The Mayors daughter

3| Fake Date

Charlie

I wake up with the most painful headache of all time. My alarm clock reads 11:30 am, which means I have two hours to get ready for our press conference.

My dad makes our whole family sit on a panel and answer questions for our community. Last year, some guys used it as an opportunity to ask me out on a date. Let's just say I never went on a date with him and he was no longer allowed to attend the panel meetings.

My sisters fall out of their rooms into the hallway around the same time with the same hungover expression on all of our faces. Us, Bankston's can drink so much to the point of where we don't even know if we are drunk.

Bethany and I walk into our shared bathroom. Some rules about our house is the 3rd floor bathroom is mine and Bethany's. It's off limits for everyone else.

"So Charlie, I see you were out with Hudson. What did y'all do?"

My cheeks turn red and my memory starts to flood back.

The image that keeps popping up in my head is grinding against Hudson constantly.

"Danced. Very inappropriately might I add."

Bethany howls with laughter. "You're all over every news page. Now the tabloids really think y'all are dating."

I find myself even more embarrassed. I finished brushing my teeth and washing my face before going into my closet.

I decided on a black and white gingham skirt , with a white turtleneck and a black trench coat. I zip up my black high heel booties, check my makeup, pop some Tylenol and head out the door. My dads driver, Harold, picks us up in an SUV. My two grown sisters and I squeeze into the back while my parents get the two middle seats.

"Charlie, please don't be stupid today," Alaina says with a side eye. "Your outfit is already embarrassing enough."

"Alaina Jane, hush." My mother bellows. Alaina is being a certified bitch and it's pissing me off. My outfit is cute compared to hers.

After our little argument, Dad preps us on what to say to the press. "Feed them what they want to hear." His motto since day one.

We get out of the car and confidently walked into Town Hall. We assume our roles in the seats on the panel and begin.

This man mid-forties with a thick beard and sorta gruffy walks up to the microphone first.

"Afternoon, Mayor Bankston and His wonderful family. My question is for Charlene. Are you really with Hudson Kennedy?"

My cheeks turn bright red.

"That is highly inappropriate-" I cut my dad off by answering myself.

"Yes we are. Highly committed as well." The town hall erupts into claps and cheers. Usually it's the opposite.

The next person who walks up is a young mother who looks around 22. She has a toddler and a newborn with her.

"When are we going to have the lawyer in the clinic? I need help bad." I see her begging eyes.

"Right away, ma'am. I will be the new lawyer present at the clinic, effective immediately." My dad has a huge smile on his face. He seems to be proud of me as I answer the towns questions with confidence and ease.

"Our wages are not high enough, I'm barely surviving off of each paycheck." A young man, no older than 30.

"We are working on passing the petition for high wages right now." Alaina says.