Jarrod sat in his office and looked over the proposals one of the lobbyist had sent him for his support on an upcoming bill. Jarrod stood up and stretched his legs and back while he looked out the window. The Senate was scheduled to vote tomorrow and they still had not heard from Ben. Jessica was concerned but Jarrod told her the trip to Denver was a good two days on the train and he had only been there for a day.
Ben had already told Jarrod unless something major happened he should be prepared to vote as he was told too. Jarrod had a meeting tonight with them to get their instructions on how to vote tomorrow. The thought of it sickened him but for the time being he had no choice in the matter.
Jarrod heard the knock on his door and looked up expecting to see Jessica but was shocked to see who was there. Jarrod immediately frowned at the visitor while the man sneered.
Jarrod cleared his throat and barked, "Why are you here?"
The man smiled, "We have a meeting today Senator." He went to Jarrod's drink cart and poured a large glass of scotch.
Jarrod spat, "The meeting is scheduled for seven tonight."
The visitor sat down in one of the overstuffed chairs while he sipped on his scotch, "Based on your current social activities I thought it would be better we meet now."
Jarrod glared at him, "What I do on my own personal time is none of your business."
Blowing out a breath, "On the contrary, it would seem to us that you are doing everything in your power to ruin your reputation thereby harming our agreement."
"The agreement?" Jarrod laughed evilly. "You're blackmailing me so I would not call it an agreement."
As he sipped his drink the visitor said, "Oh it is an agreement Senator. You vote as we direct you and we will make sure nothing happens."
Jarrod snapped, "Blackmail."
"Let's just say we will agree to disagree on the terms of our little merger," the man now laughed evilly. "As I was saying we are not pleased with your latest antics and I would suggest you calm down." He glared at Jarrod.
"The reporters are exaggerating."
"Is that so?" Jarrod nodded his head yes. "Well I have it on good authority that you have been quite the social butterfly going out in Los Angeles and San Francisco and not coming home until the wee hours of the morning and you were quite inebriated."
Jarrod shrugged his shoulders, "I was just blowing off some steam."
Glaring at Jarrod, "Well we believe you have blown off enough steam."
Jarrod stood angrily as he spat, "You will NOT dictate to me how I live my personal life. The agreement as you put it only had me voting as you and your colleagues chose. I have kept my word on that."
"Yes I guess you have."
"The subject of my personal life is none of your business." Jarrod angrily said.
He glared at Jarrod as he spoke, "I will inform my colleagues and we will see what they say."
"I don't give a damn what they say."
Laughing evilly, "We both know you do." He sipped his drink before he continued, "the vote is tomorrow and we expect you to vote on the bill for its approval."
"I know that."
"Then I would suggest you refrain from going out tonight with your secretary so you can be ready bright and early in the morning. We don't need you looking like death warmed over."
Jarrod glared at him once again and spat, "You leave Jessica out of this."
He laughed again, "We are not interested in your latest conquest, trust me."
Jarrod cleared his throat as he spoke, "Once I vote on this I'm done. I have fulfilled my part of the agreement."
He choked on his drink and spat, "What?"
"You heard me; I'm done after this vote." Jarrod said smugly.
"My colleagues will disagree with you on that."
"I'm done until I get some questions answered."
He glared at Jarrod, "What questions?"
"Questions you can't answer," Jarrod pointed at him. "I want a meeting with your bosses and I want to know about the events of that day."
"You know enough."
"I wasn't even in town when it happened and since I'm being blackmailed with this I have a right to know ALL the details."
He looked at Jarrod and said, "I will relay your message to them."
Jarrod glared at the man, "We both know there is another vote coming up in two weeks and I will not vote until I talk to your bosses and get answers to my questions. Is that clear?"
The messenger finished his drink and got up, "As I said I will relay your message."
Jarrod continued to sit at his desk and propped his feet up on the desk and said, "I would suggest you make my stance very clear to your colleagues."
He glared at Jarrod but never said anything as he walked out the door.
A few minutes later Jessica stuck her head in his office and asked, "Who was that?"
Jarrod replied, "The messenger."
Jessica closed the door, "How did it go?"
Jarrod took his feet off his desk and said, "We'll have to wait and see."
Jessica smiled as she showed Jarrod a wire, "I got this from father." She handed Jarrod the wire who smiled as he read it.