No promises

Alyssa woke up next day in the warmth of her sheets at the sound of her alarm. It was 5AM. She was to get to the White House with the first ones and leave with the last ones. Everyday the House was checked for potential invasions, violations of the security protocols. She jumped into the shower and turned on the water running hot to cleanse the sins off her skin as images of the previous day played in her mind. Richard's face between her legs flashed in her mind and she closed her eyes burying her face under the pouring water.

Soon enough she was out of the shower and in her bedroom picking out her outfit. She opened her closet and took out a white suit with a silver satin blouse inside. She put it on and paired it with black and white heels. She pulled her hair back in a high ponytail and hide her eyes behind her glasses. Alyssa carried mostly Tom Hilfiger. She took her favorite black and white bag and fished her phone from the covers.

The limousine was waiting outside her house to take her to the White House. Her bodyguards escorted her to it from the entrance of the building. Her coffee was waiting inside the car and it started moving the minute she had stepped in. Next to her seat was a sealed envelope with her name on it. It bore the sign of the Pentagon and she smirked picking it up. Gently she opened it. She had her suspect as well as a list of every amount of drugs ever traded within the Army. At last a note from the General telling her that he'd stop. Of course she didn't take his word for it. Last night two of her asscoiates from the CIA had paid a visit to his house and family to make sure he got his lesson. All remained alive for now.

They had arrived. She was the first to enter her office and she settled down quickly going through the reports of her colleagues. Suddenly, she came across a message left on her desk from Erik. The Vice President had a problem that needed to be solved and she was the best at cleaning the messes of the White House. She called in a favour in the FBI, Oliver.

"Hello Alyssa. What can I do for you?" Oliver replied. They had worked together off the record for many things during Richard's campaign. Oliver was one of her tools to success. He enjoyed his payments monthly from the jobs.

"I'm going to send you something in our secure line. I need you to destroy any trace of it." She hit send on her computer and the sound Erik made when he saw it reflected her mutual disgust. She hadn't bothered to take a good look at it. She pulled Erik's flashdrive away and slid it in her pocket.

"On it." Oliver answered and she ended the phonecall.

Gradually all arrived to their posts and he did too. She heard the Secret Service flanking down the whole of the corridors and his voice and Merlin's discussing the UN Session. Alyssa thought that Erik would have arrived by now. She left her office and headed directly to his.

She slammed the door shut and turned to look at him with a cold expression. "It's handled." She took the flashdrive out and tossed it on his desk. "Really Erik? A sex tape?"

"I had no idea she was recording." He said and locked the drive in the first drawer of the desk.

"Mackenzie Wallace is a journalist in support of the Republican Party. She would do anything to demean this administration which is why we need to get you a wife. They are already talks in gossip magazines and shows about Erik Collins's single life. We need to find you a partner. People cannot identify with an emotionally unavailable VP." She made clear taking a seat across from him. He chuckled but her expression did not flinch.

"You're serious?" He stopped and furrowed his eyebrows. She nodded and leaned closer to the desk.

"Deadly Erik. You will have a list on your desk with the most eligible single ladies of America. Until then, please do not make any other movies." She stood up and and said before exiting the room. Merlin was just walking down the corridor with a frown on his face. She went to ask him what has happened but he gripped her wrist and pulled her with him on his way to the Oval Room. Wasn't he coming from there? She tried to talk him out of whatever was this but it as too late because they were already in the room with Richard standing three feet away with a glass of scotch in his hand.

He looked tired and aggravated. Frustrated. Both of them. She glanced between them and halted when she saw Richard's forehead wrinkle. That meant something serious was up. Merlin broke the silence, "He will listen to you." Was all he said before stepping out of the room. Richard's back was turned towards her and she exhaled sharply.

"Judge Sparks." He spoke with a low angry voice, "Judge Sparks will not pass the Gun Control Bill because of his respect to the constitution. And because he is as old as it is he has convinced the rest of the judges too." He turned to face her. "I am the President of the United States of America and I can't do anything to prevent schools from being shot down by a crazy man with an AK-47!" He raised his tone.

"And you wanted to make an aggressive statement towards Judge Sparks's integrity. " She completed his thought. Richard would never voice that. He was too honorable of a man. That's what they had all seen in him when run for the Presidency. He was perfect for the role. He was worth the sacrifices.

"I want this Bill to pass, Alyssa. I want it to pass." He locked eyes with her and the passion flared up between them.

"When is the final voting?" She asked clamly.

"Monday." He replied. Today it was Friday. There was a whole weekend in between. 48 hours can change everything.

"We push. You get the US Attorney there for as long as it takes. You call upon the Senators to express their disatisfaction towards the judges' stance. But YOU do not make a statement. You are the President. You do not reply to events. You suggest them." Alyssa listed without a single breath in between, "And you get the General on this too. If the Army shows its support for gun control it is done."

"It will pass." He confirmed after her and they both nodded as a smile curled up his lips. "Aly..." He apporached her and she took a step back keeping her distance and looking upwards to the cameras. "You are amazing Ms Pope." He said nodding to the windows where there was a blind spot and the cameras did not reach it.

She walked to it and he followed behind her, standing against her back and putting his arms on her shoulder. "I need you Aly. I need you by my side." He repeated planting soft kisses on her head.

"Richard...Stop." She breathed and pushed him away turning around to leave. Looking at him only made her whole body burn.

"I promise you, we will be together." He cupped her face and pulled her in a kiss but she was quick to shift her head to the side.

"Please don't." Her voice broke. "Please don't promise me. Because we both now hope just keeps me waiting. And waiting hurts Richard." She brushed him away and slithered out of his arms. "Make nice with your wife. You will need her by your side in these four years." She said and walked out of the room.

Richard halted watching her go. He’d always watch her go. She was always within arm’s reach and yet so far. Ironic. He wanted a life with her. A family with her. He’d give up his office for her if she asked him because nothing, nothing meant more than she did.

He rounded his desk and picked up the phone. He did as told. He followed her advice. Alyssa had a spectacular sense of political capital and how to use it. Even though she’d never pursued a career in it she’d been the one everyone run in need of problem fixing.

Richard sank in his seat and let out a deep breath. He unlocked the first drawer of his desk and pulled out two burner phones. One for her. One for him. With a single secure line to the White House. She’d leave it on her desk. He needed her. He needed to know he could hear her voice without their call ending up on the tabloids.

He ran a hand through his face and shook his head, “Aly…” his eyes watered. Merlin walked in and stopped at the door.

“Everything okay sir?” Merlin asked closing the door behind him.

“Aly, how is she doing?” He wanted to hear it from another one. She’d never admit she wasn’t fine. She never showed weakness. She never let anyone all the way in.

“Don’t worry about her sir. She is Alyssa Pope. She will be fine. She always is.” Merlin reassured with a warm smile.