The Convenient Wedding: a contemporary romance (The Rosa Legacy Book 3) (10 page)

Lucia tried to process what he was telling her but it seemed so far-fetched. Was he going to quit?

After another swallow of his drink, Anderson continued saying, “She informed the party that I wasn’t willing to put my heart and soul into campaigning and their money would be better spent elsewhere. When the donations ceased, my supporters began to lose confidence in the campaign. Slowly instead of gaining momentum in a positive direction, we are heading towards defeat.”

“Acting in this way can only reflect badly on her. Why didn’t she resign?” Lucia asked.

He looked off into the distance. “I didn’t realize how much of a personal vendetta she had against me. I’ve known her a long time and thought we were friends. She had wanted to have an affair years ago but I discouraged it.”

She wondered about the future. “Will you be able to continue?”

Anderson stood up and began pacing. “Yes. I have the nomination but without enough funding, I don’t have a chance.”

“Can’t you finance your own campaign?” Lucia asked him.

“Yes. I can play hardball with the party and go out on my own. But to win, I need them.” Anderson explained.

“Are you considering throwing the towel in?” Lucia questioned him.

“I can back out and let another candidate take over. But if that happens, there is probably not enough time to win the election.” Anderson said.

“If I decide to walk away, will you be angry?” Anderson stopped pacing and turned toward her.

She stood up. “This is not about me.” 

He met her gaze. “You signed on for the ride and giving up would not be what you expected.” 

“I wouldn’t expect you to go against your values or beliefs to win at all costs. But I also don’t think you should let Marissa get away with trying to sabotage your campaign.” Lucia told him.

He stepped toward her and kissed her swiftly on the mouth, saying “I need to make a few calls.” 

She watched him disappear down the hall. He was going to stay in the race and fight.

Lucia went upstairs and got ready for bed. Tucking herself into the soft, antique sofa, she realized she happy and excited. She would be able to help his campaign more fully without Marissa’s negative perspective. And he hadn’t been having an affair with her.

She searched back through her memories; she knew Marissa was clearly possessive about Anderson so maybe she started the rumor of an affair? But why would she try to ruin his political future? Brian had said that Anderson reassured Marissa that nothing would change their relationship. Anderson always seemed to be at odds with Marissa, almost as if he couldn’t stand to be in the same room with her.

It was a long time before she heard Anderson’s footsteps on the stairs and instead of calling out to him she pretended to be asleep as he quietly passed through the small media room. The thought occurred to her that she was married to a man that she hardly knew but was beginning to crave even the smallest detail about him. But did he feel the same?

Lucia woke early the next morning and headed downstairs to go for a morning swim. It occurred to her that since their marriage and disastrous honeymoon, they both managed to live in the same space but not invade each other’s privacy. They both used the same all glass shower without ever bumping into each other.

Diving into the pool, the cool water woke her fully and she began swimming laps. She realized that she was staying in a neatly defined role by choice. She could reach out and redefine her marriage. Instead of playing it safe, she could seek a relationship with Anderson. She reminded herself that he married her to prevent a scandal and present a convenient picture for voters, nothing more. If he was confiding in her or seemed interested in a physical relationship, it was probably that she was a safe bet for the time being.

Pulling herself out of the water, she decided not to play it safe any longer. She decided to throw herself headlong into each day and not let herself worry about the future.

When she arrived at the campaign headquarters, Anderson’s personal assistant, Mary, asked to speak with her. Lucia was on friendly terms with the older woman and smiled pleasantly as she waited for Mary to collect a few papers.

“Why don’t we go into the conference room?” Mary suggested.

“Anderson wants to host a dinner party for 25 people at the loft on July 4th.”

Mary handed her the list of people to be invited, she said, “Marissa has a few suggestions for the evening including using a particular caterer.”

Lucia reviewed Marissa’s hand written remarks and realized that Marissa wanted black-tie event. A list of wine recommendations was even included along with a menu from the caterer. Lucia politely listened to Mary go over each of Marissa’s recommendations but resolutely vowed to disregard each one.

Lucia was about to start her day when Will came in with a Fed-Ex package.

He said, “These are the proofs from the photo-shoot.”

He opened the package and spread out the photographs on the long conference room table. She was amazed by how many proofs there were.

Mary and Will admired each one. Lucia realized that the photographer had captured her most vulnerable expressions. And the shots with her and Anderson were unbelievable. Instead of seeming stuffy or staged, she looked quite breathless.

Almost mirroring her thoughts, Will said “The media is going to love these shots.”

Brian came in giving her an encouraging smile and said, “The camera loves you.”

Lucia glanced down at the photographs scattered across the table. She began to feel it was someone else entirely, the candidate’s wife. She thought unkindly that it was what Anderson wanted to present to the voters. He always gave a public perception of being completely enraptured with his new bride.

Lucia stared at a photograph taken with Anderson, and realized that she didn’t quite look like a politician’s wife in the more casual shots. The shirt was more revealing then she remembered and Anderson’s hands were placed low on her waist with his fingers pressing into her jeans. 

A memory surfaced from before their wedding when Anderson found her in his father’s study and placed his hands on her waist then slowly moved his hands until he surprised her with the intimate touch before they were interrupted. She replayed the scene in her mind and realized that Anderson was being spontaneous. Did her desire her?

She was drawn out of her thoughts when she heard Will speaking. “I’m sorry. What did you say, Will?”

“Anderson has called a 1:00 pm staff meeting to announce some changes in the campaign.” Will told her again.

Glancing over at Brian, he seemed rather guarded and gave no indication that he knew what was coming. But he must know that Anderson was going to change the direction of the campaign.

She slowly had a calming effect on everyone as she maintained a business as usual front. The only major change seemed to be Marissa’s absence; but no one commented on it instead everyone was neatly sidestepping the issue.

At noon, Mary took orders for lunch and called it into a local deli that delivered. Lucia helped Will organize the photographs into set categories and placed an order for sufficient copies of each for media materials.

When lunch arrived, everyone gathered in the conference room to eat. Lucia noticed that the overall atmosphere seemed friendlier and more relaxed without Marissa’s intensity and critical comments.

At one o’clock, Anderson walked in looking determined. As he was about to begin, Marissa walked in and a tension filled the air. She sat to the left of Anderson and Lucia noticed a brief look that passed between them that seemed to say volumes.

Anderson said, “Before we begin the meeting, I would like you all to know that Marissa has decided to leave the campaign. I’d like to personally thank Marissa for all of her hard work and ingenuity that she has put into my campaign.”

A hushed silence permeated the room. The sixteen people sitting around the table were clearly surprised and turned expectant faces to Marissa.

Marissa stood and said coldly, “I’ll be returning to my position within the state party. I don’t believe in leaving a sinking ship but if I’m being thrown overboard then so be it.”

“We won’t keep you then. I’m sure that you have a lot of packing to do.” 

Marissa left the room with as much grace and dignity as she could muster and called out, “If anyone would like to join me, I know of other campaigns that need talented people.”

Anderson waited a few minutes before saying, “I do appreciate all of Marissa’s early contributions to getting my campaign off the ground. But unfortunately, she has been sabotaging this campaign for the last few weeks and we have lost most of our funding sources.”

Anderson made eye contact with the people sitting around the table, and said “This is my campaign and will reflect my beliefs and values. Marissa and her ingrained poisonous beliefs are gone.”

He let a few seconds pass for emphasis and continued, “Brian will pass around the backgrounder that will define the changes to the campaign.”

Getting up, Brian handed out the document and Lucia could tell the staff was uneasy.  Everyone scanned the document and then Anderson went through each line and elaborated as needed.

Brian interrupted with a question, “Anderson, wouldn’t it be better to try and appease Marissa? She is the key to getting proper funding.”

Anderson looked around the conference table and then stood up. “It’s not just the funding which we’ll solve. We have other issues to deal with. The polls don’t look promising and it is not my stance on major issues. It is that I’m coming off as a slick, wealthy, image driven man that couldn’t care less about the concerns of ordinary citizens. I want to be accessible and not to just to my affluent supporters. I want the freedom to reach out and talk candidly about my position on relevant issues.”

Brian was clearly frustrated and warned, “Anderson, you can’t leave yourself open. It could have disastrous results.”

Anderson went over to the white board and began listing the proposed changes. “If we don’t change public opinion soon then there won’t be a race.”

As the meeting was wrapping up, Anderson said that he had one more announcement to make. At this point, the staff seemed numb to anymore upheaval. Anderson said, “I intend to ask my father to join the campaign in a more formal role. Hopefully he will agree to take over the fundraising responsibilities. He recently lost his wife and needs a new direction. Actually, Lucia and I are going to head over and speak with him now.” Everyone joined in with encouraging words and wished him luck. It was clear from all of the comments that Arthur was highly regarded among the staff.

While Anderson took a moment to check his messages and go over the schedule with Mary for the remainder of the day, Lucia went to the bathroom.

She was washing her hands and checking her appearance in the mirror when Marissa walked into the room.

“At least I can leave a sinking ship. You on the other hand are stuck with a man incapable of feeling emotion.” Marissa said with a spiteful smile. “It must be awful to know that he is just using you.”

Lucia said, “Good luck with everything, Marissa.”

“You may present a good image to the media of adoring young wife but Anderson has been worried from the beginning that you would become a hanger-on.”

“I can’t imagine that he is worried about that.” 

“You are pathetic, do you know that? While you may be in love with him, you know nothing about him. He will never return the feeling. Anderson is still in love with Malian. And eventually he will go back to Hong Kong. Ask anyone who really knows him, even his father, his heart will always be with her.” Marissa told her.

Before Lucia had a chance to react, Marissa turned and walked out of the bathroom.

Lucia looked at her pale reflection in the mirror. Lucia remembered the photograph she found of Anderson laughing with an Asian woman and that he looked very much in love. But if he loved Malian then why did he marry her? Was the election that important to him? Lucia pulled herself together and went to find Anderson.

When they were settled in the back of the limousine, she asked him, “How did you convince the party to recall Marissa?”

“Even though Marissa is well connected within the party, the leadership understands that are working styles are completely different. I wasn’t going to win with her strategy of containment. They knew that.”

“But it was contentious?”

“I think everything with Marissa is contentious.”

“How did you get Marissa to come to the meeting? She must have that is would be awkward to say the least.” Lucia asked.

For a moment, Lucia didn’t think that Anderson would answer her. But then he said, “The political world is a small one. Marissa knows that. She will work with some of the same campaigners in the future so she needed to remain professional.”

She was about to ask about his life in Hong Kong when Anderson’s cell phone rang. He talked until the car pulled into his father’s driveway.

Arthur greeted them at the door and said, “So I hear that you have come for my help?”

“News travels fast,” Anderson replied. The three of them went into the formal sitting room for coffee and the conversation immediately turned to the campaign.

“I can’t wait to start. I think Marissa is better suited back of the party headquarters.” 

They discussed the changes to the campaign over the next hour. Anderson stood up and suggested that they go out to his father’s favorite restaurant for dinner.

Lucia glanced at him in surprise and he said, “When the disagreement happened with Marissa, she cancelled all the upcoming events so I have a few days free while re-group.”

When the July 4th weekend approached, Arthur suggested giving a dinner at his house but Lucia politely declined. She told him that she already organized the details – the invitations, food and decorations so she would like to hold it at the loft.

Instead of giving a formal dinner as expected, Lucia sent out hand written invitations and requested ‘casual attire’ for Anderson’s thirty-second Birthday. 

Anderson had a tightly packed schedule on July 4th to commemorate Independence Day so Lucia had the day to herself to pull everything together. The cleaning service had been in the day before so the spacious loft apartment was sparkling.

Lucia had asked her Aunt Francine to come and help with the preparations and cooking.

As the two of them sat reviewing the recipes early in the morning, Francine said to her “I’m a little worried. I didn’t realize that you intended to do everything yourself, including the cake.”

Lucia had just pulled on an apron and was pulling out needed pots. “Everyone on the guest list is somehow connected to the political world. They must attend formal events all the time. So I thought it would be a nice change of pace to hold a casual barbecue for July 4th.”

Francine said, “The loft is gorgeous and certainly has a sizable dining room but there isn’t a patio or an outside space to barbecue.”

“There is a large commercial oven so we can grill the chicken inside.”

“I’m not sure about a barbecue.”

“The large southeast windows in the loft face the water. Just as we finish dessert, the fireworks should start at about 9:40 pm and will make a beautiful backdrop for the party.”

“Are you sure that the fireworks are visible from here?” Francine questioned her.

“I asked Arthur. He thought the loft should have a spectacular view of the fireworks display.” 

“And you checked to make sure that they didn’t change the location?” Francine seemed skeptical.

“Yes. This evening is important for Anderson. Do you think that it was a mistake to not hire a caterer?” Lucia looked at her aunt.

Francine took charge. “Pull out your recipes. Let’s get to work. First the cake, in case there is a problem.”

After a careful review of pots and serving dishes, Francine and Lucia went to work. When the cake was in the oven and the potatoes were boiling, Francine started the marinade while Lucia transformed the dining table into a showcase.