As Michael finished another story of his dark past there was silence in the room apart from the sniffles of the four women who had all started crying long ago.
"So, there you have it Jane, compared to me you have nothing to be ashamed of, as I told Gracie in the limo before."
Michael looked Jane square in the eyes before saying "any man would be lucky to have you."
As Michael finished his words Jane did something no one expected, she jumped off the sofa she was on and threw herself into Michael's embrace before kissing him on the lips.
Everyone was so stunned at her sudden action, including Michael, that no one moved to pull her away from him.
It was only after a few seconds that Michael regained control of his body and pushed her away from him with the simple word "don't".
As if realizing what she had done she first said "oh gods" and the pulled herself away from him and sat of the floor shivering while saying "I'm sorry I'm sorry I did not mean to force myself on you it just happened, I must seem like that women who raped you I'm sorry I'm sorry." She repeated rocking back and forth.
The other three girls approached Jane and tried to calm her when they heard Michael sigh and say, "That's not why I stopped you."
All the women turned to look at Michael including Jane who was shocked that he was not yelling at her for forcing herself on him.
"While I was shocked at what you just did, I was not against it, I may not have had sex with anyone since being raped in the past but it's not because I am scared of sex or of being forced upon again."
"I have never had sex again since and I stopped you just now because I am tainted."
"I don't have a disease or anything, I checked that years ago and luckily that bitch never gave me any STDs."
"What I mean is I feel tainted, that if I do anything with you, I will dirty your beauty and that's the last thing I want."
"Don't ever think what you just did upset me because I am happy you wanted to kiss me, but I don't want you getting dirty from my filth."
"If you will excuse me, I will head up to the roof, I need to air" and with that Michael left the girls and went up the stairs to the roof.
After Michael left the girls helped Jane back to the sofa and Alexia asked, "Jane, are you ok?"
Jane nodded before replying "how can he care for us so much after such a short time? No man has ever cared about me so much not even the ones I was in a relationship with would have done what he just did to make me feel better."
"That was why I lost control and pounced on his to kiss him." Jane explained
"I am also surprised by this, it must have something to do with the fact that he never had any real parents or family, so he treats his friends like family, though I am just speculating off course." Sarah added.
There was silence for a few minutes before Jane, having recomposed herself, spoke again.
"Let's give him some time, we also need to release a press announcement Alexia as we have delayed that to long with the talk, we have all had."
"Very well let's write up a press release and post it on my official website and social media." Alexia agreed.
They got together on one of the sofas and started to write out a press release on Jane's laptop.
Meanwhile Sarah lay down on the same sofa as Gracie and used her as a lap pillow.
"What are you thinking?" Gracie asked when she recognized the look on Sarah's beautiful face.
There was silence while Sarah organized her thoughts before speaking.
"That I am starting to understand Mike better, he grew up in poverty and people like that normally would tell us what they thought we wanted to here to get close to us and access to our money for themselves." Sarah explained while Gracie nodded in agreement before Sarah continued.
"Mike is different though as we have already expressed a few times. On the video call when I asked him what money means to him and he answered that 'It's a necessary evil'. While I understood what he meant I did not know what made him think that way, after all most people love money."
"It's only after hearing his past and learning that he has seen for himself how money and power can corrupt people like the politicians who possibly sold of the orphanage land for bribes he told us about do I now understand."
"I think Mike has never cared or wanted for more money than what he can live off because he is scared that if he gets to wealthy, it will change him, that's also the real reason I think he refused those shares I offered him last night." Sarah finished
The three others all nodded in agreement even Alexi and Jane who were working on the press release still listened into the conversation.
"What does this mean for the plan though? It's been 15 years and for the first time we can all agree on a candidate." Gracie asked
"For now, I suggest we proceed as we originally planned, if we have to make amendments to the plan in the future we can discuss it at the time." Sarah replied.
"What do you think Jane? I think this works." Alexia suddenly asked.
"Agreed this will do fine. I will upload it to your official website and social media accounts, and it won't take long before the press gets hold of it, let's see just how long."
"Athena please turn on the entertainment news on the TV" Jane answered before addressing Athena.
"As you wish" Athena replied and the huge TV came on in the living room.