Mr. President:A Billionaire & Virgin Fake Fiance Romance(158)

I climb the steps to the podium as Lance looks at me. He's wondering  what I'm up to. Well, he's about to find out how a real master handles  this. I don't even bother looking at Jocelyn. She's probably staring at  me with those cow-like eyes of hers, wondering what's going on.  Honestly, I can't believe I had to spend as many months as I did  tolerating her. Her constant need for affection. Her constant attitude  of needing love. It's sickening.

"Ladies and gentlemen," I say into the microphone, giving the press a  wide smile. "You've certainly had a roller coaster of a day today,  haven't you?"

There's isolated pockets of laughter. That's how you need to do it.  Lance and Jocelyn, in their typical fashion, just bungled the whole  thing.

But then again, they were never supposed to get this far. Not with those  questions I had planted about Jocelyn's relationship to Lance and about  cheating.

That's right. I planned it. I sabotaged them. I wanted them to fail.

Why?

Just pay attention and find out.

"Everything you've heard today has been true. My stepson has carried on a  relationship with Jocelyn Carter, and she is pregnant by him," I say.  Cameras flash. I'm used to it and I continue. "I can honestly say that  the two of them deserve each other. They're perfect for each other."

There are a few people in the crowd who smile. They don't realize I'm speaking out of contempt.

"But Jocelyn hasn't cheated on me, folks," I say to the audience,  drawing them in. "And Lance hasn't betrayed me. And I'll tell you why I  can say that."

Now they're hooked. I have them right where I want them.

"It's because," I say as I reach into my coat pocket and pull out an envelope. "This marriage was never formally signed off on."

There are murmurs. Apparently the press is clueless about marriages  lasting less than a year in New York State. Let me break it down for  them.

"In the State of New York, both parties upon entering a marriage sign a  marriage certificate with the magistrate who performs that marriage," I  begin and people begin nodding. "I never gave the certificate to Jocelyn  to sign."

Now there's a hushed whisper going through the group. They're wondering  why I would do something like this and which way this press conference  is going.

"That's because at the time, I wasn't sure that marrying Jocelyn was the  right course of action, folks," I say to the crowd. "You see, I wasn't  attracted to her, but I wasn't ready to tell everyone my secret either."

Even the cameras stop. You could hear a pin drop if you listened hard enough.

"You see, Jocelyn and I never consummated our marriage because there was  no way I was attracted to her. No way I was attracted to women in  general when men were much more agreeable to me," I say, bringing a mask  of pained resolve to my face. These media sheep are eating this up. I'm  going to control the narrative for the next two days if I play this  right.

"All my life, I've struggled with this double life, being someone who my  parents wanted me to be while inside I just wanted to let my true  colors shine," I say into the microphone. "But I'm here today to tell  you, to tell the world, that I identify as homosexual. And if you'll  have me, I'd like to be the first openly gay mayor of New York City."

That does it. Those cameras that were silent? They pop up and begin  their flash. I smile in a bittersweet fashion. I practiced it this  morning as I got ready for my arrival.

I had thought that I had scared Lance enough to stay away. That by the  time I entered, Jocelyn would be floundering and would be looking like a  mess. That I'd come in and save the day. And get back at her for all  the time she's wasted of mine in doing this. Couldn't keep her damn legs  closed, could she?         

     



 

Yes, I was very surprised to see Lance. But I have a feeling I've saved him too.

"From this day forward, New York, I promise to be proud and open about  who I am with not just my family, but to the entire city as well," I  say, raising my arms. People actually start to clap and cheer. Idiots.

I notice Lance clapping next to me as well and he takes a step closer.

Oh, he wants to play that game, does he?

"I know my secret may have caused a lot of hurt and pain to my immediate  family, but I want to take this opportunity to let them know that it  was their pain that I saw I was causing that finally prompted me to come  out today. There was no way that I could let a good and decent and  intelligent woman like Jocelyn Carter continue to believe that she was  doing something wrong," I say into the microphone. "She hasn't cheated  on me technically because she hasn't broken any marriage vows. All she's  done is fallen in love with a much younger gentleman in my son. And I  think after this long on the campaign trail, I can vouch for his  character."

The crowd is eating it up. Now is where I turn to Lance and take a step  close to him. I wrap my arms around him and he pulls me close.

He leans into my ear and whispers, "Congratulations, dad, you've just  admitted to committing fraud by perpetuating a fake marriage."

I freeze momentarily.

He's right. But he doesn't stop there. "And I have enough on you and  Kenneth from the last couple of days to throw this election into the  fucking shitter for you, just to let you know."

I don't know what to say at this point.

"Makes that heartfelt speech of coming out to save your family look like  bullshit when they see camera footage of Kenneth fucking you on the  staircase," he finishes and pulls back to give me a broad, beaming smile  that the cameras will pick up. They'll think those were words of  encouragement. But they chill my blood.

Maybe this is my son more than I thought.

Is that a bit of pride there I'm feeling for him?

Depends on how he plays it. Let's see.

As if sensing this, Lance leans in one more time.

"I'm not getting off this podium and I'm releasing all this shit  tomorrow unless you publicly take care of Jocelyn right now," he says.  "And don't worry, I've gotten video footage stashed away pretty  securely. I knew you'd try to double cross us as we planned this so I  was ready to fight back."

This time when Lance pulls back, I'm smiling.

So, the big oaf is capable of learning something after all. I taught him to think a few steps ahead.

Granted, he's still playing checkers when this is chess, but at least  he's stood up to me, backed me in a corner, and is getting what he wants  from me.

I turn back to the podium.

"I want the world to know that I wish Lance and Jocelyn all the  happiness in the world," I say as I turn to Lance and hand him the  envelope with the unsigned marriage certificate. "That's why I want them  to know that I have a private chartered plane to take them anywhere in  the world they want to go, as well as an executive position for Lance in  Anders Media for when he wants to come back to work for his old man."

People watching this are literally beaming now. They think I'm a generous old man.

"And Jocelyn, you'll always be taken care of, dear," I say, turning to  her and giving her my fakest smile. She's looking at me more in shock.  Stupid woman was never a good liar. I can't imagine how she pulled off  this affair for so long. "I want you to be comfortable, so you'll always  have a monthly allowance of money to keep you in the lifestyle you're  accustomed to."

That last one is going to hurt I can tell and it's the only one I feel  regret for. That's at least several hundred thousand a month. But the  moment I make those promises, I see Lance's eyes soften, and I know he's  gotten everything he's wanted.

"New York, I pledge to always be open and honest with you, and if you still want me as your Mayor, please go vote in two days!"

The crowd cheers. I mean the reporters are cheering. This election may  just be in the bag because of this little stunt. And my concessions to  Lance and Jocelyn  –  I think that's what swayed the voters.

I turn towards the two of them on the podium and approach them.

"Are we good?" I ask. No microphone can hear us.

"I never want to see you again," Jocelyn says with a smile.

"Just take the money and you'll never have to," I say back.

"Don't interfere in our lives, or I will fucking hunt you down," Lance says, beaming with good cheer.

"I promise," I say and I mean it. I don't need to be bogged down by  these two. I have my Kenneth. "Feel free to take the jet whenever."

"We'll be leaving tonight," Lance says and hugs me.

Jocelyn tries a smile, but she can't do it. That's fine. I turn to the  crowd with Lance and we both put an arm over each other's shoulder and  wave.

The crowd gives us adulation to an extent I had never felt before.

Maybe I underestimated Lance.

Maybe you underestimated me. But I'm still the Mayor of New York City. And it looks like I'll be winning another term. Easily.

Michael Anders. Remember that name.

And considering how many stories are set in this city, you're going to be running into me again.