Chapter 0005

“Esther Owens, is that you?” Paige asks through the phone.

“It’s Esther Graham, remember? I’m married to Garnar Graham.”

Paige made this same mistake every time I spoke with her. Owens is my maiden name. Paige didn’t know me back before I was married, but her closeness to my father always lends to this confusion.

“My apologies once again, Mrs. Graham,” Paige says.

“It’s fine,” I say. One of these days, I just might stop correcting her. “An honest mistake.”

My adopted father is a larger than life figure, with his mouth to everyone’s ear. He’s taught me most of what he knows, though in the past, I’ve lacked for his ambition.

Still, Paige, current manager of the Rockview Elite Country Club, knows my skills very well. I’ve helped her with my father’s personal events in the past, and after each and every one, she has offered me a job.

I turned her down each time, still committed then to Garnar and my life as a housewife.

“So you’ve changed your mind?” Paige asks.

“If the offer is still available,” I say.

“For you? It is. I’ve been here for those events you’ve helped plan. I’ve seen the ease with way you can work a room and resolve any issue. You have a real knack for the craft, Esther, and you are great with people. We’d love to have you here. When can you start?”

“As soon as possible,” I say. “My father mentioned something about an event for Senator Hamilton’s retirement…” They likely need people to help with that. Usually, for the big jobs, they have to pull in temps for the day. My presence would help ease some of the tension, or so I hoped.

Garnar said we didn’t need to go, so hopefully he won’t mind me working instead. Well, even if he does mind, I’m doing it anyway.

“Senator Hamilton Senior, yes,” Paige says. “His son is a Congressman, too. A Representative in the House. Youngest in all of the Capital, from what I’ve heard. The Senator wants to use this retirement party as a way to prop up his son. I think he intends to push the boy to run for president when he can.”

When he can? Just how old is this Hamilton Junior?

I regret for letting my wealth of political knowledge flounder in the past ten years. For a while now, I’ve only retained enough to help Garnar succeed. Pretty much everything else has fallen to the wayside.

“We could certainly use your help that day,” Paige says, bringing the conversation back on track. “Of course… we are understaffed for a few other events in the meantime…”

“I’m in,” I say, uncaring if I come off too eager. The truth is, I am desperate.

I need to get out of this house and distract myself for at least a few hours a day, else I might scream. Or throw something at Garnar. Or both.

For the girls, I have to keep my cool. They need a steady home with loving parents. As much as Garnar is a dick to me, he is a good dad.

If I can remember that, and keep my girls at the forefront of my thoughts, I know I can make it through this hard patch.

The other events Paige has me fill in for are simple enough, a wedding and a golf event. It’s a good ice breaker to meet the rest of the team and learn the lay of the land.

“When you come in for the Senator’s event, I don’t want you to have any second-thoughts,” Paige tells me before I leave for the day. The event is coming up soon. I’m more excited than nervous, but I appreciate her encouragement. So far, she has been a good boss, but then, knowing her, I expected nothing less.

I’ve been enjoying myself, working hard, so I continue to throw myself into it. I didn’t realize before, how stagnant I’ve been, standing still while the rest of the world turned around me.

I missed talking to people and making genuine human connections. That’s something I’m desperate to fix now, and why I spend so much time researching the night before the Senator’s event, eager to soak in as much info about him and his son as I can, so that I can make the best impression.

With most of my family there, the last thing I want to do is make a fool of myself.

Senator Hamilton Senior has been in politics for a very long time. There’s a near-infinite amount of information about him online, which I soak in now, as much as I am able.

As for his son, however… the search results turn up hardly anything. I find his campaign website and a couple of quotes he’s given since his inauguration a couple months ago. But other than that, he is a ghost.

There isn’t a single picture of him, not even one with his dad.

Representative Hamilton Junior is a mystery.

Well, he won’t be a wild card for long. The best way to learn anything about someone is to talk to them, after all, and I’m determined to talk to everyone there.

I sleep on the couch again. The next morning, I head to the bedroom to pick a dress from my closet. As a CEO’s wife, I have many beautiful but tasteful outfits to choose from. I select a simple black cocktail dress with a high collar.

Garnar has already left for the day. It’s the weekend, but he doesn’t tell me what his plans are anymore. I don’t ask either.

The girls are staying at a friend’s house for the day, so I don’t need to worry about them either.

Dressed, I fix my hair up into a tight bun, then add a subtle touch of makeup and pink lipstick. Satisfied, I head for the door and make my way to the country club.

I’m barely two steps through the employee entrance, when I start to hear the wait-staff gossip.

“Have you seen the Senator’s son? God, he’s so gorgeous!”

“He’s a Congressman too, don’t forget.”

“With eyes like those, no wonder he won. I’d have voted for him twice!”

“That’s illegal,” I tell the waitress.

She shrugs like that doesn’t bother her. I don’t recognize these girls, they must be some of the temporary employees Paige hired just for this event.

“Do you know the Representative, Esther?” the other waitress asks me. My reputation for having information on everyone must get around. Even these girls I just met know who I am and what I’m known for.

“No,” I say. “I’ve never even seen him before.”

“Well, make sure you get a good look today,” the second waitress says. “Just a look, though. That is my future husband, after all.”

We all have a good chuckle about that.

“Alright, back to work everyone,” I remind them gently, and our small group breaks to go about our tasks.

I head toward the edge of the refreshment tent, ready to step out onto the concourse where the bulk of the party will take place.

Paige comes around the corner so quickly, I nearly run right into her. She blushing, an unusual look for a nearly 65 year old woman with nerves of steel.

“What happened?” I ask.

“Representative Hamilton is just around the corner,” she whispers to me. “I admit even I am taken by surprise… He’s so…” She fans herself then laughs. “Forgive this foolish old woman, but have a look and you’ll see what I mean.”

Hamilton Junior is so handsome that he even makes Paige blush? I was curious before, but now, nothing will keep me from stepping forward and peeking around the edge of the tent.

There, wearing a deep navy suit, a flag pin on his lapel, with his hair slicked back, stood Miles.

Miles Hamilton.

My call boy.