“Tell me,” she whispered.
“What is going on with you, Svetlana? You didn’t even ask me what I had discussed with Mayor Seneca and Raul.”
“Tell me… if you want.”
“Seneca received shocking news from the Company Sector for Marketing and Public Opinion Polls.”
Having said that, Pascal looked at Svetlana waiting her reaction. And she continued to silently caress his chest.
“You’re not interested in what this shocking news is?” Pascal became angry because of her unexpected indifference. “Well, I’ll tell you anyway. According to the latest polls, I will win the elections by a landslide, with sixty-two percent of the votes, becoming the president of Earth.”
He lifted her chin and made her look at him.
“President of Earth, do you hear me? Aren’t you pleased? You’ve been working tirelessly for my campaign for two years… and now… nothing… you’re silent.”
“I’m pleased. Congratulations.” Svetlana said quietly and again looked down.
“You have nothing to congratulate me for. This is the official information that Kaella received. And he is surely in shock now, thinking frantically. No one expected such an advantage. Seneca believes, and I think that he is completely right, that Kaella has two options at this moment: either to fake the elections and reelect President Xing, or to kill me. All three of us agreed that an assassination is more likely. And Raul is almost convinced of this. He is convinced that Prince Kaella will not allow me to hold the speech tomorrow in his Megapolis.”
“So why do only I have to leave Megapolis? Doesn’t the Mayor…” Svetlana whispered.
“And as far as Mayor Seneca is concerned,” Pascal continued, “for him the most important thing is to preserve peace and order in this city. And that is why he wants us to leave it immediately. But he doesn’t want to force us, to drive us out, escorted by the inspectors. Actually, it was more like he asked Raul and me to leave, rather than demand. I have great respect for Seneca… and I am grateful to him for everything. But Svetlana, despite this, I will hold that speech. I’ve made up my mind. If they kill me, they will make me a martyr, an icon of resistance to Humane Capitalism. I could be more useful to the cause dead than alive. That’s why I told Raul today for him and his team to decide on their own whether they will stay or leave Magapolis. And you, Svetlana, I am ordering to leave.”
Svetlana was silent for quite a while. Pascal knew how difficult it was for her, which is why he didn’t interrupt the silence. Finally Svetlana sighed and said:
“You were absolutely right to not allow Raul and the campaign staff to get marry you off for the sake of the presidential campaign. It would be truly an injustice for only one woman to enjoy you, Pascal.”
“What are you talking about, Svetlana?” Pascal was surprised by such a reaction from her. “What does that have to do with anything? I want you to leave here, you understand?” Pascal asked, turning towards her.
“I understand,” Svetlana replied. She lay on her stomach, leaned on her elbows and looked at him. “I understand everything, Pascal. It’s all clear to me.”
“Alright, if that’s true…”
“I understand that I have to leave Megapolis, I understand that Seneca will take down your stage, I understand that despite all that you will take to the streets and wait for the sniper’s bullet. Pascal, I also understand that after almost two years… of our relationship, let’s call it that, you can calmly tell me your decision and don’t even ask me what I think, what I feel…”
“Forgive me, Svetlana, forgive me… but I… it cannot be any other way. This is how it has to be, Svetlana.”
Svetlana suddenly flipped onto her back and covered her face with her hands, trying to hold back the tears. When she calmed down, she lowered her arms next to her body and without opening her eyes, she said
“We both know that you will not go into the square tomorrow.”
“I will, Svetlana, I will go.”
“You won’t, because Raul won’t let you.”
“Raul? How can Raul stop me?”
“Raul, Margot… Liam. Liam will stop you. The security guys.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. They wouldn’t dare.”
“Perhaps they wouldn’t… Raul will call Seneca… His inspectors will arrest you, drive you out of Megapolis.”
“Seneca could have already done that. I clearly told him today that I would hold a speech to the gathered people. Regardless of how many of them there are.”
They both lay on their backs in silence, each in their own half of the bed.
“You know what, Pascal?” Svetlana suddenly spoke out, loudly. “I really don’t care now. It isn’t at all important to me. These are now your things, right? I’m not involved anymore. But all this will be happening tomorrow. And this is my night, Pascal. My last night with you. and it will be the way I want it to be,” Svetlana turned over again, propped herself on her elbows and looked at Pascal. “You didn’t thank you PR for all the votes,” she said with a sad smile.
“You? Of course I’m grateful to you… And not only to you, to all our people, the entire staff…”
“No, no, primarily to me. My large screen at your speeches brought you the votes.”
“Well, I see that you’re joking now.”
“It wasn’t enough for people to see you from afar, Pascal. I told the cameraman to shoot only your face for the big screen.” Svetlana removed a lock of hair from Pascal’s forehead. “For people to see your dark hair… gentle waves… the lock that falls on your intelligent forehead… and you brush it away without any concern, with a swift movement of your hand… or head. You pull the long hair… on the collar of your shirt… behind your ear. And those lips…” Svetlana ran the tips of her fingers over Pascal’s lips, “beautiful lips, very beautiful… full, juicy… and the chin, the round chin, not aggressive… it is charming, amiable. And you know what actually secured the votes of the women?”
“Svetlana, please.”
“Be quiet… just be quiet… This is my night,” Svetlana whispered. “You never thought of it, admit it. That very slightly pug nose of yours. Like that of a boy. It awakes motherly instincts. And your eyes. Dark, deep… ‘Eyes, get the eyes!’ I told the cameraman… because when they look at a person… it is so, like… Every person feels that you are focused on them, that you respect them, understand them… that you know everything about them. And they don’t notice, captivated by those eyes of yours… that at one moment your gaze went through them. It didn’t wander, it didn’t. But it went someplace… only it knows where. Uncatchable, untouchable to anyone else…” Svetlana started to cry.
“Don’t, Svetlana, please,” Pascal held her to his chest.
“And then your gaze, Pascal,” continued Svetlana without daring to look at him, fearing that she would see acknowledgment in his eyes, “did in fact stop on someone. It didn’t pass through someone. It reached its place… that it loves. From where it doesn’t want to go… anywhere.”
“Please, stop cry, please,” Pascal kissed her hair.
“Tell me… tell me… has your gaze stopped?”
“Stopped? My gaze? I don’t understand a thing you’re saying, Svetlana, really. You’re too upset. But don’t worry, calm down. I’m sure it will be as you said. Seneca will arrest me and won’t let me go to the square. Raul also would never allow me to. You’re completely right. And this is not our last night. And stop sobbing,” Pascal smiled and raised her face towards his. “I just don’t want to you be in any danger. Tomorrow is a critical, uncertain day.”