A Fresh Start
Chapter Two Hundred Seventy
Rolling to his back, Jeffrey sucks in a deep breath as Sam snuggles in beside him. "Did that satisfy your hunger?" He asks, running his fingers through her hair.
"Yes."
After a couple moments, he says. "Do you know what I like the most about you being pregnant?"
"Umm, that I'm carrying your son?" She asks, looking up at him.
"Umm, I love that. But I love the fact that you want me all the time." He says, kissing the top of her head.
"Actually I don't think that has much to do with me being pregnant." She says, drawing designs on his chest. I think the hormones intensify it a little bit."
He leans down and kisses her. She moves up, deepening the kiss and he lets her for a moment before he pulls back. "We need to eat before you go back."
"You have to go back too." She says softly, leaning in again. He kisses her quickly before he moves her off him and then sets up. She follows him, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his. "You know we could…."
"You need to eat Sam and after what we just did, I'm actually hungry." He says, as she leans over and nibbles on his neck.
"I'm hungry too."
"I meant for food. I'm hungry for food." He says, turning to her. She leans in kissing him again.
"Sam, we need." She reaches down, gently caressing him. "We need to…."
"I'll get something before I go back." She says, moving off the bed and straddling his lap.
He stops her. "You can't this way." He mumbles, laying back and bringing her with him. He lays her down and she moves to her side as he hands her a pillow to brace her stomach against as he slips inside her.
"J." She moans, closing her eyes when he thrusts deep.
He sets a steady rhythm, pushing them both closer to the edge. Reaching around her, he caresses her body bringing her closer to the end. "Beca." He mumbles, as she clinches her muscles around him.
She smiles as she relaxes letting him move deeper into her. His movements become frantic, surging into her over and over until he feels her body clinch around him and he lets go, sucking in a deep breath. He softly kisses her shoulder as he pulls away. "Now we really need to get up."
Rolling over, she smiles at him and then says, "I thought you were already up." She says, teasing him. He looks at her and then shakes his head, kissing her softly before pulling back.
She leans in and kisses him again before she says. "I love you."
He smiles. "And I love you too."
He sets up and then stretches before he climbs out of bed, turning to help her. He reaches for his boxers as she walks into the bathroom. When she returns, he's buttoning his shirt. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, I had to go to the bathroom because your son wants to use my bladder as his trampoline." Sam says, reaching for her clothes. He's gathered them up and laid them on the bed.
He walks over to her, wrapping his arms around her and gently rubbing her stomach. She leans back against him. Laying her head on his shoulder, he holds her for several moments before he whispers. "Is that better?"
She smiles, turning her head to kiss the side of his neck. "He's moved off my bladder and calmed down." She says, as he releases her.
"Good, why don't you get dressed and I'll go down and fix you something to eat."
"You need to eat too."
"I'll send Stace to get me something while I'm in my meeting." He says, walking towards the door. He looks back over his shoulder, watching as she reaches for her underwear, slipping them on. Turning he leaves, the room as she reaches for her bra.
Ten minutes later, she comes downstairs. She walks into the kitchen as he's finishing up her lunch. "Here." He says, as she walks up to him.
"Thank you." She says, picking up her sandwich. She takes a bite of the PB&J and smiles.
"So I guessed right." He says, putting a glass of milk in front of her. She smiles taking another bite of her sandwich. "Our son is either going to love PB&J or hate it."
"Hey, I can't have a turkey sandwich, so he gets PB&J." She says, with a small pout.
He steps up beside her, laying his hand on her stomach he says. "I promise that as soon as he's born I will personally bring you the biggest turkey sandwich I can make and I'll make it exactly like you like it."
She leans in to kiss him, pulling back as she glances at the clock. "You have to go." She says, pouting again.
He looks at the clock. "I promise I'll be careful but I'll still hurry home as soon as five gets here." He says, walking over to the door.
She follows him to the door. "You need to eat too." She says, worrying slightly.
"I promise I'll send Stace to get me something as soon as I get back to the office." He says, pulling his coat on. After adjusting the collar, he leans in and kisses her. "I'll see you tonight." He says, pulling back. He looks into her eyes. "I love you, Mrs. O'Neill.
"We love you, Mr. O'Neill."
"Bye son." He says, gently running his hand over her stomach. "Go save patients and I'll see you both tonight.
"Love you." She says, leaning in to kiss him again as he opens the door. He walks out and she watches as he walks down the steps and over to the garage. Once he goes inside, she closes the door, locks it and then walks down to her office. She smiles when she hears the gentle beep of his horn as he pulls out of the garage and leaves.
Josh is sitting at his desk looking over some contracts when Billy taps on his door. Looking up, Josh motions for him to come in. "Are you busy?" Billy asks.
"No, just looking over the Jackson Street contracts."
"Is everything okay?" Billy asks.
"Everything looks to be, what's up?"
"I've been thinking about something?"
"What?" Josh says, settling back in his chair.
"I know that Jeffrey gave you the paperwork for Lewis Oil." Billy says, walking over to his desk and sitting down in front of him.
"That's correct but I haven't looked over it, why?"
"Well, I was thinking that now would be the time to take a look at it. We need to evaluate the condition of the company and I thought that since you had more experience with that company that maybe I could take over the projects we're working here and that would free you up to review Lewis Oil and decide what needs to be done."
"You want to get me out of Lewis Construction brother." Josh says, teasing him.
"No of course not! I just thought…."
"I'm teasing Billy. I think it's a good time to look at Lewis Oil and re-evaluate things over there. So if you want to take over the current projects then I'm okay with that." Josh says putting the contracts he was looking into back in the folder and handing them to Billy. "I'll have Wanda collect everything else and send it over to you."
"That's good." Billy says, but he doesn't move to leave.
"Was there something else?" Josh asks, watching him.
"Yeah, I'm… You know what, it doesn't matter." Billy says, getting up to go.
"You're thinking about something else so tell me what it is."
Billy sits down and for a several moments there's nothing but silence. Gathering his thoughts, Billy says, "You know that I've regretted everything that happened with Vanessa." He says, as Josh nods. "And you know that I admit that the reason we split was completely my fault."
"Yes." Josh nods.
"But I've been thinking that it's time that I move on."
"Do you have anyone in mind?" Josh asks, though he thinks that Billy's talking about Stace.
"Umm Stace, we've been dating for a while and she makes me happy, happier than I've been in a long time."
"Do you love her?" Billy doesn't answer. He doesn't have to. Josh can see that he does when he looks at him. "So, when are you going to ask her?"
"I actually haven't gone to look at rings. I'm sort of nervous about going by myself. Vanesa and I went together when I proposed to her and I gave my mother's ring to Mindy."
"I don't know her that well, but if you want me to go with you I can."
"You would."
"Of course, when do you want to go?"
"Umm, are you busy tonight?"
"Richard's fund raiser is…."
"Oh that's right. Okay so what about tomorrow evening. We can look at rings and then we can get some dinner at Towers or something."
"That's sounds perfect. I'll tell Reva when I get home." He says, as Billy take a deep breath. "Are you nervous?"
"Sort of, I mean I haven't done this in years."
"Then it's about time. Let me get with Wanda and I'll have the other contracts sent to your office and then we can go look for that ring." Josh says, as Billy stands up.
"That's fine." He says, walking towards Josh's door. He stops when he reaches the door and turns around. "Thanks Josh." Looking up, Josh nods and smiles.
Once his meeting is over, Jeffrey picks up his phone. Dialing a number, he sits back and waits. After a couple rings, the call is answered. "Thank you for calling Towers, how may I help you?"
"Yes, this is Jeffrey O'Neill."
"Yes Mr. Mayor, How may I help you?"
"I want to set up a reservation for Valentine's Day. Do you have anything available for that date around seven pm?"
"Let me look, Mr. Mayor." The hostess replies, looking at the calendar in front of her. "I'm sorry Mr. Mayor, but we don't have anything for seven but we do have openings at six thirty and six forty five, would that be alright?"
"I'll take the six forty five and can I have a private table?" He asks.
"Of course Sir." The woman says, entering Jeffrey's name into the computer on that date and time with the note that he wants a private table for the evening. "I have your reservation down, Sir."
"Thank you." Jeffrey says, sitting up.
"You're welcome Sir, and thank you for calling Towers." She replies, hanging up.
Shortly before five, Ava walks into the loft. Emma comes over to her hugging her as she closes the door behind her. "How are you, baby?" Ava asks, hugging her.
"I'm good."
"Where is William?" Ava says, taking off her coat and hanging it up by the door.
"He's upstairs." Emma replies, as Ava puts her purse on the table by the door.
"Okay, did you finish your homework?"
"Yes, but I need you to look over my math. I think I did it right though."
"Okay, I'll look at it after dinner. I'm going upstairs to see William, okay."
"Okay." Emma says, walking over to her bedroom.
Ava walks upstairs and into their bedroom. William is coming out of the bathroom when she walks in. "Hi beautiful." He says, as she walks over to him. Slipping his arms around her, he hugs her to him, kissing her softly.
"Hi." She replies after she pulls back. "Did you have a good day?"
"It was busy." He says, releasing her and reaching for his drawer to get a pair of boxers. "How was your day?"
"Umm good, busy as well."
"You didn't over do…."
"I took breaks and I had lunch and two snacks." Ava says, laying her hand on her stomach as he takes the towel off and slips into the boxers.
"How is my boy doing?" He asks, walking over to her and laying his hands on top of hers
Removing her hands, letting his settle against her stomach, he feels his son kick against his hand. "He's been active all day." She says, feeling him caress her stomach.
"I think he's excited to be home." He says, as she looks at him and rolls her eyes.
"We've been home for a couple weeks now." Ava says, leaning up to kiss him softly.
"Maybe, but he's still excited." William says, continuing to tease her
She doesn't bite, asking instead. "What do you want for dinner?"
"I've already ordered for Emma and Charlie will be here to stay with her." He says, as she looks at him with a questioning look. "You forgot didn't you?" He says, teasing her again.
"Did we have a date planned?" She asks, as he walks over to their closet with her following him.
"We had a date but it's for Richard." He says, walking to his side of the closet and pulling out one of his suits.
She looks at him and then it dawns on her Richard's fund raiser and town meeting at Company tonight. "He has a fund raiser and town meeting." She says, as she looks around slightly panicked.
"Relax the fund raiser doesn't start until seven." William says, as he pulls out a shirt after he lays the suit down. "Okay."
"Okay, I've got to get a shower." She says, spinning around to leave the closet.
"Ava." He says. She stops and looks at him. "Stop and take a breath. We have time. Charlie isn't supposes to be here until six thirty." She smiles as she turns and leaves the closet for the bathroom.
"Cassie." Richard calls as he leaves the closet. She walks out of the bathroom.
"Yes." She says, holding the brush she was using to brush her hair
"Where is my tie? I can't find my tie."
Smiling, she walks over to him. "Relax Richard I put the tie away. I thought that since the fund raiser and town meeting is at Company that you could go with a more casual look.
"Casual." He says, looking at her.
"Yes, this event isn't formal so I think you should be comfortable."
"Because the people we're going to be speaking with will be middle class than upper class." He says, slipping his arms around her.
"Well let's say they're more my class of people than they are your class of people."
"I like your class." He says, leaning in to lightly kiss her, teasing her lower lip.
She gives in for a moment before she pulls back. "We don't have time to start anything." She says, pulling away.
"Alright, but later we're…."
"Later, you can have me as long as you want." She says as she leans in and kisses him softly before she releases him and turns back to the bathroom while he watches her go before he goes back into the closet to finish dressing. When he's done, he goes over to the bathroom. "Cassie, I'm going downstairs." He says, leaning against the door frame, watching her.
She turns to look at him and then smiles. "Okay, I'll be down in a bit. Go make sure the boys are doing their homework." She says, turning back towards the mirror.
He stands there for a moment before he pushes away from the door frame. "I'll see you downstairs." He says, turning to go.
As he's walking downstairs, he hears Will and Rj arguing. He walks into the living room quietly. The boys are at the coffee table. And between them is their homework, but the TV is on when he knows that Cassie turned it off before she came up to get ready for the night. "…we always watch…." Will says.
"Is your homework finish?" Richard asks, standing behind the boys. They both jump and then turn to look up at him, Richard waits for a moment before he says. "I asked if your homework is finished." Rj looks at Will as they both try to come up with a story. "It's better if you just tell me the truth." He says.
"We're almost finished." Both boys reply.
"And what did you mom tell you about the TV and your homework?"
"She said we had to have our homework finished before we could watch TV." Both boys reply, knowing that they're both in trouble.
"So why is the TV on if your homework isn't finished?"
"We're almost through, we…." Rj says.
"Turn it off and hand me the remote." Richard says, holding out his hand. Rj turns it off and then holds the remote out.
"No TV for the rest of the night, is that understood?"
"Yes sir." Will replies.
"But we only…." Rj says, trying to argue.
"Rj, if you argue you won't be able to watch TV tomorrow either. The rule is you can't watch TV until your homework is finished, not almost finished or partly finished, it has to be completely finished." Richard says, as there is a knock on the door. "Now finish what you have left and then put your books away so you can eat your dinner." Richard says, as he walks towards the kitchen as another knock comes. He opens the door to find Mrs. Chitwood waiting. "Good evening, Mrs. Chitwood." He says, holding the door open for her as he steps back to let her in.
"Good evening, Mr. Winslow." She says, coming into the house.
He closes the door and then helps her with her coat, hanging it up before he turns to her. "The boys are finishing their homework up now. Their dinner is warming in the oven when they get through. After they are finished eating they can go upstairs to play but neither one is allow any TV this evening." Richard says, as Cassie comes into the kitchen.
"Mrs. Chitwood." Cassie says, coming over to them. "It's good to see you and thank you for being available this evening."
"You're quite welcome. I enjoy your boys very much. They remind me of my own boys when they were that age." She says, with a fond smile.
"I've already prepared their dinner as Richard said. And they will need baths before bed as well." Cassie says as Mrs. Chitwood nods. Richard reaches for Cassie coat as the boys come into the living room.
"Give me a hug?" Cassie says, turning to the boys. They both walk over to her, hugging her. She can tell that something is wrong with them. She glances at Richard and he gives her a look that says he'll explain later. He hugs the boys and then helps Cassie into her coat before putting his own on.
"Alright boys, be good and remember what I said. We will be home after you go to bed but we'll check in when we get home okay." Richard says, as the boys nods still looking upset.
He opens the door as Cassie says. "I want you to eat all of your dinner for Mrs. Chitwood and you both have to take a bath tonight before bed." The boys nod before she and Richard walk out of the house.
"Enjoy yourself and I'll take care of the boys." Mrs. Chitwood says while they stand in the doorway, watching Richard help Cassie down the steps and to their car before she closes the door.
Opening the door for her, Richard helps her into the car and then walks around the car. Getting in, he reaches to put the car in gear as Cassie asks. "What was wrong with the boys?"
He slowly makes is way down their driveway before he answers. As he's pulling out he says. "When I came downstairs, the TV was on and they were fighting about what program they were going to watch."
"I told them they could watch TV after they finished their homework."
"I know and when I asked them about their homework they both admitted that they weren't completely finished, so I made them turn the TV, give me the remote and told that they couldn't watch TV for the rest of the night."
"Okay, but why did they turn the TV on? They knew the rule."
"I don't know. I didn't ask but after I told them that they couldn't watch TV tonight, Rj tried to argue but I told him if he did he wouldn't be able to watch TV tomorrow either and then Mrs. Chitwood arrived."
"Richard, you're their father if you think that taking the TV away from them for the evening is deserved I'm not going to question you." Cassie says, taking his hand.
"I wasn't…."
She squeezes his hand as she says. "Your tone said you were questioning whether I agreed with your decision."
"Okay."
Reva is finishing getting ready for Richard's fund raiser when Josh comes in. "Hi." She says, leaning in to kiss him. "You're late tonight?"
"I know I was busy gathering up our current projects for Billy and time got away from me." He says, pulling his tie free as he walks towards their bathroom. "I'm going to take a quick shower and then we can go." He says, as she nods. About ten minutes later, he walks out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. Going to their closet, he sees some close laid out on his dresser. Smiling he walks over to the dresser to see what Reva's laid out for him. Shaking his head, he reaches for his deodorant before he begins dressing. Ten minutes later, he's walking down the stairs as Reva comes in from the kitchen. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes." She says, reaching for her purse after pulling her coat on. He helps her with it before he pulls his coat on. They walk over to the door together. He opens it and holds it, letting her leave the house before him. Closing the door behind them, he presses the button for the locks as they walk towards his car. He opens her door. Waiting for her to get in, he closes her door and then walks around the car. Getting in, he starts the car and pulls away from the house as he says. "I spoke with Billy this afternoon."
"Okay, is he okay?" Reva asks, glancing at him. "What happened?" She asks, seeing the excitement in his eyes.
"Well a couple things." Josh says, as he stops at a stop sign.
When he pulls through the intersection she says. "So, what happened?"
"First Billy's going to take over the current contracts and any future contracts we have for Lewis Construction." Josh says, making a turn while Reva looks at him, expecting him to continue.
"And." She prompts him when he does say anymore.
"And I'm going to look over Lewis Oil and decide how we're going to proceed."
"What do you mean by proceed?"
"Well, are we going to keep the current staff, fire them and hire a whole new staff? What are their current projects and are we going to continue with them or scrape them? So, I'm taking over that part of the business."
"You're going back to Lewis Oil." She says, watching him.
"Yes, I was always better at Lewis Oil than with the construction part. So, Billy's taking over Lewis Construction and I'm going to focus on Lewis Oil."
A few moments pass before she says. "It will be good to have control of Lewis Oil again."
"Yes it is and it's amazing that Jeffrey bought it back, especially since I was such an ass to him in the beginning." Josh says, as Reva takes his hand and squeezes it. They drive for a couple blocks before Josh says. "There's something else Billy wanted this afternoon." She looks at him. "He wants me to go with to look at engagement rings."
"Wait, what?" Reva asks, staring at him.
"You heard me correctly. He wants me to go with to look for an engagement ring for Stace."
"He's going to propose." Reva says, looking at him as he pulls into the parking lot outside Company.
"Yes, and he wants me to go with him." Josh says, looking for a place to park. Pulling into a space, he turns the car off and then turns to Reva. "He wants to go tomorrow night and then we'll get dinner somewhere." Josh says, looking at her. "You look shocked."
"I…." She pauses. "I think I am. I didn't think he would get married after Vanessa." Reva says, opening door. Josh follows her, opening his and getting out of the car. He walks around the car, holding her door for her as she gets out and then closes it behind her.
"I think it's a good thing." Josh says, leading her towards the restaurant.
"Oh so do I." Reva replies, slipping her arm through his as they walk toward the restaurant.
Cassie is standing to the side with Reva watching as Richard walks around the room. "I always loved to watch him work a room." Reva says, taking a sip of the drink in her hand.
"I know." Cassie says, smiling. "He has a natural way of putting people at ease, whether the crowd is at the country club or here. He knows how to make each person feel like they matter. I remember him walking through the streets during election days in San Cristobel. He wanted to hear what the people had to say about the things they were voting on, even if he had final say about everything that came into law."
"I convinced him to do that." Reva says, glancing at Cassie. "When I was…." She pauses and then continues. "When I became Princess I convinced him that he needed to be around his people. Until I came, the royal family was mostly unreachable." Reva says, looking down.
"You know you don't have to hide your time as Princess. We both know you were first and you help shape him into the man he is." Cassie turns her attention to Richard. "We were able to be together because of you, so I don't begrudge your time as his wife. "
"I know, it's just sometimes it's strange to watch him and then have these memories of our life together." Reva says, looking at Cassie. Shaking her head, she says. "How are you doing? How is the baby?"
"We're both fine. Dr. Sedgwick said that everything is processing like it should."
"How are you handling the campaign?"
"Oh, it's interesting. He's still looking for a campaign manager but he doesn't want to bring anyone else in from San Cristobel."
"Why?" Reva asks, looking at her.
"He's afraid that it will look like he's bringing in all the people that helped him run that country."
"And that he's trying to make Springfield into a mini San Cristobel." Reva says, nodding.
"Yes, but this is his campaign. When he wins, the mayor's office already has a staff."
"It has some staff, but there are some positions that Richard can appoint. He'll have a chief of staff, someone to handle the media…."
"Which will probably be Holly." Cassie says, as Reva nods.
"He'll also need a speech writer as well as someone to be a liaison with the City Hall members."
"But doesn't Jeffrey have those people?"
"I'm sure he does, but those people came from the staff that the governor appointed. I don't think Jeffrey changed any of them except to add Richard. And I suppose Richard could keep the same people in place if he wants but I think he's going to want to have his own people in place."
"Okay, so he could bring people from San Cristobel if he wanted to. He was good at running that country. They prospered and the people elected him President." Cassie says, watching the crowd around Richard.
"He was unopposed Cassie." Reva says, taking a drink.
"So you don't think he can win?" Cassie asks, looking at her.
"No, I think he can win. I just think it's going to be a little harder and that he's right to concern himself with bring people in from San Cristobel. I thought he had a campaign manager."
"He did, but he fired him after he found out that he had someone investigating my past."
"I don't know exactly how campaigns go, but I would think that his staff would want to know about everything that could come up during the campaign."
"So, you're saying he should have been investigating me. My past is out there for everyone to know. It was broadcast to all of San Cristobel and Springfield because of Edmund and I answered for it before we were ever married. It's not a secret."
"Then why would he fire his campaign manager to for investigating your past."
"Because he doesn't want me to be hurt again, he's protecting me and our baby." Cassie says before walking away from Reva to meet Richard in the middle of the crowd around him. When she reaches him, she slips her hand into his.
Turning, he smiles and then puts his arms around her. "I would like you all to meet my wife, Cassie." He says. Cassie nods at everyone. "We were discussing the Springfield Children's museum." Richard says, as Cassie nods.
"There is a proposal before the city council to close the museum and use the land for a development of apartments and strip malls." Says one people in the group surrounding them.
Cassie looks at Richard. "Seriously, they want to close the children's museum?" She asks, looking at Richard.
"There has been some mention of it." He says. "I know." He says, taking her hand. "Tammy loved going there."
"I'm sure more children beside Tammy love the Children's museum. It's…."
"We'll work to save it." He says.
"Is that your first campaign promise, Mr. Winslow?" One of the men asks.
Richard pauses for a moment and then he nods. "Yes, when I become mayor and before I become mayor I will work to keep the Children's museum open. I believe the children of Springfield deserve to have a place where they can go to learn and explore the world around them."
"And how is that going to work with your ties to large companies?" Another man asks.
"I'm not sure what you're speaking of?" Richard says, looking at the man
"You've been working with the current mayor to bring business into Springfield and many of those businesses are large corporations. How are you going to continue to recruiting large corporations without the necessary housing and accommodations?"
Richard pauses for a moment before he replies. "As I said, I think we can work to save the children's museum as well as accommodate our growing community. We have other land that can be used to develop housing and other amenities for these companies as well as provide for their children as well. There are extensive warehouses along the river that are too dilapidated to use for manufacturing or other business, and they are a haven for criminal activity. That land could be developed on both sides of the river, thus leaving the children's museum alone but still providing housing for our growing community."
As Richard finishes, Jeffrey walks up with Sam. " I think you're right Richard and if we keep the children's museum it might inspire other groups and business to invest in things that will keep all ages invested in Springfield and off the streets."
"If you feel that way Mr. Mayor, why has all of your effort been towards recruiting large business with no steps to renovate the area around the riverfront." One of the men asks.
"Tonight isn't about my time in office." Jeffrey says. "We're here focus on what Mr. Winslow cam bring to Springfield and his abilities to lead."
"There's no doubt that he has the experience to lead. We all know that he was once the former Prince of San Cristobel as well as it's first and only President. How are going to address those concerns." That same man asks, looking at Richard.
"By not hiding from them. I was the Prince of San Cristobel."
"A title that was later proven to be not yours to have." Another man points out.
"Which I came forwarded an was honest about." Richard replies.
"And then you tried to turn the country against the rightful heir, your brother Edmund."
"His brother Edmund wasn't…." Cassie says. Richard lays his hand on her arm.
"You're once again right. I did advise the people of San Cristobel that I did not believe Edmund to be fit to govern the country. A fact that was later proven when he seized control and instilled martial law and imprisoned anyone who criticized his policies. I couldn't stand by and let my people be bullied and terrorized by a man that only wanted the crown for his own personal gain, so I helped to remove him from office by seizing control of the country. We all know the crimes the Edmund committed towards me, my family and his country. It's a matter of public record, just like it a matter of public record and common knowledge that I was once the leader of that country. It's a part of who I am." Richard says, looking around the group.
"Well said." Sam says, as Richard looks at her and smiles.
"Mr. Winslow, what to you say to the people who fear that you will try to make Springfield into your own little country that you and you alone run. You are used to being in complete control of everything. Isn't that what a monarchy is?"
"No, it's not. A monarchy is much like your presidency without term limits. If I was still Prince of San Cristobel I had the option to rule until my death or until I felt that my heir was ready to take over as Prince. San Cristobel has been a voting democracy almost as long as your country. Twice a year we had referendums that were place before the people to vote on. We had political races and elections for individuals to run for public office. Yee we had members of the cabinet were appointed by and served for their lifetime and upon their death would be replaced by the ruling prince. A monarchy in it's true form is not a dictatorship. It's much like your own democracy."
"Are either of you concerned about your wife's past…?"
"Cassie's past is not an issue. That matter has been addressed and cleared while I was Prince and it should not have any bearing on this election."
"She was paid to remove her clothes and her daughter was married…?" A man says.
Richard takes a step towards the man and Jeffrey quickly reaches out to stop me. "What's your name Sir?"
"Albert Mendez." The man replies.
"Mr. Mendez, who do you work for?" Jeffrey asks, watching the man
"Excuse me, I asked a legitimate question about a legitimate concern some voters might have…."
"No, sir. What you're trying to do is bait Mr. Winslow into attacking you to make him look bad. We all know about Cassie's past. As her husband has pointed out, it was explained previously. And as to their daughter, I'm not sure what you could say about a young girl that was run down and murdered in an attempted to gain custody of her husband's only child because that child happened to be a Spaulding heir. And the man responsible for the accident is currently serving several years behind bars. And may I point out that Mr. Winslow's opponent has open ties to the Spaulding's and one Alan Spaulding in particular." Jeffrey says, as the man looks at him and then turns to leave.
Richard looks at Jeffrey and then says. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, go mix with the rest of the crowd." Jeffrey says, as the group breaks up and Richard and Cassie walk around the room speaking with other guests and voters.