After touring three schools this morning, we are now at a university.

Sebastian is opening the new medical wing. The speeches are in full swing, and I puff air into my cheeks as about one hundred people gather around.

Sebastian is standing in line, listening intently. There is a big red ribbon across the entrance doors, waiting to be cut.

Sebastian smiles as he listens to the speaker gushing over the new facility. He's transfixed on what they are saying, and I have to wonder how he holds his concentration for so long.

Who knew that the political campaign trail was so boring? Question after question about policies and budgets, projected incomes and roads, spendings and blah, blah, fucking blah.

Sebastian hasn’t glanced my way all day. Although I know, realistically, he can't, I kind of thought he might give me the look at least once.

One night and I’m feeling like this. Ugh, look at me being all needy.

I've been at the back of the crowd, watching all day while he talks in whispers to his advisor, Kellan. She stands beside him, and I don’t know what they talk about but it seems to be a lot.

I'm not an insecure woman; I'm just not. I hold my own and feel like I could take anyone on. But Kellan is next level beautiful and captivating. The worst part is that she's intelligent, and even I find myself fawning over whatever it is she has to say.

Don’t be a pathetic, insecure bitch, I remind myself. That’s not who you are.

The funny thing is, though, that Mr. Garcia makes me feel more of a female than I've ever been before, and maybe that’s not such a good thing when there is another beautiful female thrown into the mix.

My eyes roam over her fitted black dress that shows off her beautiful figure, and her high heels and sheer stockings. Her dark hair is pulled back into a ponytail. She's just as interested in the speeches as Sebastian is, too.

I'm just interested in their friendship, that's all. Nothing untoward here. I'm just doing my job. Crisis management.

Hopefully, it won't be my fucking crisis I have to manage, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Stop thinking ahead. Maybe last night was a one-off thing. Maybe it will never happen again. But deep down I know that it will. It was too good for it not to. Not that I'm complaining or anything. Earth-shattering sex is totally worth the risk.

I drop my head and smirk. An annoying little voice whispers something deep in my psyche: It's so much more than sex.

I stand up and straighten my shoulders. It is just sex, April. Don’t even fucking go there.

Bart digs his phone out of his pocket and then walks away to answer it.

The time comes, and Sebastian steps forward with the cameras snapping away. He cuts the red ribbon, we all clap, and he begins his speech.

"Good afternoon." He smiles gracefully as he looks around at the crowd. "Thank you for the kind invitation. I'm honored to be here."

My heart swells. He speaks so well in public. He never falters, and he never goes off script. His deep voice captivates everyone in the audience, and I realize it now… I see what they see.

Sebastian Garcia is a born leader. Driven and focused. I've listened to him deliver at least fifteen speeches in the last two days, and every single time I've been riveted. He's strong and non-apologetic, but his message is good—always good.

I get why they call him the people’s politician. He really does put the people and their needs first.

Bart comes back to stand beside me. He leans in and whispers, "We've got a problem."

"What's that?" I keep my eyes on Sebastian.

"Gerhard is at the next venue."

"Meaning what?"

"It's being televised."

I frown, still confused.

"He's only at press releases when he wants to stir trouble."

"You think he's here about Theodore?"

"Why else would he drive three hours and only attend the televised release? He's going to blow the story out of the water. We're fucked."

I lean in and whisper, "Didn't you say that we have to enter via the back entrance at the next venue to avoid the protestors who are there about the proposed roadworks?"

"Yes."

"Then, let the protestors into the press release."

He frowns.

"If they televise the protestors, there won't be airtime left for speculation, will there?"

He raises his eyebrow. "Plant a distraction?"

"Attack is the best form of defense, Bart," I whisper as I stare straight ahead. "And the public already know about the roadworks. With the protestors causing havoc, it'll be cut short. No time for questions."

A trace of a smile crosses his face. "I like the way you think, Bennet."

"If Gerhard wants to play games, we’ll play them harder."

Bart takes out his phone and walks off to make a phone call in private.

I turn back to Sebastian, and I watch him speak with such conviction and honor. I smile to myself. Maybe I will like this job, after all.

Not today, Gerhard.

Not today.

We’re sitting in the bar, watching the televised recap of this afternoon’s press conference.

The protestors clamber along the side of the streets, yelling abuse while holding placards. We watch on as Sebastian gets whisked out and into a waiting black Audi.

We threw Sebastian to the lions this afternoon. The press release lasted all of eight minutes, and my plan worked like a charm.

As Sebastian is whisked away, our group smile, chatter, and they raise their drinks to the television screen, excited that we held the story. At least for today.

We head back to London tomorrow, back to reality. Who knows what will happen then?

Sebastian is sitting by the fire with three men. He's pensive this afternoon, and I know that the protestors ruffled his feathers. But he did what we had to do. He still hasn’t looked at me once, and although I hate to admit it, I'm beginning to feel rejected. "I'm going to head to my room," I say.

"Great work today, April." Bart smiles. "You did good."

"Thanks." I look around at the people I’m sitting with. "Goodnight."

I take the elevator and head back to my room, where I pour myself a glass of wine and run a hot bath.

I hear a knock at the connecting door, and I smile when I open it. Big, brown eyes meet mine, and Sebastian steps forward to take me in his arms.