Mr Garcia

I thought he was just an architect.

Maybe that was all bullshit. Architects don’t become Deputy Prime Ministers. I walk out into the living room, turn the light on, and I open my laptop. I want answers. I want to know when and how.

I type his name into Google and scroll through to Wikipedia.

Sebastian Garcia.

Named the people’s politician, Sebastian Garcia is a 42-year-old English architect. Garcia began his political career when consulting for the (then) town planner Thomas Harvey. Since he had been active in the role for several years, on Thomas’s retirement, Garcia was voted as the Minister of Town Planning. With a reputation for being ruthless and a clear vision of protecting the common people, Sebastian Garcia does not shy away from being controversial.

He made his first political impression when he publicly called out the Prime Minister in a press release over a reneged promise on the development of the M4 motorway. Garcia demanded that the Prime Minister keep his promise and reroute the motorway to a safer position for the surrounding suburbs that were to be demolished.

With his fuss free, no frills approach, he deservedly earned the respect amongst his peers, and over the following three years, was voted up throughout the ranks.

In the worst kept secret of parliament, it has been revealed that Garcia is making most of the planning and budget decisions. Prime Minister, Theodore Holsworthy, and Garcia clash heads often, having had many public exchanges.

Speculation circulates how long Holsworthy can hold his party votes with Sebastian Garcia tipped to be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

I sit back in my chair in surprise. Wow.

Well… kudos to him, I suppose.

I stand, fill the kettle, and I turn the television on. I flick through the channels knowing it’s going to be another long night. I’m not sleeping well. I haven’t been since seeing Sebastian last week. I keep going over and over everything thing we said to each other… including the way he looked. The feelings.

So many unfinished feelings.

Most of all, I think about the anger he brought out in me.

But, regardless of any of those things, I should never have slapped him.

It was a shitty thing to do, guilt doesn’t feel very nice.

There’s a knock at my door, and I look up from my computer.

“Come in.”

“Hello, April?” A distinguished looking man steps forward with a broad smile on his face. “I’m Bart McIntyre.”

Oh shit. I stand and shake his hand. “Hello, Bart. Nice to meet you.” I smile.

He’s tall and blonde with a scattering of grey hair. He must be in his late forties, I think. Quite handsome. He’s wearing an expensive suit and he looks every bit of the celebrity lawyer he is.

“Have you got two minutes for a quick chat?” he asks.

“Yes, sure. Please, take a seat.” I gesture to my chair.

“Thank you. I’m still finding my way around the offices. I wanted to meet you first, seeing that we will be working so closely together.”

“I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity, Mr. McIntyre.”

“I’ve been looking over your file. You have a very impressive resume, Miss Bennet.”

“Thank you. Can you tell me a little bit about the position?” I ask. “What would you like me to do, and what are your expectations?”

Bart sits back in his chair. “Well, for a start, you will be accompanying me to all of my appointments. Most of my clients are off-site. They don’t like to be seen going into a lawyer’s office, hence why I visit them. We’ll start those appointments next Monday. I’m in the office this week. I have a lot to sort out and get accustomed to. But I just wanted to pop in and meet you.”

“Thank you. I can’t wait to get started.”

It gives me a warm smile. “Please let me know if there are any problems or issues while we are working together. I like to be professional, and I like my co-workers to be happy.”

“Sounds great.” Excitement fills me.

He moves towards the door before he turns back to me. “Oh and, April, starting the week after next, we will be going away for three days a week over the next month.”

“Okay.” I frown. “Where would we be going, Mr. McIntyre?”

“Just out to the countryside, not too far from here. It’s always within a two-hour radius of London. My client has to travel, and we have to accompany him.”

“Sounds good.”

“I’ll get reception to work on our travel packs. You will need some extra equipment to keep in the car for our visits.”

“Perfect.”

He gives me a kind nod before leaving, and I smile to myself. Wow, going away a few nights every single week for a month is going to be amazing, I can already tell.

Sebastian

I fill the coffee cups with boiling water, stir in the milk.

“Marina wants me to set you up with her.”