Page 3 of Incisive

“Hey, big brother!” she brightly chirps in a tone I also recognize as the precursor to an ask.

Probably a gigantic one.

“What are you doing here? I’m busy.” Throwing her out at this point is useless. Worse than useless, because she’ll no doubt go screaming to any reporter who’ll listen that I evicted her.

Even more annoying, she’ll likely go to our parents and try to enlist their sympathy and support. That means it’s normally easier to prevent her access to me in the first place. Now that she’s here I need to deal with her as quickly as possible.

I make myself a mental reminder to leave orders with my detail to prevent future drop-ins. Especially at my new residence once I’m sworn in as VP.

Stella slips inside and closes my office door behind her while wearing a smile that further tightens my gut because I also knowthatexpression very well. She has an agenda that I’m not going to like.

“I wanted to talk to my brother for a few minutes. What’s wrong with that?”

“Because I’m busy. And you never just want to talk.” I make a show of rifling through a briefing binder. “What do you need? Please make it fast. I’m really busy and in a hurry.”

“You are sooo going to thank me later. I’m fixing you up with a date for the inauguration, and—”

“Nope.”

“At least hear me out!”

“No.” I finally focus on her, shooting her what I hope is a dark glare. “I don’t give a crap who it is. I’m not letting you fix me up with a date for anything.Stopit.”

The hurt shock on her face would make me waver if I didn’t know her tricks. “But it’s Grace Martin!”

“Absolutelynot.” I slam the briefing notebook I’m holding onto my desk and take great satisfaction in how she flinches. “I’m not letting you fix me up withanyone. Don’t want your help and don’t need it, either.”

“But she’s single and so are you. You’ve known her for years. Come on, do me a favor, huh?” The return of her sneaky smile tells me all I need to know. “Besides, I already promised her I’d talk to you about it. You know her family has money, and—”

Before I even process I’m doing it, I’m already rounding my desk and getting in Stella’s face, making her scramble back. I drop my voice and muster the best angry Leo impersonation I can.

“Let me make somethingperfectlyclear to you, Stella. I willnotlet you use me as a political favor vending machine. Now, I love you, and you’re my sister. But if you think you’re going to waltz yourself into the White House on my coattails, think again. Knock it off or I’ll have you banned from all access to me.”

Her eyes widen and from the way she blinks it’s obvious she didn’t expect this reaction. “Sheesh, all right. Calm the hell down, bro. I wastryingto do you a favor.”

“Don’t do meanyfavors. Are we finished here? Or do I need to have Secret Service add you to the no-access list now and save myself eight years of aggravation?”

And I mean it, too. I don’t want to be like that but I won’t put up with this.

Her gaze narrows and she crossed her arms over her chest. “You know I’m friends with a lot of important people, right? And so’s Grace. People who can make or break your career.”

“Are you threatening me? Because if you are, I’ll be happy to call a press conference and blow the whistle on you right now, so help me I will. I’m sure all your ‘friends’ will love seeing you make the news for trying to trade favors. FYI, I didn’t need any help from your so-called friends to get where I am today.” My heart pounds in my chest because I’ve never stood up to her like this before.

She studies me and apparently realizes she’s played her hand too far this time. Holding her hands up, she rolls her fucking eyes at me. “Chill the fuck out, El.”

I reach around her and open the door. With my best smile, and in a loud, cheery tone I know my staffers and the Secret Service agent stationed just outside my office door can hear, I say, “Thanks for stopping by, sis. Love you, too. Sorry I can’t spend time with you but I’m really swamped. I wish you’d called first.”

Her lips press into a grim, thin line as she obviously struggles not to say something that will get her tackled and tased by my protective detail. “Yeah, whatever,” she mutters. Then she turns on her heel and practically stomps out.

Once she’s gone I lean close to the agent just outside my door and speak into his ear. “No one other than my staff, campaign staff, President-elect Samuels, her husband, Kevin Markos, Leo Cruz, or Jordan Walsh make it past the outer door today while I’m here. And I want my sister’s access to campaign headquarters and to my residence revoked immediately until further notice.”

Not that I think Jordan will randomly show up today, but a guy can dream, right?

That’s a whole ’nother complicated emotional issue.

Without even batting an eye the agent nods. “Yes, sir.” He speaks into the microphone concealed under the wrist cuff of his jacket to pass the order on.

I retreat into my office and close the door, taking a moment to lean against it and haul in deep, shaky breaths as adrenaline courses through me.