Senator Abner's POV
"Hey baby. I'll see you in a bit. My flight lands at 6:30.", the text I just received from Greg reads. I roll my eyes at his message and turn my phone over on my desk.
I page Mia to ask her about the arrangements for the diversity panel that I will be speaking at next week, but she doesn't pick up. I go peep my head in her office to see that she's away from her desk yet again. I sigh, and decide to refill my water bottle while I'm up. On my way back to my office I see Rachel in the print room typing ferociously.
"Nice to see you hard at work Ms.Taff."
She looks up at me, and then turns her attention back to her screen. "Yeah I'm finding out so much doing this assignment."
"That's good. I'm looking forward to see what you come up with."
She looks back up at me, "Actually, do you have a second? I want to run this by you before I get any deeper."
"Yeah sure, come on", I say gesturing to my office. I open her laptop as she stands over my shoulder attempting to obtain guidance for her assignment.
"So this area here is heavily impacted, but based on the previous counts I don't think accurate numbers are being reported", Rachel explains. She's smart. I've known that since I read her profile, and the moment she so famously called me out on her first day. If she would just stop all of the bullshit, and have this hard working attitude all of the time I wouldn't mind giving her a permanent position at the completion of her internship.
"And why is that you think?" I question her.
"Well I don't see any vehicles and campers being accounted for in this particular area", she says looking down at me.
"Very good, I think you got a lead."
She tries her best not to smile out of stubbornness. "Thanks", she says as she reaches over me to grab her laptop, involuntarily getting a glimpse of my cleavage.
We meet eyes and she's clears her throat.
I shift in my chair,"I think what you have here is great. I was hoping I could trust you on this and you're definitely pulling through so far", I say before she opens the door to leave.
She turns around, "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"You really came from some Podunk town in Wisconsin that didn't even have 300 people?"
I laugh, "Wisconsin loud and proud!"
Disgust is displayed all over her face, "How did you survive? What did you do for fun? Were there other people to date beside your cousins?"
I roll my eyes at her jab, "Let's just say I got into my fair share of trouble."
"It's hard to imagine you've ever had fun in your life. You seem so rigid and stuck up all the time", she says without batting an eye. This girl has a huge ego.
" It's called maturity."
"There are plenty of politicians that come off as personable and likable, and then there's you", she says putting her hands out.
"Let me ask you this. Are the politicians you speak of men?"
"Well yeah", she nods.
"Rachel, I wouldn't expect you to know this but women in politics will truthfully never be liked. Whether their democrat, republican, or independent. Women are just held to a higher standard", I explain. "I've never told anyone this, so if it gets out I know exactly where it came from", I say looking into her eyes.
She nods.
"On my first day working as District Attorney I was told that a nice girl doesn't force their opinions on people. A nice girl smiles, waves, and does what she's told. I should be a nice girl. That was the advice I was given by a mentor on how to succeed at the job. So you see Rachel, I have to be stern or they would call me weak. But either way I'm still going to be considered a bitch. Ask yourself why isn't the politeness and likableness of male politicians ever questioned as much as female politicians. If I was a man, I'd be considered a hero. I would have a cabinet position secured. People wouldn't attack my records."
"Now that you put it that way, that is kind of fucked."
"It is. My time as DA was-"
"Tragic?", she says cutting me off.
"Yes, it actually was because I was silenced and forced to make decisions I didn't want to make if I wanted any type of political career."
"So I was right about you. You care more about perception than justice?"
I bite my lip and look down, "I was a fraud like you said. I had to do what I thought was best for my career. Do you think I actually wanted to prosecute people for selling or smoking weed? No I wanted to go after high crimes, but I was told if I wanted a good rapport I needed to prosecute as many possible and get offenders off the streets. Only now for that record to bite me in the ass with the people that matter most. The people that I'm supposed to serve."
"I can't believe you're a puppet", she says shaking her head.
"I admit I was. But since I was elected senator I've been doing things my way. I vowed never to be a nice girl again."
"Because you want to clean your image up for a run at president."
I shake my head, "Rachel, it's not about cleaning an image up. It's about doing what's right for the people that elected me as Senator, and for myself."
"Did you hire me to fit a quota?", she says as she crosses her arms.
"Absolutely not". I'm offend she would even think that."Your race has nothing to do with it. I hired you because of your ability. Look Rachel. I'm sorry for what happened to your friend . He didn't deserve the injustice he was served. African Americans are treated more harshly, I know that. But we can't go back, we can only move forward. That's why I work tirelessly to right all the wrongs. I'm not saying I'm going to run for president, but what I am saying is that I will do everything in my power to get that lunatic out of the white house in the next few years. His rhetoric has brought out all of the nastiness in people. We are living in hard times. We all need to come together. I'm not perfect, but I'm dedicated to doing this job", I say wiping away my almost formed tears.
"I believe you", she says which shocks me. "Accountability is all I ever wanted to hear from you, millions of others probably do too."
I look down. I know she's right. "It seems like you understand me a little bit now?"
"Yeah. I mean I wouldn't have folded and let men boss me around, but I get why you did."
I laugh. "I'm sure you wouldn't Rachel."
She smiles at me."Does this mean you'll stop terrorizing me now?", I ask.
"The jury is still out on that one.""Ba Dum Chhh",she says likes she's playing a drum.
I laugh as she walks away. "Oh Rachel, before you leave...You and Avery need to see Mia and fill out a form to put in your records."
She furrows her eyebrow, "What for?"
"Aren't you two seeing each other?"
She looks shocked and doesn't say a word. "Maybe try not to make out like horny rabbits in the open next time", I mutter.
Her mouth opens as she stands in shock.
"Since you didn't deny it, i'll take that as a yes. The form is just for legalities. It states that you two are in a consensual relationship, seeings as you're coworkers."
She nods her head and leaves my office.
Within seconds Mia comes rushing into my room. "Once again, I'm so sorry senator."
"It's ok Mia, I invited her this time...Can you please get me the itinerary for the panel that I'll be speaking at next week?"
"Yes of course", she says rushing to her office. "Here you go".
"Thanks Mia. That was all." I begin to look over list of speakers and see that it will be an abundance of people. I look down at the list of student speakers and see a name I've become all too familiar with. I didn't know she would be speaking at the panel. Hopefully today we broke some ground and she doesn't pull anything. But knowing Rachel Taff, I wouldn't hold my breath.
It's 5 o'clock so I pack up to leave for the day. As I walk to the front, I see the interns leaving too. Just as I walk over to tell them goodbye, in walks Greg with flowers and his million dollar smile. "Hey baby", he says placing his hand on my back and kissing me. Making me shiver.
"Hey. What are you doing here? I thought you said your flight lands at 6:30?", I say pretending to smile in front of everyone.
"I wanted to surprise my beautiful wife. I haven't been to the office in awhile, so I figured i'd stop by. I heard you did amazing at the town hall last night. Sorry I couldn't make it." Greg has always been rather great about playing up his role as the devoted husband.
"Thank you", I say as I kiss him and take the flowers out of his hand.
"Aww, they're such the perfect couple", Avery whispers to Rachel. Rachel in typical Rachel fashion rolls her eyes at the comment. And for once I can agree with her.
"Greg, let me introduce you to my interns. This is Avery, Nina, Jacob, and Rachel." Greg smiles and extends his hand to all of them. "Ok let's go baby", he says tracing his hand along my back.
We get home and I go to our bedroom to change into something more comfortable.
"How was your sexcation?", I question while I take off my earrings.
He sits on the bed staring at me, "You know I went away for business."
Yeah sure. I roll my eyes.
"How was you dinner with Dan the other night? I saw pictures of you two on his Facebook", Greg questions.
"It was good. We talked about his business", I reply.
"You're such a hypocrite. You fuck him, and then get mad when I do what I have to do."
"That's where you're wrong. We're not the same. I'm actually committed to this marriage and the vows we took", I say while taking off my bra.
"I'm committed to this marriage too", he says as he comes up behind me and slides in hand in my panties.
I turn around and push him off. "Fuck you Greg."
"Jenn-"
"No I needed you and you left. It was the anniversary of my grandfather's death two days ago."
"Fuck I'm sorry", he says putting his hands on his waist.
"Yeah I highly doubt that", I spit out.
"Jenn, let's be real. He's been dead for years. My grandfather is gone too. You don't see me crying about it...You're too emotional."
I put my hand to his chest as he tries to get close to me, "I can't believe you just said that. I need you to sleep in the spare bedroom tonight."
"No. Calm down", he replies.
"You will or you can get the fuck out of my house. Did you forget that you have all of this because of me? You need me to travel the world and gallivant with your whores", I spit out.
He put his hand up like he wants to slap me. I don't flinch.
Instead of putting his hands on me, he kisses me on forehead and leaves the room.
I'm tired of being walked over. I'll never be a nice girl in my work life or personal life again.