“But I was actually hoping to get Indian.” He spun me into his arms.
“Take out from both?”
He nodded, leading me to the car.
MELODY
“Miss my voice already?” Liam said on the other end of the line as I stood by the window.
“You really love yourself don’t you?”
He snickered. “Now that you mention it—”
“We will be losing another deputy commissioner soon,” I said, cutting him off before he got further off topic.
“Mina?”
“How did you know?”
“Neal just messaged me. It’s taken her long enough. She’s been part of this family for how many years now?”
I smiled, seeing my own reflection in the glass. “Some people are bloody animals, Liam, and others are poisonous plants. I told you she was different than Olivia. I could see it. She let him climb his way up so she could kick him down.” She was the silent killer, the one you never saw coming until it was too late.
“Something could be said about the women of this family.” He sighed to himself. “How will this affect you? The last thing we want is bad press.”
“Don’t you know I shine the most in chaos?”
“Enjoy, wife. I’ll keep bringing home the bacon.”
“I will pass; apparently it gives you cancer.”
He groaned. “Everything gives you fucking cancer—”
“Goodbye, husband,” I said quickly, hanging up before he could get another word in. Walking back to my desk, I sat back in the black leather seat, both the American and state flags standing behind me. I was reaching for the file Mina had left when there was a knock at the door.
“Enter.”
“Madam Governor.” Bruce, my secretary, poked his blond head inside as he pushed the black frame of his glasses up his crooked nose.
“What is it?”
“Mayor Weston is here demanding to see you.”
“Demanding?” Interesting choice of words.
“Yes, Governor.”
“Well don’t let him wait then.” I leaned back in my chair, crossing my legs. Bruce barely turned around before my least favorite mayor came barging in. “Benjamin, what can I do for you?”
“What can you do? What can you do?” He tried to contain himself, taking a deep breath. “Do you know why the governor’s office has always been in Springfield and not Chicago?”
“Insignificant planning?” I replied, almost bored.
“So there wouldn’t be internal strife between the chief executive of the third-largest city in the country and the governor’s office! This state is still reeling from severe financial problems stemming largely from unfunded pensions for workers, something you can’t possibly understand because, one, this is the first job you’ve ever had, and two, because you’ve got more money than you can even dream of.”
“Are you going to keep barking at me or are you going to give an example—”
“I proposed a new budget plan. The Chicago City Council all stood behind it and it should have been green-lighted today but instead, I hear that you made a few calls. No budget. No green light. This is not a game, Mrs. Callahan!”