Chapter 287
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Chapter 287:
“My dad is always so serious,” Aaden continued, his voice breaking perfectly. “All the other kids have pretty moms to clap for them. I am going to be all alone on the stage p>
Carmen felt hot tears prick the back of her eyes. She gripped the edge of the desk. “You are not going to be alone, Aaden. You are going to be the bravest knight there p>
“Aunt Carmen,” Aaden whispered, his voice impossibly fragile. “Can you come be my audience? Just for one day, could you pretend to be my p>
He stopped. He didn’t say the word. The silence was heavier and more devastating than a scream.
Carmen looked at the mountain of IRS audit paperwork on her desk. She didn’t care.
“I will be there, Aaden,” she said instantly. “I promise p>
A loud, joyful cheer erupted from the phone.
Then came a rustling sound — the phone clearly being lifted from the child’s hands.
𝘍ind ոо𝘃el P𝖣𝘍ѕ 𝗈𝘯
“Ms. Golden p>
The voice that came through the speaker was deep, smooth, and calm with quiet authority. Senator Justin Collins.
“I apologize for my son’s enthusiasm,” Justin said, his tone perfectly polite and entirely without regret. “He took my phone when I wasn’t looking. He somehow guessed the passcode — he knows I use his birthday for everything, and I suppose I underestimated his determination p>
Carmen felt heat rush to her cheeks. She sat up straighter. “It is perfectly fine, Senator. I am happy to support Aaden p>
Justin let out a low, soft chuckle. The sound sent an odd shiver down Carmen’s spine.
“I appreciate it,” he said smoothly. “I will have my driver pick you up at your apartment on Saturday morning. Dress warmly p>
“Oh, that is not necessary — I can drive my own p>
The line went dead. He had hung up on her.
Carmen stared at the phone in disbelief.
Jocelyn leaned against the glass wall, arms crossed, a slow knowing smile spreading across her face.
“For a man who writes legislation for a living, your Senator has some very aggressive pursuit tactics,” she teased.
Carmen’s face flushed bright red. She grabbed a stack of tax forms and began shuffling them with great purpose. “He is not my Senator. And he is not pursuing me. I am doing this for a motherless child. I want absolutely nothing to do with a politician p>
Jocelyn laughed softly and walked out of the office, leaving Carmen to her denial.
Two hundred miles away, in a vast oak-paneled office in Washington D.C., Justin Collins tossed his phone onto his desk and looked down at the leather sofa.
Aaden sat there, happily working on a cherry lollipop. His face was completely dry. Not a single tear in sight.
Justin crossed the room and ruffled his son’s dark hair. “Your vocal control on the crying was excellent today. Perfect execution p>
Aaden pulled the lollipop from his mouth and grinned. “You promised me the limited edition Death Star Lego set if I got her to say yes p>
Justin smiled. It was a predatory, calculating smile. “I will have my assistant order it right now p>
Friday evening at the Collins family estate in Long Island.