My days now seem to be spent in complete and utter chaos. My entire campaign is imploding before my eyes like a match held to a gas tank.
With the influx of calls and me being up to my neck in emails, I barely have time to breathe. The insanity is overwhelming.
I realize the phone on my desk has been ringing non-stop so I reach over and finally answer it.
"Trask speaking," I say, fully expecting to hear some constituent yell at me about my morals, or lack thereof, or how I'm corrupting the people of this city, babies and grandmas alike, and even school children. Nothing would surprise me.
But instead, I realize it's a whole lot worse.
"Parker, look, I hate to do this to you, buddy, but I've decided to leave the campaign."
It takes me a minute to recognize the voice, but then it hits me; it's my Deputy Director, Scott.
"Scott, wait, hold on," I say. I'm trying not to beg because I don't fucking do that kind of thing, but I'm feeling pretty desperate at this point. "You can't do that. This campaign needs you."
And it's the fucking truth. I do need him. He's in charge of organizing our volunteers who fill out events and contact voters. Essentially, they're our fucking ground troops. I need his leadership in this arena, now more than ever.
"You're wrong. I can leave, Parker," he says solemnly, "and I am leaving because … I hate to say it, but the Governor's right. The sex trafficking, and Amy's sex store—well, it needs to be shut down. It's just wrong. Plain wrong … and a real shame. I have a family, and daughters of my own. I can't live with myself knowing that I'm letting this happen in our city. It's an eyesore."
"You do realize who we're talking about here," I say. "The Governor is a wolf in sheep's clothing. That much I can promise you. This isn't what it looks like."
"To be honest, I don't know who to believe anymore," Scott replies.
And with that statement, I know I've lost him and there's no getting him back. It's the nail in the coffin. One by one, I'm losing the trust of my campaign mangers.
This isn't fucking good.
I still have some loyal staff members sticking it out with me, but as I look around the office, I see we're spread pretty fucking thin.
Not everyone has outright quit, like Scott just did, but a whole lot of people are mysteriously calling in sick today, and that leaves me feeling pretty fucking uneasy.
I have to turn things around, and fast. The clock is ticking and I'm running out of time. I can feel the pressure of all of these events riding on my shoulders.
I turn up the volume to the TV mounted on my wall. It's the local news, and it's no surprise I'm still making headlines.
Today I'm still getting raked over the coals.
"Unlike his earlier campaign promises, it seems the last thing you want to do is 'ask Trask' for anything these days," a reporter says. "A taboo relationship with his stepdaughter, and then a sex trafficking ring—what's next for New York City's Mayor? What new lows can he possibly sink our city into next?"
Just fucking great. The media is eating this up.
The reporter continues, "In light of this scandal, Governor Kate Meelios is leading in the polls and in the majority of the counties in New York State as well as in the city."
The screen switches to a previously recorder interview with Meelios, and I watch as she hisses into a reporter's microphone. "I can promise one thing. If Parker Trask doesn't resign, I'm going to come in with the National Guard and close Kinky Amy's down. I think I've been very patient with my demands," she says, and despite the gravity of the situation, I can't help but laugh.
Patient? Is she fucking serious? I'd say she's been anything but patient and diplomatic. In fact, her lack of diplomacy is downright fucking frightening.
Meelios continues, "But enough is enough. I'm giving Mayor Trask two weeks to resign—for those counting, that's 14 days for him to do the right thing."
The screen pans back to the reporter. "You heard it straight from the source folks," she says. "Parker Trask has two weeks. Will he resign, or will he continue to drag this city through an asset freeze unlike one we've ever seen before?"
I grab the remote and click the power button, watching the TV screen fade to black.
I can't fucking listen to that anymore. I need to come up with a plan.
The Governor is out for blood, and every day that goes by, her fangs seem to come out just a little bit more, and a little sharper.
Just as I'm about to make some phone calls, Amy walks into the room.
I can't help but look at her gorgeous face, her perfect body, her perfect smile, and think how she's a ray of sun in this whole, dark shit storm.
She walks up to me, and places her hand on mine.
Before she can say anything, I lean over and give her a kiss, gently pressing my lips to hers. "It's been one hell of a day, and I'd love to grab lunch, or chat, but I'm really busy right now. I've gotta make some important calls. It's clear that Kate Meelios is on a warpath and my time is running out. The future of this campaign depends on the actions I make right now."
I grab my phone, bringing the receiver to my ear. "Can we catch up tonight?" I ask Amy.
I pose it as a question, but my body language suggests otherwise. I'm already mid-call when she looks at me and hesitates for a moment before speaking. "No, there's something I really need to tell you."
When she says this, I know it must be important so I place the phone back down on the receiver.
I carefully watch her face, listening, as she continues.
"Before you do anything," she says, "I think you should know … I'm pregnant."
"What did you just say?" I look at her in total disbelief. I don't know what I was expecting to hear come out of her mouth, but it certainly wasn't this.
I stand up from my chair and wrap my arms around her, drawing her into my chest. I lift her off the ground and give her a quick twirl.
"That's fantastic news!" I say.
"So, you're happy?" she asks. "I know the timing isn't ideal, with the drama of this campaign, and the all out war that Kate is launching against us and everything, but I'm happy. I'm really happy, Parker."
"And I am too," I smile, kissing the top of her head and breathing in the sweet scent of her shampoo.
"I love you so much, and now it's time for me to fight," I smile.
For us.
For our future.
For our unborn child.
I know what I need to do.
Something dramatic.
Something big.
I'm calling a press conference.
Parker