Emery

4.

My heart races as I follow him to a quiet, opulent room away from prying eyes. We take our seats on a plush velvet couch. I know exactly what he's paying for, so I go ahead and kneel in front of him about to unbuckle his belt while staring deep into his eyes.

"What are you doing?" He asks interrupting me.

"My job?"

"This isn't what I paid for." He says adjusting his pants. I give him a confused look standing up straight in front of him in my short tight silk dress.

"Senator...why did you go to such lengths if you don't intend to...have sex with me?" I asked, my voice betraying my confusion. He offered me a small smile, his eyes betraying a hint of vulnerability. "Well, I suppose I should explain myself. You see, I find myself in need of...company. Not the usual kind you provide here, but companionship. Someone to talk to, to share ideas with. And I think you could be that person."

I gave him a skeptical look, crossing my arms. "You're joking right? Don't be shy...I know exactly what you want, just let me do my job." I attempt to unbutton his shirt but he gently moves my hands away.

He chuckled, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

"My dear Emmy, you are intelligent, confident, and strong-willed. You've built this business from the ground up, and you've done it all on your own terms. I've been watching you. You're a force to be reckoned with, and I respect that. I want to understand that. I want to understand you."

His words were a balm, soothing the rough edges of my skepticism. Perhaps there was more to this man than I'd initially thought.

"You're very charming, Senator. But what do you really want from me?" I ask frustrated, raising an eyebrow.

The senator leaned back on the couch, running a hand through his sandy blonde hair. "I suppose I want...a connection. Something genuine. I've spent my whole life in the political arena, surrounded by people who want something from me, who see me as a means to an end. But with you...I feel like I can be myself."

His honesty, his vulnerability, caught me off guard. It was so different from the men I usually dealt with, the ones who saw me as an object, a plaything. I let out a hysterical laugh, because this man cannot be serious.

He stares at me with the most serious expression.

"Oh you're serious?"

"Sit down. Let's talk." He commands. I sit beside him. "Well, Senator you're certainly not like the other men I've encountered."

He smiled, a warm, genuine smile that reached his eyes. "I'd like to think that's a good thing."

We sat in silence for a moment, the air between us still crackling with possibility.

"Also, the name is Theo... Theophilus, not Senator "he says teasing me.

I crossed my legs, my expression guarded.

"Fine Sen...Theo, let's talk. Don't mistake my willingness to listen for interest. I'm still not convinced. After all, you are a politician. Charm and charisma are part of your job description."

The senator's smile faltered, but he didn't back down. "Emmy, I understand your skepticism. But I want you to know that my intentions are sincere. I may be a politician, but I'm also a man. And as a man, I've never met anyone like you."

"You don't know me."

"That's the thing! I'm trying to know you."

Hours pass. We had about 4 glasses of Whiskey, the conversation flowing freely while dipping into topics. Politics, art, and philosophy. The senator was quick-witted and erudite, his knowledge surprising me with its depth and breadth. The wine, the laughter, the companionship—it was all so heady, so intoxicating...different.

Somewhere along the way, our hands find each other, fingers entwine in a silent dance. And when the first rays of dawn began to filter through the windows, we fell asleep, our heads resting together on the plush velvet couch.