Chapter 127
I let out a deep breath and looked up. "What is it, Mother?"
She narrowed her eyes. "What have you been up to?"
"What are you talking about?"
She slapped her hands on my desk. "You know damn well what I'm talking about!"
I shrugged, unfazed. "I haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about."
"Do not attempt to play coy with me," she said as she stepped around my desk. "You've been with her, haven't you?"
I looked directly into her eyes. "What are you saying, Mother?"
"I forbid you to see her!"
"Who?" Although I knew exactly whom she meant, but I wanted to hear her say it.
"That bitch! Alyssa Case!"
I narrowed my eyes at her. "And how is that, Mother, when you told me that she was dead ten years ago?" I leaned close to look directly into her eyes. "And don't you ever call her that again."
At that moment, mother reared back her hand and let it fly onto my cheek.
But I just stood there, looking at her. "Why did you tell me that she was dead, Mother?!"
She took a step back. "I've already explained that to you! It was for your own good!"
I slammed my fist down onto my desk. "For my own good? Mother, you ruined my life!"
She scoffed as she laughed without humor. "I've ruined your life?" She looked directly into my eyes as her smile turned into a glare. "You're about to announce that you're running for senator because of me and I've ruined your life?"
I returned her glare. "I'm running for senator because I chose it; not because of you."
She ran her hand along my desk as she walked to the other side. "But I was the one who got your foot in the door." She paused to look into my eyes. "Stay away from that girl."
"What girl?"
She slapped her hand on my desk again. "Do not play with me! She will ruin your life. Mark my words!"
I laughed without humor. "And how will she 'ruin my life'? By loving me?"
"Don't you see? You can never become president with her as your wife!"
"What do you have against her, anyway?" I placed my hands on my desk and leaned across to look into her eyes.
She let out a deep breath. "She came to visit me."
I laughed. "You're kidding!"
She shook her head, failing to find it as humorous as I did. "After I told her that she was acceptable now, since she was a lawyer, she told me to go to hell."
I laughed so hard that tears came to my eyes. "Good for her!"
"Logan!"
"Well, Mom, what do you expect?" I asked, walking around my desk away from her. "Not everyone will bow down to you, or will jump when you tell them to! In fact, I'm through jumping through your hoops, too! I thought I already told you that! Didn't I tell you that I didn't want to see you again?"
She just looked at me, her anger boiling under the surface.
"Then, why are you here?" I walked closer to her. "But let me make one thing clear: I intend to marry Alyssa Collins and there's not a thing you can do about it. That is, if she'll have me."
"Oh no you won't!" she said, storming toward me.
But I picked up her sable coat and opened the door. "Leave, Mother. Whatever path I choose from here on out will be just that: what I choose. Not because of you."
"If you do this, I'll cut you off!" she said as she wagged a manicured finger in front of my face. "How will you fund your campaign then?"
I shrugged. "I'll find a way. I'm sure the mayor will be glad to contribute to my campaign among other people. Besides, I'm not sure if public office is really what I want now."
"Oh, Logan! You can't mean that!" She tried to place her hand on the side of my cheek, but I pulled back.
"Get out, Mother," I said as I shoved her coat into her hands. "And don't come back."
She huffed as she yanked her coat from my hands.
"Mom, it didn't have to be this way," I said as I held open the door.
She glared at me for a moment, and then let out a huff as she grabbed her coat and brushed past me as she headed out the door.
Abigail turned away as my mother walked past. When she was gone, she said in a low voice, "The mayor is here."
I nodded, and then walked into the waiting room. "Sorry to keep you waiting, gentlemen."
The mayor stood and extended his hand. "Are we still on for the press conference?"
I forced a smile. "Would you mind if we postponed the announcement? I realize that this is a great opportunity, but I need to straighten some things out in my personal life first."
He nodded, and then a slow smile spread across his face. "Yes, of course," he said, nodding toward the door where my mother had just departed. "And if campaign contributions are what you need, I'll see what I can do."
I nodded. Obviously, he had heard the end of our argument. "Thanks, Mayor," I said as I shook his hand. "I sincerely appreciate that."
He gave me a fatherly smile. "But don't keep me waiting too long. The seat in the Senate won't be open long. And if you want it, now's the time to act." It was known that a United States Senator that had served for over forty years was retiring due to personal illness. Although it was a shame about his failing health, I knew full well that an opportunity like that was hard to come by.
I nodded. "Thank you, Mayor. I'll contact you with my decision soon."
"See that you do," he said, and then turned to the press manager. "Tell the press that the press conference has been postponed, and thank them for coming. Also, promise them that we'll contact them first when the time comes."
"I will," he said as he scratched notes onto a legal pad and then walked purposefully out the door.
