in a sharp breath. “I will buy you any ring in any shop tomorrow, but Olivia Jonas Harris, will you marry me?”
Her eyes are glassy, but a bright smile splits her face. “You know that’s not my middle name either.”
“I know, but that doesn’t answer my question.”
“On one condition,” she muses.
“And what’s that?”
“We do this right, have a long engagement, then save on wedding expenses and just elope.”
“Counter-offer: we elope tonight.”
She rolls her eyes, but her grin doesn’t falter. “Counter-offer to your counter-offer: after thirty days of living with me, we elope. You need to see the chaos firsthand to know what you’re signing up for.”
“Whatever you want, babygirl,” I kiss her knuckles, and it earns me my favorite blush tinting her cheeks.
“Okay, well, stand up before someone sees you.”
“Too late,” Aubrey snaps, marching toward us as I stand. She bypasses Olivia, and I anticipate a shove. Instead, she wraps her arms around my middle in a tight hug. “You’re an asshole, but thank you for loving my friend.”
“I, uh… you’re welcome?” I glance up to Livy, who stifles a laugh, shaking her head.
Aubrey releases me and wipes away a tear. “Sorry, I’m just really emotional this week.”
“Emotional is putting it mildly.” Olivia mimes a baby bump and my eyes widen. “Anyway, I should hide away for the day until things die down. I’m sure I’ll be stopped no less than a thousand times between here and the hotel room.”
“No,” Aubrey insists, pulling out her phone and typing something.
Not looking up from it, she continues, “You two go attend the rest of the scheduled panels and roundtables. Maybe don’t make out in the middle of someone discussing nutrition or homelessness, but you can safely hold hands and no one will say shit. If they do, I’ll take care of it.”
“Could you connect with James as well? I’d like him to be on the same page to mitigate anything happening online.”
“Oh, sure, but I’ll put Tracy on it.”
Aubrey leads the way down the hall, and I take Livy’s hand in mine, one that will be a little heavier tomorrow with a ring on it.
I interlace our fingers, and with two hours before a panel she’s supposed to be speaking on, I should make sure she eats something.
I lean in and whisper, “Are you hungry? Did you only have a handful of almonds today?”
“No. I was a good girl and had breakfast.”
“Then you won’t mind if I have mine.” Needing a small taste of her before we’re hounded by press, I stop us in our tracks and brush a soft kiss to her lips.
I teasingly lick the seam, and her mouth instinctively opens for me to take whatever I want from her, because she’s always been and always will be just that—mine.