Chapter 6: A Lunch Run, A Warning

Words : 2232 Updated : Sep 11th, 2025

Alex Hayde slid back onto the bench and picked up his chopsticks. Ricardo hurried over to brief him on the Township Government. He explained that there had originally been a Party Committee secretary, Daniel Lapwood, but at nearly fifty-three and in poor health, Daniel was getting ready to move into a less active, semi-retired role. For now, the reins in Hasson were in the hands of the township head, Kimberly Yoppe. However, Evan Showyer was part of the local faction, and everyone here had been promoted by him. Ricardo's point was simple: Evan wielded the real power. Ricardo added that inside the Township Government, only two offices really mattered. First was the Party Office, second was the Township Administration Office. He gestured toward the director, Deborah Norrell, sitting not far away. "She doesn't know which way the wind blows. If it weren't for those two 'assets' on her chest, she would have been sent packing long ago." He went on to say that Deborah's husband was the head of neighboring Linton Village. Alex had expected the Township Government to be a chorus of yes-men, but he hadn't anticipated such tangled factions. He kept nodding and murmuring assent. "Alex, inside the Township Government, you and I belong to Evan Showyer's camp. You get it?" "I get it, Ricardo. Besides Evan, we all answer to Ms. Yoppe." Ricardo kept smiling, but his face flushed and then went pale. Every time a new staffer arrived, he would break them in according to Evan's wishes and try to bring them into Evan's camp. Alex didn't look like someone easy to tame. Still, Ricardo had plenty of patience. Just then Alex's phone rang. An unfamiliar number. He signaled to Ricardo and picked up. "Hello, this is Alex Hayde." "This is Kimberly Yoppe." Alex stiffened. Damn. Ricardo had just been lecturing him, trying to recruit him, and Alex had just pushed back. Why was Kimberly calling now? He grabbed his phone and hurried toward the door. "Ms. Yoppe, I'm with Ricardo. What can I do for you?" "Alex, bring me some food." "Got it." He hung up, dazed. What was this about? Was Kimberly acting like a princess, too delicate to eat with everyone else? He hurried over to the kitchen. Evan had already finished. Except for the lack of an entourage, he played it to the hilt. Behind him, Ricardo Shirvinton kept up a stream of fawning chatter. "One more plate." "Alex, since when do you eat like a horse?" Deborah swayed past him. She had a cool, aloof air and rarely worked with anyone, but she'd taken a few glances at Alex during the meal and felt a surprising warmth, as if sunlight had slipped in. The kid was easy on the eyes. "Smells great-the food on the stove," he grinned. "Careful not to stuff yourself. Stick with Ricardo and you'll never go hungry, ha!" Deborah laughed and moved on. She didn't sound like Ricardo's people. Alex sighed. He figured he'd have to tread on eggshells from here on. He grabbed another plate of food and two flatbreads, then headed for Kimberly Yoppe's office. There was a pill bottle on Kimberly's desk, but with a curtain hanging in the doorway between them, he couldn't see it clearly. Alex set down the bread and food. Kimberly lazily picked up her chopsticks, tasted a bite, chewed slowly, then spat it out. She didn't look well. Had she spent the night with her husband and pulled an all-nighter? People said sex could really wear you out. She might've been at it nonstop the last few nights. The thought made Alex smirk. "Alex, I don't want to eat." "Ms. Yoppe, is something wrong with it?" "Look at this. It's all grease. Makes me want to throw up." Her words jabbed him with a cold prickle. Don't tell me she's reacting this fast. That nausea wasn't last night's aftermath with her husband. It was the trouble he'd brought on. Could she have gotten pregnant after just one time? He hurried forward to grab a cup. Maybe because he felt guilty, Alex moved too fast. His toe caught the desk leg, and he pitched toward Kimberly. He swore under his breath. Too late. His lips landed on her cheek, and his hand snagged the front of her white blouse. Pop! The buttons at her chest skittered across the floor. A pink bra showed, a pale spill of skin at the top. Her scent was faint and unmistakable. It took him right back to that night, replaying in a rush. "Shameless." Kimberly already felt awful after a sleepless night. This kid hadn't even worn a condom the last time. What if she got pregnant? She'd been weighing how to deal with the potential mess and had skipped breakfast, which was why she'd asked Alex to bring her food. She hadn't expected this fiasco. Alex panicked. Half on top of her, he gripped her slender arms for balance and tried to jerk his head away, but momentum dragged him lower. Disaster. His mouth brushed her chest. He tasted only her clean scent, warm and dizzying. Sweat broke out along his hairline, and Kimberly let out a muffled groan. For a split second he wanted to tug that pink bra free as well. Things had already gone this far, and any explanation would be useless. But he pulled himself back. This was the office. People came in all the time to report to Ms. Yoppe. Better to slam on the brakes. He pushed himself off her. "I'm sorry, it was the desk leg…" "Alex, how dare you…" Kimberly trembled, furious. He bent quickly to gather two black buttons from the floor. "M-Ms. Yoppe, I'll sew them back for you." He lunged forward to help, reaching for the ripped front of her blouse. "I don't need you to fix anything. Sit over there. Today you were the one who crossed the line. I want to hear how you explain this." She snatched the buttons and strode into the inner office. Alex stared at the plate she had pushed around. She'd taken barely two bites. He had nothing to say. As he started to grab the bread and make a quiet exit, the label on the pill bottle caught the light. Birth control pills. He picked it up, turned it over several times. Isn't that something you take before sex? Why would she be taking them now? Had she really gotten pregnant? His knees went weak and he slumped onto the sofa. The image of Kimberly in the back room, shrugging off her jacket and adjusting her bra, flickered in his mind. Whatever grace she had couldn't stir any desire in him now. When Kimberly came back out, she'd changed into a pale blue top. She loathed what he'd just done, yet every time she brushed up against him, a surge she couldn't name swelled through her. To her surprise, she felt no hatred at all. If anything, her body thrummed with a fierce, guilty pleasure. This wasn't her husband. "Ms. Yoppe, I…" "What? Sit. The Township Government is full of intrigue. Be careful about everything. Do you know why you were placed in the Party Office? Because Ricardo and Evan are a team. You need to keep your head down." Her tone held no bite, only clear concern. Alex was moved. He swore he'd never pull another stunt. "Thank you, Ms. Yoppe." He knew that should have been the end of it, and he should leave, but the pill bottle marked "birth control" flashed again in his mind. He wanted to ask. "Anything else?" "N-no… actually, yes." "What is it?" He pointed toward where the bottle had been, but only the bread and the plate sat on the desk now. The bottle had vanished. "Get to work." Kimberly stood to see him out. Alex was still lost, but he kept it to himself. Maybe Kimberly really meant to erase that night. Thud! Kimberly kicked him hard, and he stumbled into the door. He straightened, realizing it had been a solid kick from her. "What are you doing?" "Don't you think your basic common sense is sorely lacking?" "Right. Lacking." "If there are any bad consequences, I won't let you off the hook." Alex stepped out of Kimberly's office, still replaying the scene. She'd been indirect, but her point was clear. If he insisted on sleeping with a woman, he should come prepared with a condom, and, more importantly, he'd be responsible for whatever came after.

Chapter 6: A Lunch Run, A Warning

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