The Longer The Fall by Aviva Gat (best new books to read txt) 📗

They’d just be mingling in front of an open bar with fancy hors d’oeuvres and enjoying the art at the gallery venue they had chosen for the event. In attendance would be everyone who was anyone in the New York Republican circle, and even some from outside of New York. There would be senators, governors, maybe even a Bush or two would make an appearance. Madeline was told to bring a date, after all, her colleagues had heard so much about her boyfriend—a self-made, intelligent, hard-working man who was able to proudly stand next to such a powerful woman without feeling intimated. He must really be something, Madeline’s peers said, why wasn’t he a member of the YRNF? Why hadn’t they met him before? Madeline would shrug when asked those questions, Hunter hadn’t been much interested in politics, other than to support her, she said, and besides he was busy working, and volunteering. Did she mention he was also starting a new degree? She didn’t mention it was a bachelor’s degree at City College of New York and he had just registered for classes. She’d let her peers imagine what type of a degree her boyfriend was pursuing and at what institution.

She would bring him to that social event. He would do wonderfully speaking with the Republican leaders, just as he had with her friends in the College Republican National Club. Everyone would be intrigued by him, as people always were. Madeline was sure there would be nothing to worry about.

Chapter 17

Hunter looked great in the Brooks Brothers suit Madeline had bought for him. She had insisted on buying it as a gift, especially after everything he had done for her. Had he not paid for her when he took her out to dinner, even when she knew dinner cost him a full day of work? Had he not spent hours commuting to her Midtown apartment so he could be with her and support her when she felt stressed out about work? He was a great listener, taking time to ask questions about what upset Madeline instead of proposing solutions as most men tended to do. Madeline appreciated all his efforts and had taken him to choose a brand new suit that would be tailored perfectly for his body. Hunter hadn’t been as enthusiastic about suit shopping, but once he saw himself in the mirror, wearing that jet-black jacket over a light blue shirt with a gray tie, he lightened up about the idea. He may have even liked how he looked in it, Madeline thought, noticing how his eyes traced his own outline in the mirror.

As he put on the suit in Madeline’s bedroom, she couldn’t help herself from watching him. She imagined herself helping him take if off at the end of the night, after he had impressed everyone she knew. She would pull loose the tie, carefully unbutton the shirt and ease him out of the fitted pants. She’d be turned on from watching him speak eloquently as he always did among her peers. She’d crave his attention after watching him nod knowingly while he listened to her peers before asking intelligent questions that often led to smiles and winks from stumped attendees.

Madeline came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist as he continued fiddling with the tie. It was already perfectly straight, as Hunter had spent hours perfecting how to tie the knot before this event. For her part, Madeline was wearing a light blue floor-length dress that she had bought specially for the occasion. It made her look sophisticated, maybe even a little older than 24, but also sexy in an intelligent sort of way.

The couple took a cab to the art gallery. After hailing one outside Madeline’s apartment, Hunter hesitated by the passenger seat. “You sit in the back with me,” Madeline said light-heartedly, knowing that Hunter had only been in a cab a handful of times in his life. He followed her in the backseat and they sat quietly holding hands until the cab pulled up to the venue. Outside there was a red carpet lining the sidewalk and crowds of people holding their tickets for the events while they slowly mingled toward the doors. Hunter insisted on paying for the cab and followed Madeline out where she was quickly recognized and greeted by an elderly man in a dark suit and red tie.

“Madeline! Dear!” He said, reaching out for her hand. “I want you to meet my wife, Cynthia. Cynthia, this is the little spark plug I was telling you about. She’ll be running the White House in no time, mark my words.”

Madeline laughed from the flattery as she squeezed the man’s hand and then his wife’s. “Let’s first get through the chairman election and then we’ll talk about the White House.” Then she turned slightly to grab Hunter’s arm. He was standing behind her, unsure what he was supposed to do. “This is Hunter,” she introduced him to the couple. “Hunter, this is Bill Kensington, he runs the New York Republican Committee and his wife Cynthia.” The couple greeted him politely and then excused themselves to move toward the door.

Madeline continued to introduce Hunter to everyone she greeted while they waited to get inside. Everyone hugged Madeline and gave Hunter their polite handshakes and soon enough the couple was inside the gallery. They were handed wine glasses and hors d’oeuvres and continued to mingle throughout the room. “Madeline, have you met Mitt Romney? He’s the governor of Massachusetts. I think you two would really get along! Your politics are so similar!” Madeline had heard of the politician, he was a rising star republican who had won a race to lead one of the most democratic leaning states. Mitt was an inspiration for Madeline! Someone who proved that central republicans had a place in America and could easily win over votes from the other side. With approval