Chapter 5

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~ A/N: So for anybody that didn't see the time skip update on the last chapter, it was Thursday in Ch. 10 and it's now Friday morning, the day of the gala. The impeachment trial isn't over yet! It ended Feb. 4 this year and storyline-wise we're not even halfway through. ~ 

I was woken up at 4:40 the next morning by my phone ringing. An unknown number was on the caller ID screen, but I frowned and picked up anyway.

"Hello?" I asked, trying to shake the sleep out of my voice.

"Ashton. Did I wake you?" I sat up straight, hand running through my hair (nervous habit). Romney. Why the fuck- what? He sounded distracted, talking quickly.

"No," I said, rubbing my eyes.

"I doubt it. I'm going to need you to come in early today," he said.

"Well, you certainly called early enough," I said, swinging my legs over and standing up. "Russell Building?" I asked.

He laughed quietly, "Yes."

"Give me-" I pulled my phone away from my ear to check the time. "Forty minutes."

"Thank you," Romney said, and I felt myself glow, smiling despite the fact that I should be irritated at missing sleep. He hung up and I showered quickly, changing into my uniform and combing my hair. I took a cab to the Russel Building, opening the doors and flashing my badge at the receptionist, Olivia, who nodded and waved me to the elevators. 

I pressed the button for the suite section Senator Romney was in, waiting as the elevator doors opened and I made my way to his office down the hall. I stuck my head in the doorway. He was sitting at his desk, jacket off, dress shirt sleeves rolled up and tie loosened. Files were spread across his desk, papers everywhere. Probably from the trial, documents from the case managers. He looked exhausted. He'd probably been there all night. 

"Sir?" I asked, leaning slightly against the doorframe. 

He looked up, sitting back in his seat. "Ash. Sit down," he nodded at the chair in front of his desk. I looked up sharply. He never used my nickname. Hell, even some of the other senators did, but he'd never used anything other than Ashton or "Mr. Connor" in front of reporters or other senators. I sat anyway.

He looked at me, eyes moving from my hair (somewhat done, a few strands hanging in my face) to my face (tired and probably pale as fuck) and then meeting my eyes. He gestured at the papers on the desk. 

"Do you know when the last impeachment trial took place?" 

I frowned. There'd only been three before this one, and it was easy to remember them. "1998," I said. 

"I wasn't in a political position in 1998," he explained. "I became governor of Massachusetts in 2003. Before then, nothing." I nodded. Relatively easy-to-find information. 

"It was Bill Clinton's impeachment. A huge scandal. No president had ever done something like that," he said. "And now this president. The Ukraine scandal. Obstruction of Congress. Abuse of power." I knew the charges, but I let him go on, with a feeling that this had a point if I waited for it. 

"My entire party wants to acquit him. Some think he did nothing wrong. Or that his actions were wrong, but not impeachable. Others worry that their reelections depend on this trial, and that removing him would upset their voters." He leaned back and let out a breath. 

"And I can't decide," he finished. 

I furrowed my eyebrows. I wasn't a Republican by any stretch of the word, and I wasn't sure what he meant by the statement. 

"On what, sir?" I asked quietly, the silence making my voice seem so much louder.

"Whether to acquit him or vote to remove him," the senator said, looking at me. "He'll be acquitted whether or not I vote to do it. But I took an oath to put my political biases and personal feelings aside, and imply impartial justice." I nodded. "And looking at all of this-" he waved a hand at the documents. "It's hard to not think he's guilty." 

I met his gaze. "If you think he's guilty, vote to remove him," I said, and when he didn't respond immediately I held my breath. Had I overstepped? Shit. 

He looked up and over at me. "And that's what you would do?" 

"I wouldn't be in your party, sir, so yes," I smirked slightly, trying to bring some humor into the situation. He snorted. 

"Even if you were a Republican, I can see you doing that," he said, tipping his head back, his voice holding a note of something I couldn't identify, but he seemed happier. I couldn't help a smile. 

"Are you going to the gala?" Romney sat up and looked expectantly at me. 

"Gwen's making me go," I grinned. 

"Not one for fancy gatherings?" He teased. 

"Not really. I usually spend my evenings watching bad movies and pointing out plot holes. With pizza," I replied. 

"Sounds better than this," he said, picking up the invitation. 

"I'm just surprised pages were invited." I said, shrugging. 

"You're over 18," he said. "The younger pages, we'd have to get parental permission, and it's complicated. We figured your age group is mature enough to go." He arched an eyebrow over the rim of his glass as he picked it up and took a sip of water. 

I grinned deviously. "Don't count on it, sir. The younger pages are probably more mature than most of us." 

"That's a shame. None of them are quite as interesting," Romney countered, and I flushed. He watched me for a moment more as I looked down, fidgeting with a fold in my pants. The moment passed quickly though, and he stood. 

"I'm giving you and Ms. Woods the day off," he said. I raised my eyebrow. 

"So I'm here at-" I checked my non-existent watch, "The crack of dawn for you to tell me I don't have to come in today?" 

He smirked. "And maybe another reason, but let's go with that." I flushed again- stop that! 

"Gwen's gonna have a field day with this," I smiled up at the senator as I stood from my seat. He walked me to the elevators. I turned to face him as I stepped inside, grinning. 

"I'm sure she will," he said warmly. 

"Bye, Senator," I said, pressing the "Lobby" button. 

"Bye, Ash," he replied, hands in pockets as the doors close. 

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