Oliver was the first to find his voice. "My God! Last night when I saw you...I had almost forgotten how beautiful you are." Oliver took Leslie's hand, and they walked into the living room. "What would you like to drink?"
"I don't need anything. Thank you."
Oliver sat down next to her on the couch. "I have to ask you something, Leslie. Do you hate me?"
She shook her head slowly. "No. I thought I hated you." She smiled wryly. "In a way, I suppose that's the reason for my success."
"I don't understand."
"I wanted to get back at you, Oliver. I bought newspapers and television stations so that I could attack you. You're the only man I've ever loved. And when you - when you deserted me, I - I didn't think I could stand it." She was fighting back tears.
Oliver put his arm around her. "Leslie - " And then his lips were on hers, and they were kissing passionately.
"Oh, my God," she said. "I didn't expect this to happen." And they were in a fierce embrace, and he took her hand and led her into the bedroom. They began undressing each other.
"Hurry, my darling," Leslie said. "Hurry..."
And they were in bed, holding each other, their bodies touching, remembering. Their lovemaking was gentle and fierce, as it had been in the beginning. And this was a new beginning. The two of them lay there, happy, spent.
"It's so funny," Leslie said.
"What?"
"All those terrible things I published about you. I did it to get your attention." She snuggled closer. "And I did, didn't I?"
He grinned. "I'll say."
Leslie sat up and looked at him. "I'm so proud of you, Oliver. The President of the United States."
"I'm trying to be a damn good one. That's what's really important to me. I want to make a difference." Oliver looked at his watch. "I'm afraid I have to get back."
"Of course. I'll let you leave first."
"When am I going to see you again, Leslie?"
"Anytime you want to."
"We're going to have to be careful."
"I know. We will be."
Leslie lay there, dreamily watching Oliver as he dressed.
When Oliver was ready to leave, he leaned over and said, "You're my miracle."
"And you're mine. You always have been."
He kissed her. "I'll call you tomorrow."
Oliver hurried out to the car and was driven back to Washington. The more things change, the more they stay the same, Oliver thought. / have to be careful never to hurt her again. He picked up the car telephone and dialed the number in Florida that Senator Davis had given him.
The senator answered the phone himself. "Hello."
"It's Oliver."
"Where are you?"
"On my way back to Washington. I just called to tell you some good news. We don't have to worry about that problem anymore. Everything is under control."
"I can't tell you how glad I am to hear that." There was a note of deep relief in Senator Davis's voice.
"I knew you would be, Todd."
The following morning, as Oliver was getting dressed, he picked up a copy of the Washington Tribune. On the front page was a photograph of Senator Davis's country home in Manassas. The caption under it read: PRESIDENT RUSSELL'S SECRET LOVE NEST.
Chapter 14
Oliver stared at the paper unbelievingly. How could she have done that? He thought about how passionate she had been in bed. And he had completely misread it. It was a passion filled with hate, not love. There's no way I can ever stop her, Oliver thought despairingly.
Senator Todd Davis looked at the front-page story and was aghast. He understood the power of the press, and he knew how much this vendetta could cost him. I'll have to stop her myself, Senator Davis decided.
When he got to his Senate office, he telephoned Leslie. "It's been a long time," Senator Davis said warmly. "Too long. I think about you a lot, Miss Stewart."
"I think about you, too, Senator Davis. In a way, everything I have I owe to you."
He chuckled. "Not at all. When you had a problem, I was happy to be able to assist you."
"Is there something I can do for you, Senator?"
"No, Miss Stewart. But there's something I'd like to do for you. I'm one of your faithful readers, you know, and I think the Tribune is a truly fine paper. I just realized that we haven't been doing any advertising in it, and I want to correct that. I'm involved in several large companies, and they do a lot of advertising. I mean a lot of advertising. I think that a good portion of that should go to a fine paper like the Tribune."
"I'm delighted to hear that, Senator. We can always use more advertising. Whom shall I have my advertising manager talk to?"
"Well, before he talks to anyone, I think you and I should settle a little problem between us."
"What's that?" Leslie asked.
"It concerns President Russell."
"Yes?"
"This is a rather delicate matter, Miss Stewart. You said a few moments ago that you owed everything you have to me. Now I'm asking you to do me a little favor."
"I'll be happy to, if I can."
"In my own small way, I helped the president get elected to office."
"I know."
"And he's doing a fine job. Of course, it makes it more difficult for him when he's attacked by a powerful newspaper like the Tribune every time he turns around."
"What are you asking me to do, Senator?"
"Well, I would greatly appreciate it if those attacks would stop."
"And in exchange for that, I can count on getting advertising from some of your companies."