Page 70 of The Politician

“Senator Madison, we’ll need you through all this. You will have to be reelected.”

Lee sighed as he felt it. It was true, but he wanted out more than anything. “I met someone. I’m falling for him.”

“And he wants you out?”

“No, not exactly, but he wants me better. I will have to go along with all of them until we get them out, which would be a while.”

Hill never stopped staring, expecting him to fess up the rest.

“He’ll think I never changed, and if he continues to think that I’ll lose him.”

“How long will all this take?”

He knew he’d be spit balling, but he had to strain a guess. “As little as two years, as many as ten.”

“If he was absolutely trustworthy, you could tell him.”

Lee couldn’t imagine how that conversation would go. “Maybe. See, he’s the reason for the favors. I wanted something over on these people. First, to get him hired at a job he wants and then to keep him there. Then, after that, to keep anyone that knew about him and me, to keep quiet and not use it against us later.”

“Commendable.”

“Too little too late, but for him…anything. He’s made me want to be better.”

“Then we’ll protect him as much as we can.”

Lee knew the one and only way to truly protect him was to get him away from DC. Away from him…

He shook his hand before he left, yet another man that wanted him to leave everything he’d ever known behind him. He drove for a long time and when he made it back to the beach house, he couldn’t find Eli.

His mother was in the back, planting delphiniums into a pot. “Mother, have you seen my assistant?”

“He went for a walk on the beach, son. Strange one, that. How did you find him?”

“He was recommended to me, Mother. I’ll be back.”

“Don’t chase after him, Lee. Get cook to make you some food.”

“I’m fine, Mother.”

When he found Eli, he was shirtless, leaning back on his arms with his eyes closed, enjoying the sun and the soft sea breeze that was carrying over the gentle waves. The sound, soft, the day stretching, he hated to disturb him.

As he was about to turn back around and leave him to his tiny bit of peace, Eli spoke to him. “I heard you coming.” He held his hand to his face, blocking the sun from his eyes. “Didn’t know anyone could stomp on the sand.”

“Funny,” he said as he joined him. “Hey, I was wondering if…if after this week you can clear my schedule for two full weeks.”

“Two weeks? Lee, that’s not going to be easy.”

“I have some important meetings and a couple votes coming up this week, but next week, I think I just have more private movies.”

Eli was staring at him, then reached a hand to him before he snatched it back, looking around to make sure no one saw. That broke Lee’s heart. “I can do it, sure. Can you tell me why?”

“Not yet.”

“Are you okay? You look more tired than earlier. You look…worried.”

“I’m a senator. I’m always worried.”

“Lee…”

He smiled and hoped it wasn’t one he fed to the public, one of the fake ones. “I’m fine, Eli. I’ll tell you everything eventually, but first, I need some time off.”

“I agree. You need a few years off if you ask me.”

If he only knew how right he was.