Page 23 of Missed Communication
The power outage only lasted a day and a half, and we're back to regularly scheduled programming. The whole point of this summit is to meet with world leaders and share policy Olivia has been championing since becoming Governor. Instead of schmoozing, I’ve selfishly spent most of my free time with Jamie. With it being the last day, I need to get my shit together.
I can’t even write off what’s happened as being just sex. Jamie and I haven’t even slept together since the second night, but we’ve been sharing nearly every meal all week; sometimes with our colleagues, sometimes just the two of us. The biggest struggle is not melting into a damn puddle when he speaks to someone in Spanish, when he rolls up his sleeves exposing his tattoos, or if he smiles at me from across the room. Since when am I the girl who swoons at a smile?
I’m preparing for one of the final sessions of the summit, when my phone vibrates in my purse, mimicking thezzz-zzz-zzzsetting on my vibrator. Worried I may have accidentally stowed my toy in my purse, I quickly check my bag. No vibe, just adozen alerts on my phone. I can’t manage to click on a single one because they’re coming in too quickly. Each notification is from either a news outlet or tabloid, all of the headlines saying there’s a leaked image of Isaac and Olivia in a conference room from a couple of days ago… kissing.
Fucking hell. If it’s real and not some AI slop, I have my work cut out for me. I’m able to open one of them, and sure enough, it’s a grainy photo of the two of them sucking face. I can only hope he didn’t fuck her on the conference table, or we’re all out of a job.
Swiping away, I call Olivia, and am grateful she picks up on the first ring. I don’t wait for her greeting, seething, “I warned you this was going to happen.”
“It isn’t what it looks like. He just kissed me.”
“Just kissed? You’ve been fucking like rabbits since we got to Canada. Please tell me you didn’t let him bend you over in the conference room.”
“We didn’t do anything there. It was just a kiss, I promise.”
I sigh in relief. “Have you talked to him? What has he said to the press?” There’s a pause, which is never a good sign. “Olivia! Focus. I can’t give our team direction or talk to Ned until I know what we’re working with.”
“You know I’ve always loved him. I tried to follow Ned’s instructions and keep my distance, but he’s…”
She doesn’t have to complete the sentence for my heart to squeeze. I watched how the two of them fell hard for each other when we were younger. I was also there when he had to return to Canada and both of their hearts were broken. From a PR standpoint, this is a fucking nightmare, but as her friend, I can’tlet her suffer if she has a chance to be with the guy who got away. If I can’t be with someone like Jamie, I need to find a way for Livy to find happiness.
“What do you need?” It’s the only question I can muster at this point—the same one she asked me when I found out my ex-husband was cheating.
“I want to serve as Governor, but not if it breaks my heart a second time.”
That's all I need to hear. I don’t care what it takes, I’m going to fix this. “I’ve got you, Livy.”
We hang up, and since Olivia hasn’t heard from the impulsive Prime Minister, I do my best to make contact. Should I have his cell number? No. Do I have it because Livy was careless one day and left her phone unlocked?
That’s up for debate.
I try calling first, but when he doesn’t answer, I text him.
Isaac, this is Aubrey, we have a situation.
Please call me or Livy back ASAP.
As in right fucking now.
It feels like eternity, but he finally replies.
Isaac
Let her know I have it handled.
Handled? Are you fucking kidding me? In what world could this ever be handled? As I’m about to shred him a new one via text, another message appears as a new notification.
Jamie
I can’t control what’s about to happen. Please come downstairs. If not for me, then for Olivia.
It has to be the most ominous text I’ve ever received, but when I try to call him, he sends me to voicemail. I quickly stow my laptop and let Olivia and Tracy know to meet me downstairs. Jamie didn’t tell me where to meet him, but I’m able to find Joyce who is part of Isaac’s media team.
“Aubrey,” she squeaks, “thank God you’re here! We’re not drafting a statement, but I have a feeling Isaac is going to resign over this.”
“Resign?” My brows pinch. “Why would he resign? Olivia said they just kissed. Unless you know something I don’t…”
“No, Isaac said it was just a kiss, but let’s be honest, he’s down bad for the Governor. I think he’s going to do some kind of grand gesture so Olivia won’t take any heat for it.”
