CHAPTER 12

“Wait,” Cole asked confused. “You know each other?”

When Cole had said fundraiser, Stefan had no idea it was JB Morris’s campaign fundraiser they would be going to, but it actually turned out perfectly. Now he got to see Sasha after all.

He relished the surprised look on her face as she kept her smile in place. Stefan answered Cole without taking his eyes off her chocolate brown gaze. “We’ve recently met.”

“Oh, I see. Isn’t this a coincidence? Since I can see neither of you are listening to me, I’ll just go say hi to the candidate.” Cole trailed off as he left them alone.

“Plans for the weekend?” Stefan asked cocking a brow.

“Yes, this is the plan and it is the weekend.” Sasha answered.

Stefan reached for her arm but she gracefully took a step back. “Don’t cause a scene Stefan, reporters are everywhere and they’re waiting for some action.”

Stefan glanced around and noticed several reporters with microphones and cameras before turning back to Sasha’s stiff smile. “Follow me and I won’t make a scene, we need to talk.”

Her big brown eyes searched the room before nodding briefly and leading the way out of the brunch room. Stefan walked behind her following her to a private room. After opening the door and letting him step inside he realized it was a storage room for their campaign paraphernalia. Banners, rosettes and American flags spilled out of boxes.

“What?” Sasha hissed. “This isn’t a good time; anyone can see the chemistry between us.”

Stefan frowned. “And that’s a problem, why?”

“Because, Stefan, this is the first fundraiser for my father’s re-election campaign. Do you think those reporters out there are taking pictures of the happy candidate? They’re here because half of them are paid to find dirt on my dad and the other half are blood hounds waiting to catch picture of us looking tired or irritable.”

“So if they see us talking you’re afraid they’re going take a picture of you looking tired and irritable?” Stefan asked still not following her.

“Stefan, as much as I enjoyed last night this can’t continue. If the press finds out I’m seeing you it can hurt the campaign.” She whispered fiercely.

“Why would that hurt the campaign?” Stefan asked again. Sasha sighed heavily and Stefan felt like the prick that couldn’t add two and two and get four.

“You’re a known playboy, a party animal that has another woman on his arm every week. Your father has admitted to the press that you’re enjoying life before you accept responsibility. And although there might be nothing wrong with that, the press will twist and turn it and make you villain corrupting JB Morris’s daughter.”

Stefan felt his throat close at her insinuation. “You’re saying my bad reputation is going to hurt your father’s so we can’t see each other again?”

Sasha watched him without even a hint of the broad smile she had worn only minutes ago. “Something like that.”

“So the past week just didn’t happen. We didn’t screw, we didn’t have dinner, and last night didn’t happen?” His voice was low; he could hear his own anger in it.

“I’m sorry, Stefan. It just isn’t a good time.” Sasha said shaking her head before grabbing the handle to open the door.

Stefan grabbed her hand before she twisted it. “As far as I’m concerned it was a great time, and you’re just too afraid to admit it.”

Her eyes flashed with desire or anger, either way Stefan knew he hit a nerve. She shrugged his hand off before stepping out of the storage room and walking back to the fundraiser.

“Shit!” Stefan said slamming his fist against the wall. Why was it that the one girl that kept pushing him away was subconsciously pulling him in deeper?

Since he didn’t know the answer he rubbed his aching knuckles and went to search for Cole. If he had come with his own car he would’ve been gone by now, Stefan thought.

He moved through the fundraiser guests and spotted Sasha speaking to an old lady by the donations table. Ignoring her, he moved ahead searching for Cole.

He had been called many things in his life; an asshole, lazy, even a bad influence but nothing had ever irked him more than Sasha Morris turning him down because he was going to tarnish her clean reputation. Anger spilled through every pore even as he realized that what really bothered him was that he felt ashamed.

Sasha really managed to make him experience all kinds of emotions, and shame wasn’t one he was familiar with.

He found Cole in the corner of the room speaking to an attractive older woman.

“Cole, we need to go.” Stefan said nodding at the lady.

“Wait, since you know Sasha you should meet Tisha Morris, her mother.” Cole smiled at the woman who Stefan now knew to be Sasha’s mother.

“A pleasure to meet you ma’am. I’m really sorry but we’re late for another appointment.”

A bright smile that reminded him of Sasha smiled back at him. “Certainly, thank you so much for coming, your support is appreciated.”

Stefan nodded tersely before all but dragging Cole outside.

“What the hell was that?” Cole asked brushing Stefan off as soon as they were outside.

“You’re my ride and I want to leave, so you’re leaving.” Stefan said briskly walking towards Cole’s car.

“One minute you’re impressed that I brought you to JB Morris’s campaign fund raiser and then, after disappearing with the candidate’s daughter for a few minutes, you’re huffing like a dragon that’s lost its egg.” Cole stopped dead in his tracks and started shaking his head. “Tell me you’re not doing JB Morris daughter?”

“I’m not doing JB Morris’s daughter,” Stefan said flatly knowing his voice held no conviction.

“Shit, get in the car.” Cole said rushing forward.

“Well it’s not like he knows.” Stefan said as soon as he climbed into the car, Cole already strapped in and gunning the engine.

“He will know, that man knows everything and what he doesn’t know he finds out.” Cole said as he pulled out of the parking space.

Stefan drew on the anger that still hummed in his veins. “What the fuck about it. If he finds out he finds out. What’s the big fucking deal?”

Cole glanced at him concerned. “It’s nearly noon, I’m sure there’ll be a bar open somewhere.”

“I don’t need a fucking bar; I’d like a fucking answer.”

Cole sighed as he turned towards the area of South Hampton where the beach bars were. “You’ll get your goddamn answer Stefan, I just a need a drink to go with it.”

 

 

They sat down at the bar a few minutes after the doors opened and Cole ordered them each a shot of bourbon.

As soon as the barman placed the shots in front of them Cole turned to Stefan. “I bought you a drink so it’ll be rude to hit me before hearing me out.”

Stefan grunted, picked up the shot and downed it before slamming the shot glass down on the counter. The bourbon burned down his throat, making his anger taste bitter. “I’ll hear you out but that doesn’t mean I’m not still going to punch you.”

“Fair enough,” Cole said taking his own shot. After putting down the shot glass he turned to face Stefan. “The Morris’s are about the only political family without any skeletons in their closet, not because they’ve paid to have them buried but because they genuinely are honest to God good people.”

Stefan raised his eyebrows feeling bored with the whole spiel but crossed his arms and listened as Cole continued.

“About three years ago I did an investment for JB, which was when I first met him. He was the first politician that came to me not wanting to either funnel or hide money. He just wanted a good investment. Once the deal was done he invited me to dinner with his family. Sasha had just finished high school and her mother tried setting us up.”

“Shit!” Stefan said before gesturing the barman for another drink.

“Nothing happened, Sasha and I went out on a couple of dates but both of us weren’t really looking or interested. We got along quite well and became sort of friendly acquaintances.”

“Great, so why are you telling me this. What does this have to do with me and Sasha?”

Cole waited for the barman to place the next round of shots in front of them; as soon as Stefan slammed his empty glass down Cole took a deep breath to continue.

“I’m telling you this so you know where this is coming from. JB got elected because everyone else had skeletons, big and small and he was clean as a whistle. So how you fit into all of this is simple. Stefan, your father has been in business for years, and although he is very successful we both know he has a few skeletons.”

Stefan felt the bourbon start to heat his abdomen as his anger started to fuzz on the edges.

“Remember that deal your dad made a couple of years back? The one where it came out the IRS was on the guy’s tail? Even though your dad did nothing wrong, he was involved with someone who was suspected by the IRS. Besides your father’s skeletons, you all but advertise that you’re a party animal looking for a good time. If they associate you with Sasha, your father and her father will be brought into this. And besides the campaign taking a hit, Sasha will never forgive you. She’s made of steel and a hard worker but once you cross her there’s no going back.”

Stefan pieced the puzzle together in his head. “So you’re basically saying she’s right for telling me to piss off?”

Cole looked surprised. “She told you that? Shit, here I am explaining that you should prepare yourself that JB Morris will. I’m sorry man; it’s just the wrong girl at the wrong time.”

Stefan took Cole’s untouched second shot and downed it as well. “How about you drop me at home where I can get drunk without your judging ass watching me!”

Cole sighed. “Stefan, I’m not judging. I’m explaining so you don’t take this the wrong way.”

“Don’t bother, I got the message. She’s too good for me and I’m tarnished goods!”

Knowing he wasn’t going to get any further with Stefan, Cole agreed to take him home.

Later than evening Stefan sat on his deck overlooking the stars hovering above the surf, feeling like a complete failure. He wasn’t good at his job; he’d never made any money of his own. His reputation was that of a playboy party animal who was up to no good, and his father did dealings with shady partners. If he had ever wondered about the phrase rock-bottom he now understood it. He felt it as the cool breeze slapped at his cheeks, as his coordination faltered when he tried to bring the nearly empty bottle of bourbon to his mouth. Especially when he thought of a girl with chocolate brown eyes and a responsive body who wouldn’t get out of his mind but didn’t want anything to do with him.

He grabbed his phone off the table and squinted to make the double vision singular again. Finding Sasha’s number, he typed a short text. After hitting the send button, he stumbled to his room to sleep off the alcohol and the feeling of failure.