Power Switch (Power Play #3) - Kennedy L. Mitchell Page 0,100
odd reason, I'm worried about you.” I huff at the ridiculousness of my statement and rest back in my chair.
Genuine surprise blooms across his face before he schools his features back into the smug smile he loves to wear.
“Now why would you do that, Walmart? You're the one with Shawn nipping at her heels.”
“Not for long if he was serious at Camp David that day.”
The condescending smirk falters. “I'll worry about him when I have to.”
“But to answer your question, you look tired. Exhausted even.”
“I'll let my plastic surgeon know,” he grumbles. In an uncharacteristic show of weakness, he traces the few fine lines marring the delicate skin around his right eye.
“Kyle….” I don't know what to say next. How do you even start this kind of conversation? When I thought he poisoned me, I wanted revenge. Then when he dragged Taeler into our fight, there was only pure rage fueling my focus to take him down. However, now that the fury has ebbed and months have gone by, apprehension has taken over, repressing the condemning words from leaving my mouth.
“You can say it, Walmart. I already know you find me oddly attractive and want to suck my fat cock.”
Sensing Trey's movement in my periphery, I whip out an arm, stopping him from doing something we would all regret.
“No, you disgusting pig. I have proof of it all,” I snap.
“Of my fat cock? Of course you do. I've fucked half this city.”
“Of the drilling on federal land that you sanctioned for personal gain, the illegal selection of which companies to hire, the offshore bank accounts of those companies which are linked to other companies who supply most of the metal, machinery, and arms to our military . Oh, and let's not forget a few terrorists groups that are also utilizing those funds to attack our allies, forcing us into a battle that we caused. And that's just page fucking one of the shit you’ve gotten us into!”
All humor slides from his face, leaving a cold menacing glimmer in his calculating eyes.
“I see.”
“Do you?” I snap. Reaching up, I fling the twisted napkin onto the table and pinch the bridge of my nose. “I can’t believe you did this. It’s over, Kyle. I know, and there’s nothing you can do to stop this from moving forward. You’ve made your bed, and now you have to lie in it.” I take a slow breath to steady my shaking voice. “You have two options here, Kyle. Step down from the president role effective immediately—you can make up whatever bullshit reason you want—or I officially file this detailed evidence with the Department of Justice, who will kick off the impeachment process.”
His scoff is forced. “It wouldn’t get past the House.”
I cock my head and meet his gaze straight on. “Kyle, when this information is released, impeachment will be the least of your worries. Powerful leaders here in DC would be swept up in the case, their names all over the media. Not only would you have them to worry about, but the American people will know what you've been doing. That their hardships for the past year were all due to your greed. So yeah, you might be right about the House, but it won't matter at that point. You'd be ruined, if not dead.”
I swear the silence in the room has a pulse. My muscles tremble and twitch with anticipation of his response. I swallow past a dry throat and shoot a worried glance at Trey.
As casually as if I'd never said anything at all, Kyle huffs out a laugh. Lips against the rim of a newly filled highball glass, he smiles. “Do you really want to do this, Walmart?” His words are muffled by the glass. “Play with the big boys?”
“You know where I stand with things like this, Kyle. My world is black and white. I wasn't raised in the moralless haze of gray like you. We’re on the verge of war because of the sequence of events you started. Do you really think I’d sit back and just let that happen without a fight?”
“This goes against the contract you signed, if you remember. You will have to pay every last cent back that we spent to help you land this role.”
“I understand.” The sudden urge to pee slams through me. I seal my thighs together to make sure a few nervous drops don't slip out. Because the truth is yes, I’m aware I'll be forced to pay it all back,