Disclaimer: Characters aren't mine and I'm making no money. The plot belongs to me though and your reviews are all the payment I get.
Chapter 1
"I, Richard Brendan Orr, do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. I will faithfully, impartially, and justly perform the duties of the Governor of the State of New Jersey according to the best of my ability, so help me God."
Cheers erupted as my husband removed his hand from the old, well-worn Bible and shook the hand of the Reverend swearing him into office. Smiling his politician's smile, he turned to face the cheering crowd and raised his arms triumphantly. The cameras clicked furiously as they got the perfect shot of my husband, Dickie, the youngest governor in the state of New Jersey on his inauguration day. It was a day for the history books.
I stood behind him, smiling a big, fake smile, in my tailored Anne Klein suit holding the small hand of our three-year old son. I honestly couldn't believe I was standing there listening to my husband speak to the people who put their trust in him to lead our state. Dickie is the last person I'd trust to run a bake sale, let alone an entire state. I guess his campaign manager was able to lie really well about his past indiscretions. Of course the untimely death of his opponent didn't hinder his campaign either.
His speech was full of promises and political jargon that would never be adhered to. He vowed to continue his campaign to clean up the streets and to put an end to the mob families that had taken over much of the state. I knew it was all a bunch of lies, but still I smiled and supported my husband. After he finished lying to the crowds, Dickie turned to me and held out his hand. I did the dutiful wife bit and placed my hand in his. Dickie then bent down and scooped up Tommy into his arms before drawing me tightly into his side. I smiled big and waved to the crowd who cheered and screamed. I made a vow to support my husband, so that is what I did. I stood beside him through thick and thin. I was a good wife.
You might be wondering who I am. Stephanie Plum-Orr, at your service. At that point in time, I was a twenty-seven year old Libra whose life revolved around the two males standing beside me. I loved one and barely tolerated the other. My son was...is, my entire life. If I ever wondered why I put up with Dickie for so many god-aweful years, all I had to do was look at my son's adorable face and I knew the reason. If I'd left Dickie after finding him screwing the town whore, then I wouldn't have had Tommy. He made all the pain worth it.
A little back story to help you better understand me. I met Dickie my sophomore year of college. He'd just graduated law school and already had a position in a prestigious law firm in Newark so when he first asked me out, I was flabbergasted. I wasn't anything special, but this cute, successful man wanted me, so of course I said yes. We'd only dated six months when he asked me to marry him. My mother was so excited that she said yes for me. Since he proposed at my parent's house at a family dinner, I couldn't really say no. Dickie and I were married six months after his proposal when I was just twenty years old. Young and dumb are the first things that come to my mind, followed by naive. I thought we were in love, but it turns out that I was wrong.
A month after we said 'I do', I found Dickie and my arch-nemesis Joyce Barnhardt enjoying my brand new dinning room table. The only thing was, they weren't eating. She was riding him like a bull and he was enjoying every minute of it. I let them finish and then threw Joyce out the front door by her two dollar extensions before turning my anger to Dickie. You might wonder how our marriage survived that betrayal, but again I'm going to say that I was young and stupid.
I started divorce proceedings and moved out of the house and was shocked one day when Dickie's boss showed up at my parent's house where I was staying. He informed me that Dickie had been hand picked for some political positions and since a divorce wouldn't look good to his constituents, he 'convinced' me to drop the divorce and stand by my husband. By 'convinced' I mean blackmailed. He told me that if I went ahead and divorced Dickie, I would inherit Dickie's student loans and his firm would make sure I never got out from under that debt. They also threatened my parent's livelihood. Dickie's boss informed me that he would make sure my dad lost his government retirement and that he'd never find another job. I couldn't let that happen to my parents so I sucked up my pride and stayed married.
Dickie moved up the ladder of his firm quickly and soon became the youngest district attorney in the state's history. Right after being elected, he declared war on the organized crime in the state and put away some big time mob bosses. His success at cleaning up the state lead him to become the Republican parties candidate for Governor. The election was close and at one point, it looked like the other guy was going to win but he died of a massive heart attack a month before the vote. The people in the state were so confused that Dickie won the election by a landslide. The new opponent never stood a chance.
I would love to say that Dickie and I were happy together, but that'd be a lie. I smiled when we were out in public together and acted like the dutiful wife, but in private he had his life and I had mine. He constantly entertained women and we slept in separate rooms on separate sides of the large house. I had a trusted friend that I would call when I needed a night of release. He was discreet and didn't try to constantly try to convince me to leave Dickie. He understood why I had to stay with him and I loved him, in my own way, for that understanding.
So, for the past seven years, I've been unhappily married. The only good thing to come out of the marriage was Tommy and he was a complete accident. I was religious with taking my birth control and yet, here he is so to say I was freaked when I found out about him is an understatement. I honestly didn't know who the father was at first. I secretly hoped it was my friends, but the ultrasound confirmed that Tommy was conceived while said friend was out of the country. I was lonely, drunk and weak one night and Dickie talked me out of my pants. I even made him wear a damn condemn and still ended up pregnant. I guess that means that Tommy was meant to be here and I wouldn't trade him for anything.
So now that you know the whole sordid tale of my twisted marriage, we can get back to today's inauguration. After we'd waved and smiled for the appropriate amount of time, Dickie turned and led me back into the capitol building and directly to his office. His chief of staff mentioned that we had to do a press conference before we could head home, so I went to the bathroom to freshen up before stepping in front of the cameras once again. My personal aide and good friend, Lula, followed me holding Tommy. He missed his nap today and was getting a little upset about being manhandled so much. When the bathroom door closed, Lula sat Tommy down on the plush couch and turned to me.
"Girl, you look a mess. That wind did a number on your hair. Let me fix you up before you step in front of those news cameras. I don't want you lookin' a fool on television." I chuckled and let Lula fuss with my wild curls.
I first met Lula five years ago on Stark street. I was out looking for a shop and got lost in the wrong part of town. She took pity on the white woman in the hood and made sure I made it to my destination safely. Her pimp didn't appreciate her hospitality and beat her pretty severally. When I found her in the hospital, she was close to death and it was my fault. After she recovered, I got her a legit job with my slimy cousin and helped her get off the streets. Her and I stayed friends and she became my go to shopping buddy. I loved Lula just like a sister so when Dickie told me to pick someone to be my number two after getting the party's nomination for Governor, I called Lula and offered her the job. She jumped at the opportunity to wear fancy shit, as she says. She's been great and I couldn't ask for a better friend.
"Thanks Lula. I really don't care how I look on TV so I'm glad you are looking out for my image." Lula huffed and messed with my hair some more.
"Someone needs too. You'd go on TV looking like Medusa if I let you and who dressed you today? I thought you wanted to wear the black dress. The suit you got on have you lookin' like Jackie O." Lula narrowed her eyes at me and made me giggle again. Lula was a five-foot, five inch two-hundred and twenty pound black woman who has a penchant to wear spandex. Since she began working for me, she'd tamed her look and started covering up her, ahem, assets.
"Dickie nixed the black dress and told me I needed to look more professional. He said we have an image to uphold now and I need to start acting like a Governor's wife. He thinks I need more class." I shrugged as Lula huffed again and rolled her eyes in true Jersey Girl fashion.
"That man wouldn't know class if it fell out of the sky and hit him on the head. If HE had class, he wouldn't be parading those skanks in and out yo house. Everyone knows he steppin' out, why you stick with him?" I couldn't tell Lula the truth. The only person that knew everything was my special friend, and he swore to keep it quiet.
"I guess it's because I love him, Lula. You know how it is." Lula glared at me, not convinced. I looked through the mirror at Tommy who was sitting quietly on the couch sucking his thumb. "I've got to think of Tommy and he needs his daddy."
Lula rolled her eyes again and finished fixing my rat's nest that I call hair. "You're as good as I can get you, girl. Fix your make-up and let's get you in front of those cameras. I'll take care of T man for you." I smiled at her as she sat beside Tommy. She was really good with him and Tommy loved his aunt Lu.
A sharp knock on the bathroom interrupted my primping and Dickie's voice made me roll my eyes. "You're needed in the press room Stephanie. You look as good as you're going to so get your ass out here and get ready to smile." Lula growled and stood up off the couch to open the door.
I put my hand on her arm before she said anything to my husband. "I'm ready Dickie. Thank you for waiting for me." Dickie scoffed, took me by the upper arm and leaned down to whisper in my ear.
"You remember what you're supposed to say, right? Don't you embarrass me." I jerked my arm out of his hand and straightened out my suit.
"I never embarrass you. In fact, I make you look good." Dickie scoffed and grabbed my arm again before running his hand down my arm to my hand and grasped it tightly. This time I didn't jerk away and followed him toward the press room. I heard Tommy start to cry and wanted to turn around, but Dickie jerked me forward and leaned over to whisper in my ear.
"Leave the brat alone. Your main focus is the cameras. Do your job and smile. You're the new first lady of New Jersey." My breath caught hearing him say that. I guess I never really thought about the repercussions of him being Governor. Did I really want to be the first lady?
The press conference lasted for forty-five minutes and I was the dutiful wife and gushed over my husband. The few questioned I was asked, I answered with the scripted statements written out by Dickie's staff. When I asked why I couldn't just answer the questions my way, Dickie laughed at me and said he didn't trust me enough to not make a fool out of him. Wasn't that a nice thing for my husband to tell me.
After the press conference, I had a meeting with some campaign people and then I was allowed to go home. Dickie would be stuck at the office for most of the day, but I was no longer needed. Lula had already taken Tommy back to the Governor's mansion in Princeton so all I had to do was find my security guy and head there myself.
TJ, my personal secret service agent, was waiting for me close to the exit and smiled when he first saw me. He was young, eager and former military so he was perfect to protect me. We got along well and since he was gay, there was no weirdness between us. "Hey Steph. You ready to head home?" I nodded and waited while TJ ordered for the car to be brought around. We did our normal routine and played a match of thumb wrestling while we waited. As usual, he won and as we were about to head out the door, Dickie came up behind me and pulled me into a private side office.
He didn't look happy, which wasn't unusual, so I knew I'd done something wrong. "Why do you have to constantly embarrass me? Your guard is here to protect you, not for your entertainment. Leave him alone and let him do his job or I'll replace him with someone else." I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest.
"Was there a reason you pulled me in here or did you just want to harass me before I head home?" Dickie growled and stepped so close to me that I could smell his smokey breath. I hated that he smoked, but he wouldn't stop for me.
"I wanted to let you know that I have to go out of town his afternoon. I'm needed in Washington for some committee meetings and I don't know when I'll be back. Don't do anything stupid while I'm away." I rolled my eyes and stepped back needing my own space.
"Don't worry, dear. I'll be good. Enjoy your trip." Dickie scoffed again and glared at me before walking out of the room. I was beyond relieved that he was leaving. Tommy and I could spend some quality time alone in the mansion. Hopefully there wasn't anything planned for me during the time while he's gone. Lula would know so I'd have to ask her when I got home.
TJ looked at me wearily when I stepped out of the room. I shook my head and he dropped the question that I knew was on his lips. After doing his security check, he motioned for me to come out and before I knew it, we were speeding toward Princeton and my new home. The mansion was nice, but I missed our smallish house in Newark. Maybe I should go back there to stay while Dickie was away. Thinking about that possibility, I zoned out on the drive and jumped when I heard a familiar ring tone from my phone. Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines chorus rang out and I had to smile. I knew exactly was on the phone and I hadn't talked with him a while.
"Hello sexy man. How's my favorite Ranger?" The deep chuckle echoed through my phone and sent shivers through me.
"I'm doing good, Steph. I saw you on TV and decided I needed to call and tell you that the suite you wore was terrible." I laughed out loud drawing TJ's raised eyebrow from the front seat. I wasn't known to laugh like that. I mouthed the name of person on the other end of the call and TJ smiled knowingly.
"Well, tell that to my husband. He thought I needed some fashion tips."
"Well tell him not to take fashion tips from the seventies. Jackie O pulled that look off, but you are way to gorgeous to be so covered. That press conference would have been a whole lot better if you would have worn that blue dress." My face flushed when he mentioned that dress. I wore it for about three minutes one night when I knew he was coming over. He took one look at me and just about ripped the garment off. That dress hasn't been out of my closet since.
"That dress would probably get me labeled as a tramp. That wouldn't be good for the first lady of New Jersey to be labeled a tramp." His laugh boomed in my ear making me smile.
"That it might, Beautiful." I smiled again and couldn't help the blush that crept up my face. "You want some company tonight?"
It had been awhile since I'd seen him and I was getting a little tired of my shower massager, but I wasn't comfortable with him coming to the Governor's mansion. Suddenly, I remembered the house and came up with a plan in my mind. "Why don't you head to the house in Newark and I'll be there waiting for you. Tommy is at the mansion with Lula so I'll have her bring him to me later. Can you get away now?"
"I'm actually off today and was just hanging around the office with the guys. We all watched the ceremony. I about punched two of them when they made some unsavory comments about you." It was my turn to laugh.
"Oh my hero. Do they know that you and I…" My question trailed off.
"No, Steph. I told you that I would keep this quiet and I don't break my promises." I let out the breath that I didn't even know I was holding. I trusted this man, explicitly, so I wasn't worried. At least I didn't think I was.
"Thanks for that. So will I see you later?" I purred into the phone and heard him growl.
"I'm on my way now. I might beat you there as fast as I'm driving."
"Slow down and drive safe. I'll see you soon, okay?"
"See you soon, Beautiful." I heard the phone disconnect and smiled. That man had no phone manners.
"TJ, change of plans. We're headed to the house in Newark." I yelled up to the front seat and sent Lula a text to bring Tommy to me later. She texted back and said he was sleeping and that she'd feed him and bring him after dinner. Glancing at my watch, I knew that I'd have about four hours alone with my friend before needing to clean up to see my son. That may seem like a long time, but let me tell you….four hours is nothing when it comes to him. He can spend hours making me scream with my clothes on. Then when the clothes come off, the fun really starts. I was looking forward to each and every minute with him. After all, I deserved it, right?
A/N - Okay, please let me know what you think. This is my first attempt at a chapter story so I'm going to need lots of encouragement.