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Sensing Trey's movement in my periphery, I whip out an arm, stopping him from doing something we would all regret.

“No, you disgusting pig. I have proof of it all,” I snap.

“Of my fat cock? Of course you do. I've fucked half this city.”

“Of the drilling on federal land that you sanctioned for personal gain, the illegal selection of which companies to hire, the offshore bank accounts of those companies which are linked to other companies who supply most of the metal, machinery, and arms to our military . Oh, and let's not forget a few terrorists groups that are also utilizing those funds to attack our allies, forcing us into a battle that we caused. And that's just page fucking one of the shit you’ve gotten us into!”

All humor slides from his face, leaving a cold menacing glimmer in his calculating eyes.

“I see.”

“Do you?” I snap. Reaching up, I fling the twisted napkin onto the table and pinch the bridge of my nose. “I can’t believe you did this. It’s over, Kyle. I know, and there’s nothing you can do to stop this from moving forward. You’ve made your bed, and now you have to lie in it.” I take a slow breath to steady my shaking voice. “You have two options here, Kyle. Step down from the president role effective immediately—you can make up whatever bullshit reason you want—or Iofficiallyfile this detailed evidence with the Department of Justice, who will kick off the impeachment process.”

His scoff is forced. “It wouldn’t get past the House.”

I cock my head and meet his gaze straight on. “Kyle, when this information is released, impeachment will be the least of your worries. Powerful leaders here in DC would be swept up in the case, their names all over the media. Not only would you have them to worry about, but the American people will know what you've been doing. That their hardships for the past year were all due to your greed. So yeah, you might be right about the House, but it won't matter at that point. You'd be ruined, if not dead.”

I swear the silence in the room has a pulse. My muscles tremble and twitch with anticipation of his response. I swallow past a dry throat and shoot a worried glance at Trey.

As casually as if I'd never said anything at all, Kyle huffs out a laugh. Lips against the rim of a newly filled highball glass, he smiles. “Do you really want to do this, Walmart?” His words are muffled by the glass. “Play with the big boys?”

“You know where I stand with things like this, Kyle. My world is black and white. I wasn't raised in the moralless haze of gray like you. We’re on the verge of war because of the sequence of events you started. Do you really think I’d sit back and just let that happen without a fight?”

“This goes against the contract you signed, if you remember. You will have to pay every last cent back that we spent to help you land this role.”

“I understand.” The sudden urge to pee slams through me. I seal my thighs together to make sure a few nervous drops don't slip out. Because the truth is yes, I’m aware I'll be forced to pay it all back, but how? Well, that’s something I haven't quite figured out.

“And where is this alleged evidence you have against me?” The calm in his voice is scarier than the snakelike grin.

The flash drive I'd asked Trey to hold on to appears next to me. Without looking, I snag it from his extended fingers and place it on the table. Slowly I inch it across the table toward Kyle, the tension tightening with each little push.

Disdain drips from the snarling look Kyle gives the flash drive now resting beside his glass.

“You don't expect me to give you an answer tonight, do you? To step down from the most powerful position in the world based on this supposed evidence?”

I nod. We assumed he’d balk at the presentation of evidence that he hasn’t reviewed.

“I require a decision from you by eight o’clock tomorrow morning. If I don't have your resignation letter in hand at that time, I’ll send that very large file of incriminating evidence to Sam. I don't think I have to tell you how quickly he'll act.”

“I see.”

“Do you?” I question. “You're taking this in stride right now, which is kind of freaking me out.”

“Ah, Walmart. It's easy to be calm when you still hold all the cards.”

“What?” The word is more a pushed breath. I’m still attempting to understand the meaning behind his words when he stands from his seat, towering over the small table. Taking his time buttoning his suit jacket, he straightens his shirt sleeves and gives me a mocking bow.

“Until tomorrow.”

“Eight o’clock, Kyle. I mean it.”

“Or sooner.” I swear he's stifling a haughty laugh.

Two of his agents stride to the door and step through, followed by Kyle and the other three agents right behind them.

“That was cryptic.” I fail to add the lightness to my tone I was going for, the creeping dread from his words keeping the relief I hoped to have after this meeting was done at bay. “What do you think he meant by him holding all the cards?”

The plates rattle against the white tablecloth as I use the table as leverage to scoot the chair back a few inches. Slacks sliding along the smooth wood of the seat, I twist toward the guys. Trey’s typing furiously on his phone while T has his sealed to his ear, both their faces fierce with concentration.