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"Face it Governor," Tina says narrowing the distance between us. "You’re going to need me as a friend in the coming fight, more than as a foe. I know it would be a very beneficial…alliance."
Just then, I hear a familiar voice at the door.
"What's going on in here?"
I look up and see Vivian Hawthorne standing in the doorway, her blonde hair framing the concerned look etched into her face.
"This isn't what it looks like," I say, waving one hand into the air. "Nothing is happening." But just as I say this, my mind registers the compromising look of the room—the Mayor of Shanghai with her shirt unbuttoned, and to top it all off, I'm standing there with my pants partially unzipped.
Who's going to believe me?
Vivian
"What's going on?" I ask. It feels like I've lost my bottom jaw on the floor.
I can't help it. I probably should've closed the door and walked away, but the words tumble from my mouth instinctually. I mean, when you walk into your Governor's office, you aren't expecting to walk in on something like this. Of all the things that Carter could be caught doing right now, this tops them all. Not after…you know what? Never mind.
I blink a few times just to make sure the scene in front of me is real.
I mean, Carter Andrews of all people—am I really seeing Tina Ling's shirt unbuttoned? Are Carter's pants unbuttoned? And what is Tina Ling doing here anyways? I don't know what Carter and Tina have got going on between each other, but whatever it is, I don't like it. And honestly, the media would have a field day with this if it got out.
Yes, that’s right. The media, hun. Not me. Don’t give me that look.
I’m only here to get this situation between these two men sorted so I can go back to DC. I don’t care what Carter does with his personal life, okay?
Just because he’s as handsome as Apollo, with his Greek god body. His rugged exterior. That feeling of safety I get around him, as if the world could throw everything at me and he would just shrug and tell it to get lost. Anyways, just because of all that doesn’t mean that he’s not free to see whoever he wants, okay?
And before you say anything about Liam, let me just tell you that Liam Jeffries is different. The sex is amazing. But it’s a different feeling I get with him.
Liam is risky and fun. Carter seems like a solid oak.
I mean…you know what, hun? Stop it. I didn’t mean anything by any of that.
It’s just the situation.
You got me at a bit of a surprise, and I just blurted. I don’t really feel anything at all.
Really.
Anyways, I know I've caught him off guard because I watch as he jumps up, waving a hand in the air as if to shrug the whole thing off. How stupid does he think I am?
"This isn't what it looks like," he says, nearly stumbling on his words and stupidly trying to button his shirt and pants. Yeah, right. Sure it isn't. I feel my eyes practically rolling around in their sockets. Give me a break. But then I catch myself gazing at his exposed chest. I never knew he was so muscular under that suit.
"Nothing is happening," he maintains.
My eyes go from Tina's open blouse, which she's now quickly buttoning, to Carter's unzipped pants.
"Sure, Carter. Are you telling me this is just some casual Friday at the office?"
"I should be going," Tina says, straightening her skirt and grabbing her shoulder bag. “I have a meeting with my superiors."
I narrow my eyes and ask her, "Just who are your superiors, Ms. Ling?"
She gives me a sly smile.
"I’m a member of the Communist Party of the Central Region of the People’s Republic of China, Senator," she says. "I wouldn’t expect you as a Westerner to understand the concepts I live for—community over self, dedication, hard work…"
I can’t take any more.
