Isn't It Rich? Read Online Free PDF Page A

response. “I’d read that you were a workaholic.”
    “Just proves the media gets it right once in a while.”
    “Haven’t you ever heard that all work and no play makes one dull?”
    He shrugged. “I never really cared.”
    She studied him curiously. “What kind of image do you see yourself projecting as a candidate?”
    Richard paused as he was about to put the potatoes into the oven. He hadn’t yet given the matter much thought. He should have. Instead, he’d based his decision to run for office on the expected progression of his life carefully planned out by his father, probably while Richard was still in diapers.
    “I want people to know I’m honest,” he began, considering his reply thoughtfully. “I want them to believe that I’ll work hard and that I’ll care about their problems, about the issues that matter to them.”
    “That’s good,” she said. “But did you go to public school?”
    “No.”
    “Have you ever had to struggle for money, been out of work?”
    “No.”
    “Ever been denied a place to live because of the color of your skin?”
    He flushed slightly. “No.”
    “Do you have good medical insurance?”
    “Of course. So do my employees.”
    “Ever had to go without a prescription because you couldn’t afford it?”
    “No.” He saw where she was going, and it grated on his nerves.
    “Then what makes you think they’ll believe you can relate to their problems?” she asked.
    “Look, I can’t help that I’ve led a life of privilege, but I can care about people who haven’t. I can be innovative about ways to solve their problems. I know a lot about business. Some of those principles can be applied to government as well,” he said, barely able to disguise his irritation. “Look, I don’t get this. If you think I’m such a lousy candidate, why do you want to work for me?”
    She grinned. “So I can show you how to be a good candidate, maybe even a great one.”
    He shook his head at her audacity. “Confident, aren’t you?”
    “No more so than you are. You believe in yourself . I believe in myself . That could be the beginning of a great team.”
    “Or a disaster waiting to happen,” he said, not convinced. “Two egos butting heads at every turn.”
    “Maybe, but if we remember that we both have the same goal, I’m pretty sure that will get us through any rough patches.”
    Richard considered her theory as he heated the fancy grill that was part of the restaurant-caliber stove he’d had installed once he’d taken up gourmet cooking to relax. He tossed on the steaks. “How do you want it?” he asked.
    Melanie stared at him, looking puzzled. “Want what?”
    He grinned. “Your steak.”
    “Well-done,” she said at once.
    “I should have guessed.”
    “I suppose you eat yours raw,” she muttered.
    “Rare,” he corrected.
    “Same thing. It’s all very macho.”
    “I suppose you think I should give up beef or something to appease the vegetarian voters.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. There must be a zillion very popular steak houses in the Washington area. There’s your constituency.”
    “I like to think I can relate to people who prefer lobster, too.”
    She laughed and shook her head. “My work is so cut out for me.”
    “You don’t have the job,” he reminded her.
    She stepped up beside him and snagged a slice of red pepper from the pan of vegetables he was sautéing. Then she grinned. “I will,” she said with total confidence.
    Richard got that same odd sensation in the pit of his stomach, the one he used to get right before a roller coaster crested the top of the tracks and pitched down in a mad burst of speed. He looked at Melanie as she licked a trace of olive oil from the tip of her finger and felt that same mix of excitement and fear.He hadn’t been in waters this deep and dangerous in years. Maybe never.
    Damn Destiny. She’d known exactly what she was doing by pushing this woman into his life, and it didn’t have a bloody thing to