A Presidential Affair

Ch. 10 - Lifting The Veil

JANUARY 14: MIDNIGHT: PRESIDENT ANDREW CLAXTON

I heard the door slam as Henry and Tania left. Why did I let them go? Because, there was nothing anyone could do to stop the truth that would be exposed to the nation.

All that was sitting on my mind was my wife and kids, all the events that would take place once they knew.

Gentry was sitting their in silence with his hands folded together in deep thought. "Call your wife. She was worried about you."

He handed me over his phone and I dialed her number, "Hello? Gentry?" I felt my eyes water, "It's me honey. I'm okay, I forgot to call you."

She started sobbing, "ANDREW! I was worried sick. Thank God you're okay honey, will you be home soon?" I turned to Gentry and he nodded no.

"No sweetie, I'll be home tomorrow. There's a lot going on. I love you okay?"

She groaned, "Ugh, I guess I'll have to be patient and wait for you to be home tomorrow. Love you sweetie." With that, she hung up.

Gentry looked at me with his nostrils flared. "Geez, you're such a good liar."

The muscles in my face tightened, "Thanks." Gentry stood and started pacing around the room, "So, what then? You just let your wife see the news one day and say oops?" I forked my hair through my fingers.

"I don't know Gentry. I don't know how to fix this because I can't. YVETTE WILL LEAVE ME AND TAKE THE GIRLS WITH HER."

Gentry rolled his eyes, "All of that is your fault Claxton. Are you going to stay here the night or want me to leave you at a hotel or one of your other properties?"

I lifted my shoulders in a shrug, "Hotel I guess."

Gentry drove me to the nearest hotel. I took a shower and lied down on the bed to rest for the night when my phone rang. It was two in the morning, why was Rocklin texting?

"Hello?"
"Andrew, I can take care of Henry and Tania." My jaw tightened, what did she mean by "take care of."
"What do you mean?"
She took a deep breath, "I know some people. For the right price, they can absolve the situation." 

I was shaking my head, as if she could see me.
"No. I won't have blood on my hands. What happened is our fault. Just let it be and, leave me alone." I heard her scoff on the other end.

"Goodbye Andrew. Tell those punks to watch their backs."

She wouldn't do something to them, would she? God, I hope not. I called Gentry immediately to tell him to warn Tania and Henry. "Gentry speaking." 

"Gentry, you have to take care of Tania and Henry. Rocklin threatened them, saying she would try to have them taken care of. I don't want those two getting hurt, they're just youngsters."

Gentry groaned, "Geez, it's two in the morning. I'll head over to their hotel now and call them. I'll get them back to New York safely okay?"

I sat there thinking of the ripple effect my stupid actions had caused. My wife would be broken, my girls would grow up and realize what an awful father they had, Henry and Tania may be in danger, and now Gentry hated me for everything I'd done. How could I slip so easily?

I thought back to the dreadful things I told Henry, round two. His dead mother, I really am a monster.

I deserve that title, not one of a man that should be of great promise such as The President. I didn't know how to fix this, I didn't want to lose my wife or my kids or my life. I wanted to go back in time and appoint a different Secretary of State.