“Goddamnit Reagan,” Donald grumbles, storming into the room towards us. “It is not ok to just walk away from mingling with those types of people like that, it sends a bad message.” He glares at me, his eyes narrowing as if trying to suss out why it is Reagan is here alone with me in the dark library.
Good thing you didn’t come knocking fifteen minutes ago, dick, I think to myself.
“What, ‘those type of people’ like Chet Kennedy?” Reagan rolls her eyes as she stands and smooths out her skirt. “I have far more important things to worry about than what dipshits like him think of m-”
“Dammit we talked about this Reagan!” Donald fumes. “I don’t care if Chet Kennedy is literally Adolf Hitler, he tests amazingly well with your target demographic.”
I can see her tensing up, the laid-back and relaxed Reagan of five minutes ago is gone as she frowns. “So, what, are you trying to pimp me out for ratings, Donald?”
“You better believe it.”
She stares at him for a second before she shakes her head in disgust. “Fuck you.” She whirls on her heel and storms out of the room.
“Jesus, Donald.” I mutter, standing as well and glowering at him. “I mean she hates the guy-”
“You know, Hudson,” Donald interrupts, his eyes narrowing at me. “I see what you’re doing, and you’re not going to ruin this for me.”
I furrow my brow. “For you?”
“For the campaign.” He mutters, but I know what he means, and it puts me instantly on edge. “We both want the same thing for the campaign, Hudson.”
“For Reagan, you mean.”
He shrugs. “A campaign is a campaign. I’d have figured a big important business man like yourself would understand that,” he says with a sneer. “Reagan makes a great figurehead for that campaign, but it’s the run that’s important here.”
“You mean it doesn’t matter if she wins or not, as long as the campaign is good?” My voice starts to rise as I shake my head in disgust at him. Because then you become the next wizard campaign manager for putting a twenty three year old girl up for a New York Senate seat and running a ‘good campaign’, even if she doesn’t win.
“I don’t expect one of William’s army buddies to understand.”
“Marines, dick.”
Donald shakes his head. “Regardless, it’s nothing you’d understand. If Archer Holdings wants to finance the campaign, that’s great. And if they think you need to somehow protect her like some sort of bodyguard, fine, I’m even ok with that too.”
He frowns and takes another step towards me before he sticks his finger out and pokes me in the chest. “But if you think there’s anything else for you here, I’m here to tell you that you are sorely mistaken.”
“Fuck you, Donald.”
“Look, you’re here to protect an investment, right?” He frowns at me again. “So do your fucking job. ‘Protect the investment’ doesn’t mean suddenly deciding you know more about running a candidate than I do, ok?”
“You’re pushing her too hard.”
“She’ll adapt and she’ll mold into what she needs to be.”
I shake my head at him and his mechanical robot answers. “Jesus, Donald Are you fucking serious?”
“Hudson, this isn’t the first time I’ve helped a trust-fund kid play politics you know.”
I can feel my temper start to rage inside, my hands clutching at my side. “We both know she’s a lot more than that.”
Donald just shrugs. “Look, I get it. She’s beautiful, charismatic, magnetic. She’s William’s daughter - I mean really Hudson, I get why you’re following her around like you are.”
For a moment I bristle suddenly wondering if Donald actually knows what’s going on between Reagan and I.
“I mean I’m glad you’ve decided to be her friend like you’ve been-”
Guess not
“- And that’s exactly the kind of attraction we’re working for her target demographic.” He looks at me shrewdly. “Don’t fool yourself though, Reagan has an angle here, and that angle is to get elected, not be your pal.”
“Donald, the only one playing shadow angles here is you.” I growl, feeling my jaw tense.
He shrugs. “Look, you want to help her? Keep her locked down. Keep her focused on what she needs to do.”
He starts to walk out of the room before he pauses and turns at the door. “Stick to the plan, Hudson.” And then he’s gone, leaving me alone in this dark library full of ghosts and questions and my own shattered thoughts.