The Power Trip

persuaded Luca to move to London. With his prince in tow, he could lord it over everyone. He could certainly lord it over the affluent gay brigade who’d dismissed him as an old man when he’d hit forty.

Old man indeed! Meeting up with Luca had been a lifesaver. He’d shown every one of his so-called friends that Jeromy Milton-Gold still had it.

Jeromy Milton-Gold had scored the perfect prize, and they could all go fly a kite. He had a rich famous boyfriend, a revitalized business, and he was on top of the world. So fuck ’em all.

Chapter Twelve

Hammond waved the invitation in Sierra’s face as if it were a weapon. ‘We’re taking this trip,’ he said brusquely. ‘And you’d better be sure to look your best. Aleksandr Kasianenko is an extremely rich and influential man, and in case you’re too stupid to realize it, I need to have people like him on my side. Aleksandr can help us a lot.’

‘You mean he can help you,’ Sierra muttered, wishing she were somewhere else. She hadn’t wanted to visit Hammond at his office; however, he’d insisted she come, and as usual she’d complied.

She had a dull throbbing headache, which lately was becoming a daily occurrence.

‘You’re such a miserable bitch,’ Hammond snarled. ‘My God, you’re starting to look your age too. For Christ’s sake, get yourself together.’

‘Maybe you should get rid of me,’ Sierra replied with a flash of her former self. ‘Find yourself a newer model — I’m sure there’s plenty of fresh meat around to accommodate you. How about the young intern I saw in the office when I came in? She seems a likely candidate.’

‘Shut the fuck up,’ Hammond said with an icy glare. ‘You’re my wife. Try to act as if you deserve the position.’

Sierra was about to respond, when Hammond’s chief aide, Eddie March, entered the office. Eddie was the complete opposite of Hammond. A genuinely nice man, excellent at his job and full of boyish enthusiasm. Eddie was the real deal.

As soon as Eddie appeared, Hammond’s attitude changed. Suddenly he became Hammond Patterson, the smooth and charming man of the people.

‘You should run along now, darling,’ he said, turning to his wife and kissing her on the cheek. ‘I want you to buy anything it takes for you to be the most beautiful woman on our upcoming trip. Here,’ he added, fishing in his pocket and producing a black American Express card. ‘Buy whatever you deem suitable. I know your taste is impeccable.’

Sierra nodded. She was married to Jekyll and Hyde. She was married to a man of many faces.

‘That’s generous of you,’ Eddie said with an admiring chuckle. ‘If I gave my girlfriend a card like that she’d zip out of town and never come back!’

Sierra smiled politely, while thinking, I wish I could leave town and never come back. Only she knew that escaping from Hammond’s clutches was impossible. Somehow or other he’d make good on his threats — she had no doubt at all about how far he would go.

‘You look beautiful as always,’ Eddie said, smiling at Sierra. ‘Morning, noon and night. How do you do it?’

‘You’d be wise to stop flattering her,’ Hammond said with an affectionate glance at his wife. ‘Too many compliments will go straight to her head. And that’ll cost me.’

Sierra couldn’t take any more. Hammond’s Mister Nice Guy act in front of people sickened her.

‘I’d better get going,’ she said.

‘Always a pleasure,’ Eddie said.

Sierra plastered on an empty smile and exited. She’d taken two Xanax in the morning to dull the pain of her false existence. Now she needed another pill to get her through the day.

The outer offices were full of people who worked for Hammond. His supporters, his team, most of whom had helped get him elected.

She wondered what they’d think if they knew the real man who lurked beneath the facade. Would they ever find out?

No. Because Hammond was too adept at concealing his real self.

Nadia, Hammond’s main assistant, stopped her on the way out.

‘Mrs Patterson,’ she said. ‘Our newest intern is such a huge fan. Would you mind if I introduced you? It would absolutely make her day.’

‘Not at all,’ Sierra said graciously as Nadia ushered the girl over to her.

The girl was ripe and young, slightly overweight with large breasts and a toothy smile.

‘This is Skylar,’ Nadia said. ‘She’s joining the team for the summer.’

Yes, Sierra thought, exactly the way Hammond likes them, enthusiastic and naive. He’ll soon ruin all her illusions.

‘Hello, Skylar,’ she said with a warm smile. ‘Welcome.’

‘Thank you, Mrs Patterson,’ Skylar replied, totally thrilled to be meeting the Senator’s popular wife. ‘It’s an honour to be working for Senator Patterson. I feel so lucky.’

I’m sure, Sierra thought. And will it still be an honour when he grabs your ass and asks you to go down on him? Will you fall in love with him like a legion of foolish girls before you?

‘Enjoy your summer,’ Sierra murmured. Enjoy giving the Senator head and getting nothing in return. It’s inevitable. A fact of life. Poor little girl, you’ll be powerless to resist his honest brown eyes and ready smile. Tread carefully, for he will use you and then abandon you like all the others.

She made it outside and fell into the town car waiting for her, Hammond’s black Amex card still clutched in her hand. What to do with that?

Go shopping, of course. Infuriate him by spending more money than he intended. He’d only handed her the card to look like the generous husband in front of Eddie; it was all for show.

‘Barneys,’ she said to the driver. ‘After that we’ll make a stop at Bergdorf’s.’

‘Yes, Mrs Patterson,’ the driver said, starting the car.

Sierra leaned back against the leather upholstery. What was she going to do about her life? How was she ever going to get away from Hammond?

The answer always escaped her.

Chapter Thirteen

The invitations were sent, and Bianca waited impatiently for the replies to come in. She’d left Moscow and Aleksandr for a Vanity Fair cover shoot in Madrid. It wasn’t the perfect situation, leaving her man by himself, but the Vanity Fair photos were to accompany a lengthy story commemorating her successful career and thirtieth birthday. Such excellent and prestigious coverage was very special.

Bianca had been a top model for almost thirteen years, ever since being discovered at the age of seventeen by a legitimate modelling agent, who’d noticed her waitressing at her parents’ deli in Queens, New York. The man had told her she had potential, then slipped her his card.

It had taken her two months to get up the courage to phone him. And when she’d set off for her initial interview, she’d asked her Latino gang-banger boyfriend to go with her. This did not please the agent, who’d insisted her boyfriend stayed in the waiting room, a move that didn’t sit well with her boyfriend at all. He’d scowled