The Gentleman from Washington State by Betty Smith.pdf

The Gentleman from Washington State by Betty Smith

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5720172/1/The_Gentleman_from_Washington_State

Senator Edward Cullen is the handsome scion of the Cullen family. A playboy's playboy, he is taken

with an intern in his office, Bella Swan. She is untouchable for many reasons, and he's in a tough re-

election battle with Jacob Black. AH,M Adult Content

Chapter 1

"I have to be honest with you. The numbers don't look great."

Senator Edward Cullen's Chief of Staff, Seth Clearwater, had just placed the Senator's latest poll

numbers on his desk. Edward glanced at the sheets of paper and turned in his desk chair to look out

the window. Everyone in the room was quiet for a moment, before Edward finally muttered, "Fifty-

two/forty-eight is too close for comfort."

Edward turned back around and looked at his staff. He was grim. "So what else do you have for me

this morning?"

The other two staff members in his private office were both his sisters – Alice and Rosalie Cullen. It

was an unorthodox arrangement having not just one, but two family members as part of a senator's

most senior inner circle. Edward Cullen was not an ordinary senator though.

He had just won a special election the year before to replace his father, the long-time Senator

Carlisle Cullen, who died unexpectedly. The Cullen family was historic in Washington State – the

Cullen's ancestors were railroad barons, making them the state's wealthiest and most prominent

family. It was always assumed that Edward would ascend to his father's senate seat, but it was

supposed to be an ascendancy over many years. Edward attended the naval academy to establish a

military career before going to law school. After his years of naval service as a navy SEAL he went to

Yale Law School and then was a King County assistant district attorney for two years. His father's

death accelerated his life though. The Cullen's wanted his father's seat kept in the family. Edward

would never deny that he won the special election because of his family's name.

And no one would deny that his election was helped by his devastatingly good looks. Tall and fit with

bronze hair and green eyes, he looked like Adonis. But Edward's good looks were associated with his

one political handicap – he was and always had been a notorious playboy.

Edward trusted only a handful of people. Luckily, his family members, for the most part, were astute,

accomplished people. Alice was his press secretary. A pixie of woman, she was obsessed with image

and perception of all kind. Rosalie was his campaign manager. She was beautiful, but deadly. Shrewd

as can be, she kept Edward in line.

Alice and Rosalie knew it was their duty to protect Edward and the family name at all costs. They

demanded that they knew everything about Edward before anyone else. Rosalie always said, "I want

to know about every damn woman – from a ten minute conversation to a fuck on your desk. No

bimbo eruptions. PERIOD."

So when Edward asked the room what else needed to be discussed that morning, Alice had to tell

him. She had already worked out how the conversation would go with Rosalie.

Alice said casually, "Well, there's a new issue that's popped up. I've heard from a contact in LA that

Tanya is up for a new role."

Edward raised his eyebrows. He was currently dating a few women, including Tanya Hamilton – a

gorgeous starlet. He was intrigued by a potential issue with her, not because he liked her so much.

Carrying on a conversation with her outside of bed was truly painful. But he was just interested in

just what problem there might be with America's Sweetheart, Tanya Hamilton. "So?"

Alice continued, "Well, there's nudity involved in the role – likalotndsomuhsimulatd

sex."

Edward's brow furrowed. He was thinking through the ramifications, but Rosalie blurted out, "Listen,

IllbthfirsttoadmitthatyourrlationshipwithhrhasgivnyousomnicprssBut

Edward chuckled and jumped in, "But the senator's some time girlfriend can't be seen topless and

having sex."

Rosalie said firmly, "Not during an election cycle. You've got to tell her to sit on her career until next

December. Then she can branch out from her wholesome Disney flicks. If she doesn't agree, break up

with her now."

"OK. Done. I'll handle it." He had to go to LA on a fundraising trip this coming weekend so he would

see her then. He had planned on taking Tanya to the event and then to his bed. She was decent in

bed, but really, he was more interested in her ability to garner press. While Edward was a kind and

generous man to his friends and loved ones, he was innately a craven, political animal. He had no

problem using someone when necessary to get ahead. And everyone knew it.

SthbrathdasighofrlifThanksbossItsjustthatyouknownoonxpcts you to be the

family man, but you need to stick with discreet women. You know that Black will be playing the

morality card."

Edward nodded. All his life he had understood the importance of discretion for a Cullen – each one of

them did. But as soon as he ran for senate, he had only been with women for whom discretion was

equally important. Surprisingly, it wasn't that limiting. Actresses needed their stories buried just as

much as he did, and female politicians would never kiss and tell.

His opponent in the upcoming election was Jacob Black – the GOP darling – a full blooded Quileute

who had risen up through the ranks of local politics. He was just as young as Edward, but Black was

all about fiscal conservatism, Christian morality, and law and order. Edward was untouchable on law

and order and was fiscally conservative. As a Democrat, though, he had different economic priorities

than Republican Jacob Black. But, every supporter of Edward knew, that Jacob Black was going to

exploit Edward's personal life. Seth was more conscious than most about Jacob because he was a

member the same tribe.

Edward replied, "Got it. Next subject."

Checking his watch, Seth smiled and said, "Time for the interns."

Edward nodded. It was September, and a new batch of interns had arrived for the school year.

Edward actually allotted a full hour of his busy calendar to do a meet and greet with the interns, but

that was it for the year. It had been Alice and Seth's idea. They hoped it would somewhat make up

for what an asshole Edward was to his staff the rest of the year. Edward was a demanding, grumpy,

and irascible boss, and he ignored his interns after this one meeting.

Edward and his inner circle walked into the small conference room. It was packed tightly with the

seven new interns and other senior staff. As soon as he entered the room, Edward turned on the

charm and wit.

Edward greeted the room, "Well, good morning. I hope everyone is doing well today. It's a wonderful

day outside. I had a great run this morning."

The seated group all nodded and said hello back.

Edward continued, "I trust that the permanent staff has already made their introductions." "So I

wouldliktoharfromournwintrnsLtssWhatdoIwanttoknowaboutyou?Hmmm

Why don't we start with your name of course? Then I'd like to know your school and major and what

issusyouarintrstdinworkingduringyourtimhrLtsswhatlsHowaboutyour

favoritplacinWashingtonStatorwhattownyourfrom?ndthntllmtwofactsabout

you that I wouldn't know from reading your resume. So that would be seven things. Does everyone

have that written down?"

All the interns were furiously writing down the questions. At the far end of the room, out of sight

from where the senator was sitting, Bella Swan drew in a deep breath as she wrote. Public speaking

was not her favorite thing. She could do it, but it was hard. And Senator Cullen was intimidating. Of

course, she had seen a hundred photos of him, but in real life, oh my, she thought. He washot–

and obviously smart and charming. She was getting nervous, but she swallowed hard. The fact was

he would never be interested in her because she was too young and simply not in his league. Not to

mention it was well know that he was always involved with very, very beautiful women. She was not

that. She knew shouldn't be anxious. She should act around him the same way she acted around any

of her father's co-workers or her professors.

Bella saw that the way her fellow interns were being called on, she would be last to be called. She

was relieved. In general, all the interns were of a certain type. They went to good schools, had good

grades, often majored in political science, and were good kids.

The next to the last intern to speak did not fit the mold. Lauren Mallory was blonde with a J. Crew

look. She was pretty, bubbly, but she seemed a little calculating. She giggled through most of her

answers to the senator. She was a mass communications major "because it's easy." Her first little

known fact was that she was a Seattle Seahawks cheerleader for two years, until she hurt her ankle.

Her second was that her father owned the largest TV station in Seattle.

Some of the interns looked at one another. Others just thought it to themselves. Her father was why

she got the internship. Edward thought the same thing, but he was the master of the impassive face.

Out of the corner of his eye he looked at Alice. She saw it immediately and nodded that was the case.

Edward couldn't really see the last intern, and by that time he was bored out of his mind. He masked

his boredom, though, and cheerily said, "And I believe we have one more today." He craned his head

as if he was trying to see the intern, but it was for show. He didn't really care who the person was.

Interns were inconsequential.

"Um. Hello. My name is Bella Swan. I'm at Georgetown for the year, but I'll graduate from U Dub. I'm

workingonmysniorthsisImaphilosophymajorand

Edward wasn't looking at her, but the words thesis and philosophy caught his attention. He craned

his head again and caught a sight of some brown hair. He interrupted her asking, "And what is this

thesis on? I'll warn you that I was a philosophy major." Everyone stared at Bella. Senator Cullen had

only commented on what the other interns said. He hadn't asked anyone to answer a question.

Bella tried to look at the senator, but she couldn't see him. So she looked straight ahead at the nice,

fellow-intern Angela across from her. She answered, "A feminist analysis of Kant's Critique of

Practical Reason ."

Edward continued with no expression on his face, but he actually was very intrigued. "I'm sorry I can't

see you. Please stand up."

Bella rose to her feet, but she was petite so she didn't stand much taller than her those sitting

around her. She was blushing as she looked the senator in the eye. Bella was taken aback a bit by the

intensity of his eyes on her. She hoped she hadn't angered him, and she worried about his thoughts

on feminist critiques.

Edward immediately thought Bella was a rather pretty brunette. He could only see her from the

waist up, but he noticed she had a tiny waist and nice sized breasts for such a small woman. Very

nice. He didn't let on that he was checking her out, though. He jumped to his question as he asked,

"So you think there is a different moral philosophy for men than women?"

Bella could answer a softball like that. "Well, I think that there may be differences in what the sexes

sasthhighstgoodanddutyinKantsdontologicalthicsButumI've just started working

on it. I'll let you know what I think in a few months."

Everyone in the room laughed at that, including Edward. He was impressed by her answer, but he

knew he needed to speed things along. "And your answers to the final questions?"

Bella kept standing as she said, "I'm interested in working on environmental issues. I'm from Forks so

I love the sub-Alpine meadows of Olympic National Park."

All the other interns had said a neighborhood in Seattle. Edward almost broke his bland stare upon

hearing Bella's response. He loved those meadows too – every one of them. But he chose not to look

at her as he asked, "Which one the most?"

OhumanyalongHurricanRidg

Edward nodded. He agreed, but he wasn't going to respond. He didn't like that he had these things in

common with this pretty, young girl – and he was fully aware that she was only a girl.

Bella sputtered out, "And my facts are I turn 22 this month and my dad is the police chief of Forks."

Edward nodded again and graciously closed the meeting, while his inner circle looked at one another

anxiously. They followed Edward into his office. He slammed papers on his desk and ran his hand

through his hair. As Seth closed the office door he turned to his staff and exclaimed, "Who the fuck

let Charlie Swan's daughter be an intern in MY office?"

Seth shook his head. "I'm sorry I delegated it. I should have reviewed the finalists."

"God damn it!" Edward's face was flaming red.

Alice and Rosalie conferred for a moment. Alice started, "Edward, it's OK. If we hadn't accepted her

as an intern, it would have been bad for us. Charlie Swan may have said something."

Edward thought about that while running his hand through his hair. "OK. You're right."

Seth ventured, "You know Charlie and my folks are friends. He's a very stand-up guy. I can't imagine

himlttinganyonusEmmttsEmmttstransgrssionsagainstyouoruhanythingyou

mighthavinyourpast

Rosalie decided to clear the air. "Everyone here is right. I don't want her in this office at all, but we

would have had to take her on because of her dad anyway – even if she was a lousy student. And,

Seth is right. Charlie Swan is known to be a fair person. He never endorses anyone. He's totally

apolitical. That said, I'm watching that girl like a hawk."

Edward's cell phone vibrated and as soon as he saw the screen say Jane he waved Seth out of the

room. By now Seth knew that the Chief of Staff was only allowed in on part of the senator's life.

Everything else was controlled by the Cullen family. Rosalie and Alice waited on the couch knowing

what sort of call this might be.

"Hello Jane."

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