Page 14 of Incisive

Which sounds stupid, I know.

I kept thinking there would be some last-minute change of heart on her part. Leo assured her he could control me and there was zero chance of me undermining or challenging her during her two terms. He outright admitted that to me and he’s absolutely correct.

That’s not the only reason she chose me but it elevated me from a top-tier contender to being her first pick.

Now? Here I am.

With my game face on I walk down to the West Wing, Jordan at my side while we’re shadowed by a cadre of Secret Service agents.

For me, one of the worst adjustments about taking office as POTUS was no longer seeing Leo nearly every day at work. When I was VP, Leo would always find an excuse to stop by my office in the West Wing, even if just to pop in and say hello. Now, he still works for Shae as her body man and personal assistant. He can freely come and go from the White House, including moving around the executive residence unaccompanied because I added him to the full access list. His years working for the Secret Service, the common knowledge he’s my best friend, and his job working for Shae means his presence draws no suspicion.

Back when Shae was officially nominated as the party’s candidate, and she and I began receiving full-time protection, Leo chosePlumberas my Secret Service codename. Shae isPortia, Chris isPriest, and Kev isProphet. Their three kids also havePdesignations.

Leo joked that he pickedPlumberfor me because I’m great at laying pipe.

When I was elected president, the Secret Service gave me the option of changing my codename but I kept it. I think when I work up the nerve to marry Leo I’m going to requestPillarfor his codename—because that’s what he is, supporting me all these years.

OrPookie.

Which I’m reasonably certain would playfully irk him and amuse the hell out of his former coworkers.

The NatSec team meets me in my private study just off the Oval Office for my PDB. I even take these briefings on Sundays and holidays, although they try to keep those as light and short as possible. I don’t take “days” off—I takehoursoff.

If I’m lucky.

Because I have to be ready even if they awaken me at three in the morning. That’s the job I was elected to. I refuse to waste taxpayer dollars golfing every weekend and getting flown all over the country for ego-stroking campaign rallies like some past presidents. In fact, I travel as little as possible. Jordan combines as much government business as he can into every trip I take to reduce the overall costs.

Besides, what spare “personal” time I do have in my schedule I prefer to spend it behind a safely locked bedroom door with Jordan and Leo.

When I do take “vacations,” it usually means a long weekend spent at Camp David, where I’m still working every day because staff and advisors travel with me.

Once my PDB ends I remain in my study. Jordan will get me when it’s time for me to move to the Oval for my next meeting.

Today I didn’t bother with my contacts. I didn’t have the patience to deal with them with the way my leg’s aching. I pull my glasses off, drop them onto my desk, and rub my eyes. When I swivel my chair to look out the window I pause to study the joyful and brightly decorated Christmas tree standing in the far corner.

Jordan erected and decorated it for me Thanksgiving Day weekend with Leo’s help, while I sat on the floor as ordered, clothed in sweats but wearing my leather collar, where I was in charge of untangling and handing ornament hooks to them. This tree, like the one up in the residence, is decorated with personal ornaments from Jordan’s own collection.

It’s an artificial tree because a real one wouldn’t be able to support the weight of all the ornaments. Still, a large, live wreath carefully decorated and hung over my study window fills the room with a sharp, piney scent that lends an extra hint of magic to this time of year.

Christmas is Jordan’s favorite holiday. He loves sharing the traditions he enjoyed with his beloved Mimi and brightens our lives with them to show his love for us in the only ways he can.

It used to be my favorite holiday, too, once upon a time.

Now, it’s just one more season of open speculation by the media about my private life.

Ten years ago, Christmas was also the holiday where I finally forced myself to be a tiny bit brave and reach out as much as I dared toward Jordan for the first time.

CHAPTERFIVE

THEN

Jordan Remington Walsh.

Meeting this man changes the course of my life forever. There’s not a moment of that night I can’t remember with piercing clarity.

When I first walk into the campaign office and see Jordan with Leo, I instinctively know Leo is already into him. No one else recognizes the signs but no one in that room knows Leo as well as I do.

The way Leo leans toward Jordan and focuses all his attention on the gorgeous guy.