Chapter 200

“Esther,” Crystal says, stepping into my office in the headquarters. It’s around lunchtime. “Representative Hamilton wishes to speak with you.”

That’s not unusual. He probably wants to have lunch together.

“Thank you, Crystal,” I say and start wrap up my work for lunchbreak. It doesn’t take long. Then, I head into Miles’s office. Since he was expecting me, I don’t knock.

Surprisingly, he’s not sitting behind his desk, reading those reports I sent over. Nor is he on his phone, or seemingly doing any work at all. Maybe he wrapped up for lunch before me? Usually he’s always a few minutes behind, wanting to work until I practically had to drag him away.

Right now, he’s standing in the middle of his office. Holding the remote, he’s watching his television. The sound is on. It’s a recap of the debate, highlighting all of Edward’s greatest hits.

He glances, spotting me, then immediately turns off the television. Not muted – all the way off.

“Esther,” he says. “You’re here.” He seems almost dazed.

“Crystal said you wanted to talk to me…?” I ask in confusion.

“Right,” he says, and pushes a hand through his hair. “I didn’t forget. It’s just… my thoughts are all a clusterfuck right now. I feel like I’m in a bad dream.”

I can understand that, though this reaction seems a bit delayed. We’ve had a day now to work through all the pent up anger of the debate. Is he still holding onto his emotions? Or did something happen that’s bringing forward this new uncertainty?

“I know things are bad, but we’ll work through them. I’ve already been thinking of how we can spin things,” I say.

“It’s not just the spin that I’m worried about.” He tosses the remote onto the couch. “Esther…” He hesitates a moment, then seems to steel himself before he speaks to me again. “I’m thinking it might be time that we take this campaign in a different direction.”

“Okay…” What does he mean by that? “Do you want to go on the offensive against Edward? I’m not sure that’s the best strategy, but you know I will support you no matter what you –”

“No, Esther. I don’t mean that my campaign needs a new strategy. I mean that you and I… might need to go in different directions. In terms of the campaign.”

Now, I’m even more confused. “You totally lost me. It almost sounds like…” Oh. My stomach twists into an uncomfortable knot. “Miles… are you firing me?”

That’s what it sounds like. I laugh a little, because there’s no way it can be true. Surely Miles will laugh along with me and we’ll make a joke of this.

Any minute now…

He doesn’t say anything. Frowning, he glances away.

I take a step closer to him. “Miles? Tell me this is some kind of joke.”

“It’s no joke, Esther. I’m sorry. Bringing you onto this campaign was a mistake.”

I don’t believe him. “Look me in the eye and say that.” I move closer still, right up in front of him. He still doesn’t look at me, turning his head away now, even though his body continues to face mine.

No, I refuse to accept this, not when we are so far along with the election. Not when we are so close to moving past this. Yes, our campaign has taken a few dips lately, after the debate debacle, but there’s still time to bring our rating back up.

After everything Miles and I have faced together. How can he want to back out now?

And then, with a chill creeping over me, I have a sudden terrible idea of exactly how this could happen.

“Edward got to you,” I say.

“It doesn’t matter,” Miles says. “None of this matters. Not really. Not when we are faced with a very real threat to your life.”

“The election is important, Miles. You deserve the presidency.”

“Not at the cost of your safety,” Miles says. He looks at me now, and I’m faced with the same steely determination I’ve seen him give to other causes, other issues he’s passionate about. I know that look, know it means he won’t be swayed easily.

But that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up.

“You honestly think, that if you throw in the towel now, that Edward will go easy on me?” I ask. “That if he becomes president, all of this will be forgotten? He knows where I am now, Miles. He knows how to find me. He knows what hurts me. If he becomes president, even if we manage to expose him, he will be protected.”

“Don’t sell me so short, Esther. You’ve been a valuable asset to this campaign, but you aren’t the only talented campaign manager who I can call. I still have a shot at winning. A good shot. Even without you.”

It’s a sting to my ego, and to my heart. Here I thought I was vital to what was happening here. Of course Miles could win without me. He did fine before I came around, even if this place was in shambles when I arrived.

Maybe the staff now have enough experience and discipline to keep it together in my absence. Maybe the next person Miles hires will be better than me.

I don’t know. We can’t know. The uncertainty burns.

He’d rather face the unknown than have me at his side any longer.

No, I push down that hurt. This isn’t Miles talking, it’s Edward.

“He said something to you,” I say.

Miles straightens, and I know it’s the truth.

“You talked to him,” I push. “What did he say, Miles?”

“He said that if you resign, he would stop bothering you and your family.”

“And you believe that?”

“It’s the only thing I have to go on,” Miles says. “The alternative is, that it is growing harder and harder to protect you.”

“You’ve assigned more security. I’m as safe as I’ve ever been.”

“Did you know the security I hired stopped a man with a gun from trying to step onto you property, Esther?”

“What? When?”

“Last night. In the middle of the night.”

Fear shakes through me, but I push it down. “The security worked. It stopped him.”

“He’ll only grow bolder, the closer it gets to the election. It will only get worse.”

“That won’t stop if I’m gone, Miles. That will only make it more difficult for you to protect me.”

“You don’t know that for sure.”

“He’s a liar!” I say, my voice raising. Why won’t Miles listen to me? It hurts, how willing he is to throw me aside for the sake of my proposed safety. A blatant lie from Edward. “Tell me you don’t believe him over me. Tell me. Please.”

My heart is cracking.

Emotion fills Miles’s eyes, but he immediately hardens his face. “It’s not a matter of believing. Edward is a monster. There is no denying that. But I have to do whatever I can to keep you safe, Esther. Even if it isn’t right. You are a danger while you are here with me. If firing you is the only way I can save you, then I’ll do it.”

“This isn’t right, Miles.”

“I’m sorry.”

Tears well in my eyes. “If you do this, I’ll never forgive you. I’m warning you now.”

“I’ll take that chance. I’m sorry, Esther. You are fired.”