The President's Wife - Kathy Myme Page 0,54

The President of the United States.

I don’t have to wonder about it, I know my father would have been impressed. It is just... maybe I wouldn’t have gotten here if it hadn’t been for that car crash. Maybe I wouldn’t have got here if I hadn’t learned to stay in control. And now, maybe I am going to lose it all if I let that control slip from my grasp.

I have to stop this now. I have to take charge and put us back on track.

My phone buzzes. I pick it up and see it’s a message from my mother.

‘Can’t wait to meet Veronica, you look so happy. Talk to you soon.’

I stare at the message. It’s strange. I don’t think my mother has ever described me as happy before.

I… I think she is right. I’d never realized it, but in the time I’d spent with Veronica, I’ve been happy. Happier than when I’d graduated law school, happier than when I’d won the Presidency. Happy.

I frown. I am going to give that happiness up. I had to, didn’t I?

Because if I give myself up to it, then that’s it. No more control. And without that control, I don’t even want to think about where I could end up.

I read the text again. If only there was another way. If only I could maintain control and keep Veronica. Slowly, I start walking towards my office door. Maybe I have another choice here, one I haven’t really considered. I don’t quite know what it is, but maybe there is a way.

Hoping I don't have any meetings scheduled now that I’ve finished with the ambassador, I head towards Veronica’s room. After our last meeting, I can’t imagine she wants to see me. But I have to. I need to chase that happiness, the spark I feel for her.

Maybe we just need to take things slowly. I’m not saying last night wasn’t a mistake, because it was. But maybe the mistake wasn’t that it happened, but when it happened.

As I climb the stairs, I wonder what I should say. An apology, I suppose. I can only hope she understands.

Yes, I’ll apologize properly for what happened last night, but also for being so distant this morning. And I’ll see if she’s willing to work with me, and play by my rules. No more spur of the moment sex. No unplanned dalliances. A carefully planned out relationship where we take things slow and measured.

I give a nod to the Secret Service agents outside her room, as they stiffen their backs on my approach.

“Veronica?” I call out, knocking on the door. There is no answer, so I let myself in.

“Veronica, we need to talk.” There is no response. I check the rooms and the bathroom, but it’s clear she’s not here. I feel a drop in my gut as I open the door back up.

“Do you know where she is?” I ask the Secret Service agents.

“Inside,” one responds.

“Not anymore,” I say.

There’s a hint of panic in their eyes as they rush in. For a moment I wonder whether this is Trevor, come for revenge. Whether he’s snuck into her room and taken her.

But some part of me knows it’s not. Some part of me knows exactly where she’s gone. Home. The question is though, should I follow? Should I chase after her, or should I let her go?

Right now, I don’t know.

Veronica

“Darling,” my dad says, dropping a stack of clothes he’d been holding to embrace me. “I didn’t imagine you’d be coming home anytime soon.”

“Neither did I,” I reply, shaking my head. I hug him a little bit tighter than I usually would.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, looking me up and down. “Is it Trevor? I turned on the TV and… they’re saying horrible things, sweetie. I tried calling you but you didn’t pick up.”

“Trevor…” The mention of him makes me feel even worse. It’s been an insane day. “No, this isn’t about Trevor.”

“But he attacked you? Is it true?”

“I mean, yeah…” It’s hard to explain the full situation to Dad when I don’t even understand it myself.

“I take it he didn’t take the news about you and the President very well,” my dad says.

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “He didn’t. He had a knife and- oh, god, it was-”

My dad silences me, pulling me in for another hug. I’ve missed him.

“Bastard,” he says, looking grieved. “I never liked the boy. At least he’s behind bars now, according to the TV.”

“You didn’t like him?”

“You were always too