"What do you say? Drinks at Black Rock?" Aaron Shore asked, an eager smile spread across his face.
Emily Rhodes bit her lip. "Aaron, I. . ."
"Have you seen the press this morning?" Seth Wright asked barging in, tossing a newspaper on Aaron's desk.
Aaron smiled as he examined the newspaper. An endearing picture of President Kirkman holding up his daughter Penny at the zoo, the two pointing at the bonobo exhibit, their expressions identical. "Lions, Tigers, and Kirkman's, Oh My!" the headline read.
"Who knew that something as simple as taking your kid to the zoo could make everyone love you."
Seth nodded. "Kirkman got lucky."
"What do you mean Kirkman got lucky?" Emily interjected.
Aaron sat down, still gazing over the article. "Having kids can be political suicide. Do you know how hard it is to have a family in politics? You can either be a great dad or a great politician. You can't be both. Well, unless you're super Kirkman. The press usually has a field day with family politicians. Focus too much on family, you're neglecting your responsibilities. Focus too much on politics, you don't care about your family."
Emily's brow furrowed slightly. "So you're saying you don't ever want kids?"
Aaron shrugged. "Maybe someday. Right now? This political climate? No way. I'd like to move up the ladder first. Besides, think of living your whole childhood in the spotlight. What kind of childhood is that? Don't even get me started on what happened to Atwood's kid last year."
"I feel you on that. We've got more important things to focus on right now anyway. Like getting you in that v.p. spot." Seth said punching Aaron's arm playfully.
Aaron shook his head. "No way. There's a list a mile long of people more qualified to be Kirkman's vice president. . .I've never even been elected to a public office. For him to choose me as VP is unconventional at best. "
Emily rolled her eyes. "Being humble was never your strong suit. You know as well as I do you're a shoe in for Vice President. You're his right hand man. Besides, Kirkman's whole presidency is unconventional. The tricks of the trade don't matter anymore."
Aaron grinned modestly. "Only time will tell. He still has three more years before reelection."
…
Two years later. . .
". . . and that is why if we are reelected, we will fight to make paid paternity leave something that every American can access." Vice presidential nominee, Aaron Shore said, ending his speech. "I will now take some questions."
He pointed to a young, blonde reporter sitting front and center. She stood, recorder in one hand, pencil and notebook in another. "Stephanie Danes, from The political journal. One of President Kirkman's major platforms this election has centered around bettering the country for the sake of families. However, I have information from a source that says you fathered a child with a Maryland school teacher, but have not assumed any responsibility for said child. How can the American people trust that you have their best interest at heart, when you're not responsible for your own family?"
Aaron looked at Seth, who was standing at the side of the room,shooting him a perplexed look. The press was always trying to create drama in stories that didn't exist, always trying to smear a candidate's good name. Aaron turned back to the press. " , I'm sorry, but your information is incorrect. I would love to have children someday, but as of right now, I do not have any children."
"My source says that the child was born two years ago, to former White House Chief of Staff, Rhodes. Were you romantically involved with her? Is that why she resigned so suddenly?"
The room began to become overwhelmingly hot, yet Aaron stood frozen. Frozen at just the mention of Emily's name. All of the color drained from his face, his throat suddenly drier than the Sahara desert, and his lips unable to form words. He had not seen Emily, in almost three years. She left work one day, leaving a resignation with Kirkman, and never looked back.
Seth jogged to the stage. "Ladies and Gentleman we're going to need to cut things short tonight, Please forward any further questions to my office, and I will have one of my staff answer you shortly." He then ushered Aaron off stage.
He handed Aaron a bottle of water.
Aaron grimaced. "Don't you have anything harder?"
Seth rolled his eyes "You want to tell me what's going on?"
Aaron took a swig of water. "How can the Political Journal know that I had a child, when I didn't?"
"Do you think she really had your baby and didn't tell you? I don't think Emily could do that."
"It makes sense though. The timeline, why Emily resigned so suddenly, why she didn't say goodbye, why she suddenly wasn't interested in me anymore."
"You and Em were a thing?" Seth asked.
Aaron sighed,raking his hand through his gelled curls. "I don't even think you could call it a thing. It was more of a moment."
"A moment? Could this moment have created a child?"
Aaron looked up at Seth, his deep brown eyes filled with hurt. "We need to find Emily."