“No. Thank you. I’ll see you at four.”
Peter Tager started to leave.
“Peter.”
Tager turned. “Yes?”
“Tell me something. Do you think I really have a chance of becoming president?”
“What does the senator say?”
“He says I do.”
Tager walked back to the desk. “I’ve known Senator Davis for many years, Oliver. In all that time, he hasn’t been wrong once. Not once. The man has incredible instincts. If Todd Davis says you’re going to be the next President of the United States, you can bet the farm on it.”
There was a knock at the door. “Come in.”
The door opened, and an attractive young secretary walked in, carrying some faxes. She was in her early twenties, bright and eager.
“Oh, excuse me, Governor. I didn’t know you were in a—”
“That’s all right, Miriam.”
Tager smiled. “Hi, Miriam.”
“Hello, Mr. Tager.”
Oliver said, “I don’t know what I’d do without Miriam. She does everything for me.”
Miriam blushed. “If there’s nothing else—” She put the faxes on Oliver’s desk and turned and hurried out of the office.
“That’s a pretty woman,” Tager said. He looked over at Oliver.
“Yes.”
“Oliver, you are being careful, aren’t you?”
“Of course I am. That’s why I had you get that little apartment for me.”
“I mean big-time careful. The stakes have gone up. The next time you get horny, just stop and think about whether a Miriam or Alice or Karen is worth the Oval Office.”
“I know what you’re saying, Peter, and I appreciate it. But you don’t have to worry about me.”
“Good.” Tager looked at his watch. “I have to go. I’m taking Betsy and the kids out to lunch.” He smiled. “Did I tell you what Rebecca did this morning? She’s my five-year-old. There was a tape of a kid’s show she wanted to watch at eight o’clock this morning. Betsy said, ‘Darling, I’ll run it for you after lunch.’ Rebecca looked at her and said, ‘Mama, I want lunch now.’ Pretty smart, huh?”
Oliver had to smile at the pride in Tager’s voice.
At ten o’clock that evening, Oliver walked into the den where Jan was reading and said, “Honey, I have to leave. I have a conference to go to.”
Jan looked up. “At this time of night?”
He sighed. “I’m afraid so. There’s a budget committee meeting in the morning, and they want to brief me before the meeting.”
“You’re working too hard. Try to come home early, will you, Oliver?” She hesitated a moment. “You’ve been out a lot lately.”
He wondered whether that was intended as a warning. He walked over to her, leaned down, and kissed her. “Don’t worry, honey. I’ll be home as early as I can.”
Downstairs Oliver said to his chauffeur, “I won’t need you tonight. I’m taking the small car.”
“Yes, Governor.”
“You’re late, darling.” Miriam was naked.
He grinned and walked over to her. “Sorry about that. I’m glad you didn’t start without me.”
She smiled. “Hold me.”
He took her in his arms and held her close, her warm body pressed against his.
“Get undressed. Hurry.”
Afterward, he said, “How would you like to move to Washington, D.C.?”
Miriam sat up in bed. “Are you serious?” “Very. I may be going there. I want you to be with me.”
“If your wife ever found out about us…” “She won’t.”
“Why Washington?”
“I can’t tell you that now. All I can say is that it’s going to be very exciting.”
“I’ll go anywhere you want me to go, as long as you love me.”
“You know I love you.” The words slipped out easily, as they had so many times in the past.
“Make love to me again.”
“Just a second. I have something for you.” He got up and walked over to the jacket he had flung over a chair. He took a small bottle out of his pocket and poured the contents into a glass. It was a clear liquid.
“Try this.”
“What is it?” Miriam asked.
“You’ll like it. I promise.” He lifted the glass and drank half of it.
Miriam took a sip, then swallowed the rest of it. She smiled. “It’s not bad.”