Page 122 of Original Sin

‘Talk.’

A bottle of Pouilly–Fumé was chilling in a silver bucket on a table beside him.

‘A drink before lunch?’ he asked, pouring her a glass. ‘Then how about we take a walk?’

Liz took off her shoes and followed him down a flight of wooden steps to the beach. She could tell that summer was winding to a close by the way the sand underfoot was losing its heat.

‘Can I ask you something?’ he said.

‘Of course.’

They had reached the shore and paused for a moment to listen to the crashing sound of the Atlantic waves.

‘Is Brooke committed to David?’

As much as it annoyed Liz to see her sister as America’s crown princess, she could see how it might have its advantages.

‘Absolutely,’ replied Liz. ‘Why do you ask?’

‘You heard she refused to go to a fundraiser dinner with him the other week? Some meeting in LA for one of her books was apparently more important.’

Liz smiled inwardly, feeling a rush of pleasure at the power she had in her hands right now. What if she told him that no, Brooke would not make a committed wife for his son, then what would Wendell Billington do? Would that bring the whole thing crashing down?

‘I shouldn’t worry,’ smiled Liz. ‘Brooke is just playing at publishing. Of course David has to let her run with it for now, but she will soon tire of it. She loved the social scene when she left Brown and now she complains about attending fundraisers?’ Liz laughed. ‘Give her time. Every young girl these days wants to feel as if she has a career. But that will change when she’s married, trust me.’

‘Well, of course I don’t object to her having a career,’ replied Wendell quickly. ‘Nothing wrong with that, but we don’t want her becoming a ball–breaker on us all of a sudden. David wouldn’t like it. He doesn’t like clever girls, never has. And, on the other hand, I don’t want him to appear a lightweight. A wife with a career, a small, successful career is fine, up to a point.’

‘Wendell, it would be hard to find anyone less controversial than Brooke – you must know that. She is perfect for David.’

Wendell was nodding his head. ‘Good. Because from now on we don’t need any more distractions.’

‘Why?’

He touched her arm and motioned for her to walk back up the sand to the house. She looked at him sideways, with a pique of annoyance. What was with the politics lesson? She had come here for a purpose, an agenda she thought was clear the minute he had phoned her private line. Liz began to wonder if she had misread the signals. Was he mocking her, bringing her out all this way, only for an innocent ‘getting to know you’ session? What would he think of her? Gullible, egocentric, a slut? Anger flashed inside her. She had rarely met a man who did not find her sexually attractive, it was one of her gifts, like a photographic memory and great posture; and while she conceded that Wendell was her future brother–in–law’s father, it was hardly incest. Besides, Wendell Billington was one of the most ruthless businessmen in the country: he’d been known to completely destroy people who stood in his way. He was certainly not above fucking someone he shouldn’t.

‘It looks like a Congressional seat in Connecticut will be coming available shortly,’ continued Wendell.

Liz tried to compose herself. It wasn’t over yet. ‘But it’s mid–term, surely?’

‘It would be a special election. The Congresswoman for the sixth district is going to announce her retirement in the New Year on the grounds of ill–health. The district leans Republican, and David would be perfect for it, although with his profile at the moment I think he’d win it even if the district were Democrat.’

Liz looked at him with increased respect, wondering how he’d got this information, even wondering whether Wendell in some way had influenced the Congresswoman’s decision to retire. With his reputation, she would not put it past him.

‘I thought David wanted to wait until the Congressional general election in a couple of years’ time?’ said Liz, as they approached the steps up to the house.

Wendell shrugged. ‘Yes, that was the original plan. My advisers have been eyeing up open or vulnerable seats in New York and Connecticut, states he can claim residency in through his own home or Belcourt, but it will certainly be easier this way. After all, David is still a political rookie, so he’s by no means a sure thing. But if David can win the special election, and we’ll put every resource behind him to make sure that happens, he’ll be an incumbent congressman at the general election. He’ll certainly win that. That will give him three years in the House, then we can move him up to Senate. I’ve already had meetings with some GOP seniors and a very well–respected campaign consultant. Everyone is agreed that David should make the move now.’

‘So, president by forty–five?’ she asked playfully.

‘Why not?’ said Wendell candidly. ‘We don’t just want the presidency, we want a notable presidency. As good as Lincoln, as dynamic as Kennedy.’

Liz nodded, pondering how ambition was such a limitless beast. Now matter how successful you were, there was always more to be done; it was something she understood very well. She also understand

why David’s political future was so important to Wendell. The Billingtons were rich beyond most people’s imagination, but having all the money they needed or wanted, they now desired power. More power equals more money, and so the cycle continues.

Wendell stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked at Liz.

‘You know you could have a future in politics, Liz,’ he said with a smile. ‘Although I’m not sure our families can cope with two rising stars.’