POWER

Chapter Twenty

''So Jordan must be, what five?''

'' Four. He'll be five in April.''

After the hatred and anger from the previous night, Faith and Joseph decided to sit down and discuss everything calmly (naturally with a bottle of wine.) The conversation was long and intense as they both admitted to details on their affairs and try to find a way to reconcile. ''He looked like you, your son at the press conference. That's how I knew Stacy was legitimate. He had your eyes Joe.'' Her husband smiled and took another sip of wine – they felt it took the edge of.

'' So what are we going to do? I don't want to divorce if a scandal will hurt your campaign but...''

'' It's already a scandal. The press loves it.''

'' Faith I'm sorry. I know I failed you, us, on a personal level but I never wanted our problems to complicate your professional life.''

He always knew deep down it would hurt Faith but he had never even considered the effect it could have on the campaign. Faith had worked ever so hard yet had lost so much. She deserved to win.

They both returned to separate hotel rooms (Joseph decided to stay with Kendall and Jason.) Joseph unlocked the door and found Kendall sitting by the table, he had expected her to be asleep as the hour had grown late. ''How did it go?'' Kendall had always been closer with her father and knew he wouldn't lie to her.

''Better than I thought but she's right, I should have told her.''

'' Dad she never told you about her relationship with Josh.''

'' He didn't get her pregnant.''

'' Dad he probably didn't have time. He died, remember.''

'' Yes Kendall thank you for that reminder.'' Joseph spent the remainder of the night on Kendall's sofa and before they knew it, the morning came.

Faith woke up late once again as Taylor tried to wake her up. ''Mom, Tamara's at the door. She wants to talk to you.'' Tamara was sat in the living area when Faith entered (Faith was still wearing her night gown.)

''My apologise for my attire, it's been a hectic few days and I wasn't expecting anyone.'' This was true, Faith had no plans until the following morning but she hadn't just overslept. Due to the campaign's busy schedule, she had been struggling to sleep without taking her prescribed medication. Her doctor just hadn't found a suitable dosage yet.

''Please, don't worry about it. I wanted this to be a casual and off-the-record conversation, just between us. I know we're supposed to be enemies but I'm a wife too and so I'm here, if you ever want to talk.''

''Ok thanks I'll keep that in mind. Was there anything else?''

''No, that was it. And Taylor it was lovely to meet you.''

As innocent and Tamara's short visit could have been, there was clearly going to be some sort of hidden motive. Faith had been waiting for Tamara's retaliation.

The day dragged on and not a lot changed: journalists were still obsessed with the scandal, Faith was still feeling sorry for herself in her night robe and people were still counting down the hours until the final election.

Faith was sat on the sofa licking the salt of the pretzels while re-listening every sad song Adele ever wrote. In her career she had never been so successful but in her personal life she had never felt so down.

''Mom this needs to stop.''

'' What does?''

'' This. You.''

'' Taylor, I'm fine.''

'' Come on.''

''Where?''

Taylor forced her mother to get dressed into a pair of jeans and the baggiest t-shirt they could have found. She then treated them both to massages and facials in the hotels' spa facilities. The room was warm and cocktails were being served every half an hour as their toes were painted and their faces were applied with face masks.

Once the girls were relaxed and calmer than they were when arriving they left to get food. The restaurant they chose was quiet and for once they weren't being followed by anyone from the press. It was a small, cosy place with comfortable chair for people who merely wanted to order a cappuccino or a white Americano. But there were also numerous tables with cutlery already laid out ready for people to order their meals. Faith and Taylor were looking over their menus, discussing what they were going to eat when Faith's phone started to ring. It was Jason.

'' Mom, if you need to answer it...''

'' No.'' Faith declined the phone call ''we're taking a break from politic for the night.''

But her phone kept ringing. Again, and again. And again.

''What? I said to give me the day to...''

'' Faith there's twenty-four hours until either you or Tamara become president so you can focus on family values in forty-eight hours. Your supposed ally Tamara, is on national television slating your husband, thus slating you and suggesting you have an open-marriage. You don't, do you?''

''What, of course not. Like you said, it's election day tomorrow and she's desperate.''

''Faith, desperate people are dangerous. You never know what they might say.''

~A/N~

Hello!

Quick apologise for my late update and I'm going to worn any readers in advance that I won't be updating next Friday either as I'm going to be away. Hope you all liked the chapter :-)