The Governor's gala (6)
Was there someone looking out for May? Lorelei was asking herself that question, trying to distract herself from the reporters looking for her head.
No, impossible. She shook her head and returned to the present. It must have been one of her father's competitors, unhappy with the loss. The only one looking out for May had been Morgan Ellis, and he didn't have much power to protect her. That brat was as alone as she'd always been.
That realisation calmed her down. May had her back exposed to everything, while Lorelei was protected by her family. There was nothing to fear.
Her father might not be as quick-witted as the Prime Minister, but their name was enough to make of him the best candidate for the position of Governor. And he had won.
Lorelei eyed her grandfather moving forward through the crowd to reach his son. His teeth were gritted in anger, but he wasn't showing it to outsiders. Only she could notice because she knew him well.
He was unhappy.
«This evening was supposed to be about our city,» he said as soon as he got to the stage. «We won't answer any question about our private matters. If no one has any questions about our future, we should end it here.»
The reporters calmed down, and all the excitement in the room died. No one dared ask any naughty questions to Leonard Thorne. No one wanted him as an enemy. Not over something as futile as a teenager's trouble.
Leonard Thorne waited for a minute or so, staring back at the reporters, looking them in the eye one by one. Since no one uttered a word, he turned his back to them and left the stage with his back straight and his chin high. He walked away without glancing at his family either, but they followed him in silence.
As such, the Thornes left in silence. No one dared stop them nor ask further questions. The scandal, for that night, was over. They would still publish their articles, asking in their texts all the questions they didn't have the courage to say directly to the Prime Minister's face. They needed to sell issues to survive, after all.
The broadcast of the press conference ended there. Morgan took off the earphones and put away his phone, chuckling lightly. He was a little sorry for missing such an interesting speech. He had never liked Lorelei, mostly because she was always mean to May.
However, he had never seen her go as far as to push her in the pool at a public event. That was something Leonard Thorne should have tolerated. May was also his granddaughter, after all. And the family's image was very dear to him. He should have educated his second granddaughter to act cautiously during those kinds of events.
He glanced back to check the situation on the back. May was looking out of the window, observing the scenery with such a focus that it made him wonder if she was feeling all right. His friend could be shy, at times.
Meanwhile, Chris Lindt was taking the chance to stare at her with that same focus. Those two were fun to look at, one next to the other. And Senator Lindt had no shame... What if May turned and caught him staring at her?
Oh, not his problem, Morgan decided. He had done enough for that night.
«We're at the Prime Minister's residence,» he said, waking up both of them. So, May wasn't all that focused on what was out of the window. Her eyes were turned there, but she wasn't actually seeing anything.
May used her phone to send a message and turned to Chris Lindt with a polite smile.
«Thank you for the ride, Senator Lindt.»
«You're still barefoot,» he pointed out.
She chuckled, biting her lower lip soon after in search of words to say. She needed quite a few moments to put them in order. Why was that man as distracting as to make her forget how to talk?
«I asked a maid to bring me a pair of shoes,» she said. «She'll be here in a moment.»
Chris Lindt sighed dramatically as if missing the opportunity to carry May into her grandfather's house was such a pain for him. In part, it was. But he knew there was no way that could happen.
That girl would likely prefer to walk barefoot than to let him in.
«Can you lend me your phone for a moment?» he said. «I'd like to save my number.»
May blinked, surprised, but she did as he asked. She gave him her phone. She wouldn't call him ever, but having his number couldn't be a problem.
After saving his number, he called himself to have hers. Only then, he gave the device back just in time, when the maid from the residence arrived.
«Thank you, Miss Thorne.»
«No, thank you. Have a nice evening, Senator Lindt. You too, Morgan.»
That said, she got off and left. She didn't look back, but her fingers clenched the phone with too much strength. She had to put it away for fear of breaking it. Her heart was pressing against her chest for no reason at all, and her cheeks were flushed as if she had run a marathon.
In the car, Chris Lindt saved her number before risking forgetting. Not that it was an actual risk.
«Where are the shoes, Morgan?» he inquired.
«In the trunk, Senator Lindt.»
«Good job. You were a good assistant today. You've earned yourself your place. I don't think I'll be firing you anytime soon.»
«Sure, boss. Thanks.» Morgan sighed, rolling his eyes. Working for a lovestruck boss wasn't easy at all.