Chapter 199

Miles sits behind the desk at his office in the headquarters. He is supposed to be reviewing the latest poll results and statistics, but instead, he has several browser tabs open, all connected to different social media sites. He’s tracking Esther’s name, seeing how effective the negative ads have been against her reputation.

So far, he’s almost more rage than he ever has in his life. The only other time he’s ever been angrier than this, was after Esther told him what Edward had done to her. Then, he’d wanted to search out every villain who had ever raised one unkind hand to Esther and personally remove those offending hands.

Esther’s insistence that they do things legally was the only thing that truly held him back. He’d do anything for her, even chain his own impulses.

But with each attack Edward brings against Esther, Miles is finding it more and more difficult to hold himself back.

Telling Edward to go fuck himself still showed a measure of restraint. Truly, Miles wanted to punch him in his damn, smug face.

These ads were amplifying those feelings, especially as Miles combs through the social media feeds and discovers, with rising disgust, that the ads are working.

People are bringing up Esther’s reputation and her past. Many are saying that she only has the job because of her father. The adoption isn’t a secret, so some have latched onto that, saying Esther, of an unknown background, could be the daughter of a criminal.

“Those genes get passed down,” says an ignorant comment on a post. Miles, logged in under a secret account, down votes everything he can find that talks badly about Esther.

It’s a lot, and takes up most of his morning.

Near lunchtime, Miles is so fired up that he logs into his main accounts to publically post on Esther’s behalf.

Esther Owens is a smart, capable woman who has been pivotal to any success I’ve gained over this campaign. Any attacks against her are untrue, unjustified, and disingenuous.

He clicks send. Immediately there’s a knock on his door.

“Come in,” he says. He expects Esther, but it’s Crystal who stands in the doorway.

She holds up her phone. “Sir, did you just…?”

“Yes.”

She seems conflicted, but nods. “As long as we weren’t hacked…”

Esther must be too busy this morning to notice his post. If Crystal looks this worried, he’s sure he’s in for a scolding from Esther later. He still won’t be taking it down though.

“If that’s everything, Crystal?” Miles asks, impatient in his anger.

“Right. Sorry, Sir.” She backs out of the room, closing the door before he can apologize for his rude shortness. He’ll apologize later. For now, he gets back to his feeds.

What’s worse than the visceral bullshit he’s reading now, is the knowledge that this is only the beginning. Even if Esther stays quiet about the past, as he demands, he’s unlikely to back off of his attacks of her.

Men like that don’t quit. The only victory they see is total and utter annihilation of their enemy.

For Edward, Esther is the enemy.

“What do we really know about Esther Owens?” reads one post. “If Edward hates her, she must really be a monster.”

Miles curls his hand into a fist.

In the past, Miles could use money and power to influence people. He’s always been confident, and he prides himself on his ability to outthink and outmaneuver his opponents.

But Edward is an enigma to him. Money and power won’t intimidate him. Miles’s charm won’t win him over, and since Miles doesn’t know all the sorted details of Edward’s past, Edward remains two steps ahead.

Miles doesn’t know how to navigate being on the back foot.

The only thing he can think to do is call Edward and find out exactly what he wants, from the source. It’s a terribly bad idea, he knows, and Esther would be adamantly against it.

Which is why Miles doesn’t tell Esther.

And he picks up the phone.

It’s surprisingly easy to get a hold of Edward. All Miles has to do is call his campaign headquarters, say who he is, and that he wants to speak to Edward.

“Mr. Zimmer has been expecting your call, Representative Hamilton,” the aide on the other end of the call says. “One moment while I transfer you.”

Miles frowns. If Edward is expecting him, that means he remains steps ahead. Damn it. Is Miles giving him exactly what he wants by calling him?

Too late to back out now.

“Miles, my boy,” Edward says as he picks up the phone. His tone is jovial, and entirely too familiar. This is the lazy charm that’s been winning over constituents. Miles doesn’t fall for it, knowing the snake that lies underneath. “Calling to concede? I admit, I thought you had a bit more fight in you. Or… is this an apology call? Surely you’d want to do this more publically, if that’s the case.”

“This is neither of those and you damn well know it,” Miles says. “You earned that fuck you, and I’ll continue saying it to you at every occasion. Fuck you, by the way.”

Edward tsks. “Every private occasion, I’m sure you mean. I can’t imagine this kind of immature posturing is very popular in the polls. In fact, I’m sure it’s not. I’m looking at them right now. Those numbers are tanking on your side. Thanks for helping flip the votes, though. Should I send you a fruit basket?”

“Fuck. Off.”

“Charming. Well, as pleasant as this is,” Edward says. “If you don’t want to actually talk about anything meaningful…”

Miles closes his eyes and forces a steadying breath. It’s his natural reaction to tell this bastard off. Even the sound of his voice makes Miles want to throw something.

But for Esther’s sake, he needs to calm down. He did call for a reason. He needs to see that through, even if he gains an ulcer from repressing so much rage.

“I have a question,” Miles says, stilted.

“Out with it then,” Edward says. His friendly tone starts to waver. “I’m losing my patience with you.”

Gritting his teeth, Miles forces out, “What do you want?”

“To win the election, Miles. To be president. What do you think any of this is about?”

“I mean, what do you want with Esther? What will it take for you to leave her alone?”

“Worried about your campaign manager, Miles? Or is it something… more between you?”

“Answer my damn questions.”

“I have no obligation to,” Edward says. “But… I suppose it doesn’t hurt me for you to know. Esther has always been a thorn in my side. She managed to escape me, thanks to that damn Owens bastard. I suppose, when you ask me what I want with her, I can only answer… a bit of fun.”

Miles clutches the phone tighter. The plastic creaks in his grasp. “And my other question? What will it take for you to leave her alone?”

Edward hums, as if thinking. He’s just playing with Miles, Miles knows. This is all a game to him.

“While she’s in the spotlight, she remains a temptation,” Edward says. “I suppose, the only way to truly protect her from me, would be to have her resign as your campaign manager.”