Resume Of Romance

Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Senator Aiden Layton stands at the podium scanning the room of perspective donors as he gives his speech. His eyes land on a table filled with several wealthy businessmen including Abram Kessler. Looking to the left of a seated Mr. Kessler is a table reserved for Braxton Holdings. The occupants seated at it are not the moneyed men Aiden was expecting to see. The table seats the company's COO, Marisol Lopez, its Deputy Director Langston Shepard and a woman Aiden is not familiar with but assumes is one of the company's executives.

Aiden is angered that none of the Braxton men are present at his fund raiser. The event appears to have numerous empty tables that doesn't bode well for his campaign finances. Several of the political figures, millionaire and billionaire CEO's that are missing are clients of The Mansion and Braxton Holdings. He fears Chace Braxton has gotten to them advising them not to have any association with him. He's aware that some of the men on the list that Monique stole have kept their attorney's close, while other's have gone underground afraid their names will end up mentioned in some illegal activity in the latest news cycle now that the whereabouts of Monique Cameron are known and she's had the baby. News of who the baby's father is hasn't been publicized. He's still waiting for Gavin or Ivana to contact him with a confirmation that it's Jayson Braxton and not him.

Abram Kessler informed him just before he started speaking that Ivana was on her way to the hospital to try again to find out what she can. He assures him she knows better this time and will not do anything to get arrested.

Aiden glances off stage at his wife. She's in an animated conversation with one of his guys from his security detail. She and Aiden have been married for eight years and have no children. Her parents have been after them for the last three years to make them grandparents. Mrs. Layton has made it clear that her father is bankrolling Aiden's campaign re-election and he is not happy with Aiden's fund raising turnouts lately. The lack of turnout has caused Mrs. Layton a lot of embarrassment in front of her family and socialite friends. Her father has several questions about it but Aiden never seems to be around to answer those questions.

His wife's mother has put the idea in his wife's head that he may be having an affair as the reason for his constant inattentiveness. Aiden is worried that his wife's father has someone watching him. The Senator is deeply concerned that the Mansion list which has his name and type of proclivities on it is in the hands of Chace Braxton. There are several other politicians' names on that list along with the type of sexual activities they too enjoy, all of them are worried that their political dreams will be shattered. Their opponents will use any means necessary to get that list, money is not an issue for any of them.

If the information gets out Aiden and his political friends will spend most of their time fighting off the stories that will be circulated daily in the news about them instead of running their campaigns. He worries that the small donors he has will dry up and his biggest donor, his wife's father will force his wife to divorce him. He's broken off all contact with Quinton and Asa but desperately needs to find out what he can about Monique and her baby. He's hired Mason Livingston's firm to represent Monique hoping that his personal connection to her and Mason's personal dislike of Chace will help him get what he wants.

Aiden is almost finished with his speech when he notices Langston pull his phone out checking to see who's calling him. He keeps his focus on him as Langston gets up from the table quickly leaving, the phone plastered to his ear. He leaves the room for several minutes. Just as the Senator is saying his last words Langston rushes into the room speaking quietly to Marisol and Carolyn, they grab their purses and hurry from the room leaving no one at the table. It pisses the Senator off, his gaze shifts to Abram Kessler. Mr. Kessler is now checking his phone but puts it back in his pocket not seeming concerned.