Hello everyone! I have already posted this story on SavedbyChocolatesandTwilight which is the account I shared with Roxie. As some may already know, she passed away while we were in the middle of writing this story. It is really hard to manage two accounts, so I believe it's best to close that one because I am not sure if I will continue any of the stories we began.
Thanks to both Donna and Nancy for their excellent work on our story. I am thankful for all the help. I also want to thank Clo for making us a banner. I absolutely love it.
Penname: SavedbyChocolatesandTwilight
Title of the Story: Summer
Rating: M
Pairing: Edward x Bella.
Genre: Romance, Angst
It was just a fling, a mistake is what we had called it. He is against my father, trying to take his position. It is my job as crisis manager to stop that from happening. That is why we were never supposed to fall in love. We both knew how it was supposed to end. The problem is, things rarely ever go how they are supposed to.
Standard disclaimer: The author does not own any publicly recognizable entities herein. No copyright infringement is intended.
Bella
*Hilton at 7 today*
*I'll be there. Is there anything else?*
And even though I know he won't reply, I still wait like the miserable and wretched little piece of shit that I am, staring down at the screen of my phone, almost willing it to light up with the arrival of a new text.
It has always been this way- him giving me the bare minimum information about the time and place of our meetings from a cheap, pre-paid phone which could never be traced back to him and me jumping at the opportunity and making myself available to him, no matter what I had to cut short, cancel or re-schedule, just to meet the bastard.
Sighing, I put the phone back into my black Dior bag and continue doing my work. Even though my mind is processing all the data and important facts that are in front of me, quickly assessing them and calculating various possibilities, my heart is thundering within my rib cage, waiting impatiently for our meeting again.
"Dad, I don't understand why you are even inviting that schmuck over to our house for dinner," I said, exasperatedly at my old man.
"Bells, you already know why. It's all about the politics and keeping up appearances," my father, Charles Swan replied.
I snorted in reply and waved my hand dismissively. Being the daughter of the most influential personality in the United States and one of the most powerful men in the world was not the easiest task.
But at least it was easier for me because by being the crisis manager for my father, I was able to be productive in some way and not sit at home, under lock and key like my ten-year-old, not-such-a-baby sister Alice was. Though judging by her attitude and temper tantrums now, I'd say she would become a rebel soon enough and let loose hell whenever something didn't go according to her own wishes.
"You've gotta get ready by six. Don't be late or you know Renée would have your head for dinner," he said, whilst typing away in his laptop.
Grabbing this as my cue to leave, I replied, with a little hint of snark creeping into my voice, "Yes, yes, we wouldn't want the President of the United States of America and the First Lady to be kept waiting, now would we?"
Charlie looked up and raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.
"Angela, please could you tell my Dad that I'm going to my apartment today and won't be coming for dinner tonight?" I ask, guilt lacing in mind and spreading its wispy fingers down to my heart.
We always tried to have family dinner twice a week every weekend.
I could have dinner with them tomorrow, I tried to rationalize with myself but even I knew that was a lie as well. Whenever I spent the weekend with him, we never could part before Monday morning crept into our room, the morning sunshine bringing along the harsh reality and breaking the bubble that we'd been able to create for ourselves.
Angela Weber, my Dad's secretary, flashed a friendly smile at me and said, "Of course, I will."
"Thanks, Ange," I say moving away from the desk, eager to get out of here as soon as possible but without looking too desperate.
"Anytime, Isabella."
I head out from her office and leave the White House, walking as fast as my short legs and four-inch heels could carry me.
Waiting outside, I see Randall, my driver waiting for me dutifully.
"Good Evening, Miss Swan."
"Good Evening, Randall. Please take me to Hilton," I say, whilst stepping into the black, bullet-proof car. Having the security not tail me for such occasions was a pain in the ass but I managed to get them off my back somehow.
"Of course, Miss Swan."
I slid on my sunglasses and stare out of the tinted windows, looking at the tall buildings and skyscrapers as they flashed by. My heart was beating hard, like I'd just run a mile and butterflies-no, carnivorous bats filled my stomach. However, a sadness so deep and immovable settled across my chest that I felt tears pricking my eyes.
I tried to blink them away but one traitorous drop spilled on my cheek. I hastily brushed it away and sniffled back a sob.
Here I was- chasing through the streets of Washington DC in order to meet a man who set my soul on fire, with whom I shared such a deep connection that even I couldn't understand it at times but who would never be mine to have.
Flashback
"Alice, quit stuffing your face like that," I hissed at my sister, who seemingly tried to eat her way to China.
"But why?" she complained in that whiny voice that I hated.
"Because it isn't appropriate. Now go along and wash up properly before I tell Mom what you were doing last night," I say, alluding to the fact that she had sneaked out last night to meet up with Jasper Whitlock, her best friend, in the tree house at the back of our property.
Her round, blue eyes widened and she shrieked out, "You will do no such thing!"
"Wanna bet?"
"Ugh, I hate you!" she said before stomping off to the restroom.
"Brat," I mutter under my breath.
I smooth a hand down my dress and check out myself in the mirror. My hair was up in a sophisticated French twist and my sleeveless, blood red dress wasn't wrinkled anywhere.
After having appraised myself, I move out of Alice's room and make my way to the main room, where I and Dad would welcome the guests, Mr. Edward Cullen and his wife, Rosalie Hale-Cullen.
Bella
"Ma'am?"
Randall's gentle voice broke me out of my depressed reverie and I looked up at him, "Yes?"
"We're at the Hilton."
"Oh, okay," I hurriedly search for my flaming red wig under the seat and quickly put it on, clipping it to place with a few bobby pins. I exchange my usual sunglasses for a pair of oversized ones, which covered half of my face and slather on a shade of dark red lipstick, a color which I don't usually wear.
Randall waits patiently for me to complete, he has gotten used to it by now. I suppose he suspects something is up but doesn't mention anything. I check myself in the mirror of my compact and nod my approval at my transformation.
I was completely unrecognizable from Isabella Marie Swan, having seamlessly stepped into the guise of Victoria Hunter.
"Thank you, Randall. I'll be expecting you here on Monday morning at the usual time," I say, before stepping out of the car.
"Yes, Ma'am. I'll be there on time," he replied before peeling out from the back alley where he had dropped me. I straightened up my shoulders and started walking towards the hotel.
I hope he isn't late, I think to myself, checking the Rolex watch which I had gifted to myself with my first real earnings. The dial read 6:30 and I knew that I was on time, as usual.
Flashback
"This way, Senator Cullen. President Swan has been awaiting your arrival."
I stood up from my position on the couch, where I'd been sitting and talking with Dad. Charlie went ahead to the door and I trailed behind him, just as Senator Cullen was being ushered in by Jenks, our butler.
"Thank you for your services, Jenks," Charlie waved his hand dismissively.
I flashed a small smile at Jenks and he winked in turn, before he left the room. Jenks had been with us for a very long time, so much so that he was practically considered family now. It was in situations like these, when we were in the presence of someone unknown, that Charlie didn't show his camaraderie with him.
"Welcome to my humble abode, Senator Cullen."
"Ah, President Swan, you don't need to be so formal with me. Please call me Edward," he said, extending his hand towards Charlie.
"Likewise, Edward, call me Charlie."
I roll my eyes internally. Charlie hated the fact that he had to compete with a 'kid' almost fifteen years younger than him. He believed that Senator Cullen was- and I quote- a 'useless kid who wouldn't be able to get anything done' and who 'is not equipped to run the country properly'.
Politics was all about appearances, I reminded myself.
I look at Senator Cullen, curious to see if the tabloids had been truthful in their allegations that my father's opponent, in the next Presidential elections, was 'drop-dead gorgeous' and had a 'smile that melted hearts'.
Boy, were they so right.
With messy just-fucked hair, penetrating green eyes and a sharp jawline, he looked more like a male underwear model than the Senator of the United States.
His mesmerizing green eyes flashed behind my father's shoulders to meet mine and I got a look at his infamous smile.
Noticing the direction of his gaze, Charlie turned back and looked at me, "This is my crisis manager and daughter, Isabella Swan." He came over to me with a broad smile on his face. "Don't let her size fool you Edward. She's a spitfire. Best lawyer in the country." His broad smile widened, and his chest puffed with pride.
"Good evening, Miss Swan," he said, extending a hand towards me, his green eyes looking a little bit darker than before.
I gripped his hand, cool and firm, and replied, "Good evening to you too, Senator Cullen."
"Please call me Edward."
Bella
I open the door and I immediately know he's here already. I could smell a faint trace of his cologne in the air.
I hurry inside and close the door behind me, desperation powering my movements. I walk forward and drop the key card on the coffee table, where I notice Edward has discarded his dirty blond wig, along with his sunglasses. I hastily pull off my own wig and shades, depositing them neatly beside his.
I take a breath and count to ten, in order to calm my thundering heart before I make my way to the bedroom.
I quietly open the door and see him standing in front of the window, overlooking the city. His reflection in the mirror tells me he's looking out into the city pensively.
I close the door behind me and walk towards him, the clicking of my heels silent due to the presence of the carpet muting the sounds.
Just as I stand behind him, he raises his eyes and flashes a crooked smile which I knew was reserved only for me.
I wrap my arms around him from the back and lay my face on his strong shoulder blades.
He sighs and covers my arms with his and says, "What are we gonna do?"
I honestly had no answer, so I said, "I don't know."
He turns around and takes me in his arms, his head resting on top of mine, hugging me tightly to himself, like he wanted to merge me within himself. I hug him back as tightly as my feeble body would allow. I could feel his heart beating against my cheek just as fast, if not more, as mine was.
I could feel his jaw move as he spoke into my hair, "You know, falling in love with you was never my intention. It just… happened."
"I know. I never meant to fall for you either."
"I don't know what to do, Summer. I don't know. Help me," he said, despair lacing his words.
I felt tears prick my eyes yet again, "I don't know what I could do to help you. How can I help you when I'm completely lost myself?"
Pulling back, he takes a hold of my hands and tugs me towards the large, king-sized bed in the middle of the room, "Come, we need to talk."
Flashback
All through the dinner, I caught him stealing glances at me whenever Charlie was not looking. He engaged him and Renée, my Mom, in small talk and even tried to include me but after a few words, I bowed out of the conversation.
Frankly, I was eating up the attention that he was giving me like a greedy bitch but I felt guilty for entertaining such lustful thoughts for a married man. Why wasn't Mrs. Cullen here, anyway?
As if reading my mind, Dad asked the million dollar question, whilst taking a sip of his wine, "So, Edward, where's Rosalie?"
Rosalie Hale-Cullen was Edward's wife of three years. She had been the daughter of the previous Senator, Mr. Anthony Marcus Hale, who had also been funding Edward's campaign.
I don't know if anyone notices it other than me but there's a subtle change in Edward's demeanor immediately. His eyes tighten while he speaks, "Rosalie got held up at a last minute appointment with some fundraiser."
He peeks at me, before glancing down at his plate, his eyebrows furrowed.
Ever the optimist, my Mom says, "Oh well, maybe we'll get to meet her the next time you all come over for dinner."
Edward nods but doesn't say anything. Conversation resumes once more but I never once catch Edward looking at me again. I didn't know whether I was happy or sad about that.
Bella
Edward pulled me onto his lap, my back to his chest as he squeezed me close he rested his head on my back and groans.
"Summer..." He says in a strained voice that clutched my heart in a vice grip. This decision is weighing heavily on us, and there are so many unspoken words hanging between us. Neither of us wants to be the one to say what needs to be said. We know exactly what we have to do, but we chose to ignore the obvious.
Edward is ahead in the polls, his chances of winning are looking great, and I'm proud of him. I'd be happy with his winning even if it means my dad has to lose.
I know deep down in my gut that Edward will be a great leader, and I am looking forward to helping him get there. That is why it was never in my plans for this to leak. This election is all about appearances, and we both know it. Once the world finds out that Edward is a cheater...well, let's just say, his chances of being President would dwindle to nothing.
"James says-" He continues, only to be abruptly cut off by me.
"James doesn't matter, Edward." I snap. "Rosalie's father hired him to help you, but baby understand me when I say this..." I turn a bit in his arms to face him, his arm tightly around my back still gripping onto me for dear life. I grip his chin in my hand, forcing him to look into my eyes. "he does not have your best interest at heart. He doesn't care if he hurts you, me, or Rosalie. He has a job to do, and I admire his tenacity. He has helped you to get to this point, and I understand why you would go along with anything he says. But Edward if the chance ever were to present itself, he would throw you under the bus. Therefore it is time that you and I put our heads together and come up with a plan that works for us. One that you and I are both comfortable with."
Edward's head drops at my words. "I don't want to hurt you."
"You won't. I'm a strong woman, Edward."
At my words his head snaps up and he nods fervently, belief etched in his thick, deeply set eyebrows. He's frustrated, and it shows.
"I know you are. That's one thing that I love about you." He squeezes me close, and nuzzles his nose in my neck. "You are so strong baby. And I don't want to be the thing that breaks you. I will not be able to live with myself if I-" His voice cracks, and he attempts to hide it but it's futile. Tears prick my eyes again, but this time one tear falls, because I know...I just know that I won't come out of this unscathed. One or both of us will be hurt by whichever decision we make today.
Flashback
After dinner everyone retired to the sitting room for tea, and usually that is my time to leave my parents to their smooching but with Edward here I was finding it hard to leave.
"So..." Charlie clasps his hands together with a challenge in his deep brown eyes, a sly smile tilting the corner of his mouth only slightly visible beneath his mustache.
I know exactly what follows this look and I am not looking forward to it. Battle of the wits is my dad's game, and honestly it's times like these that either make me exceptionally proud of him, or ridiculously embarrassed. When he's losing he becomes a bit like Vizzini from the princess bride.
"Edward, you are seemingly not well liked by your Senate colleagues." My dad laughs a bit at what he thinks is a joke, while mom and I side eye him trying to figure out exactly where he is going with this.
I hope it's a good place Charlie.
Edward has been nothing but polite since he walked through the door, and yet it seems my dad is now on to showing Edward just what he really thinks of him. He thinks Edward young, and inexperienced, and he is not fond of the Republican Party.
I glance at Edward to see a slight tilt in the corner of his mouth as he cooly leans back in his seat, and tips his fingers together in his lap.
"This is true." Edward replies, extenuating each word, and then let's his words hang in the air.
"There's nothing wrong with that." Renee pipes in, taking a sip of her tea.
Charlie laughs again, but in a boasting way that is off-putting. "Yes there is sweetheart. There's plenty wrong with that."
"In my opinion it is a very good thing Charles. I am standing up to the Washington establishment not playing best friends with people who aren't effectively doing their fair share to lead us back into a place of financial stability."
"You are also not playing by the rules." Charlie steps in, annoyance visibly etched on his face.
Edward struck a nerve when speaking on the United States financial crisis. Dad has been diligently working to balance the budget, and it's nit fair for Edward to throw that in Charlie's face. However it is also not fair that Charlie is openly baiting Edward, and feeling him out. Edward may be young but I have noted how sharp he is.
Edward scratches his jaw line, and his eyes slowly veer off in my direction as he speaks in a tone tinged with double meaning.
"Some rules are meant to be broken."
The entry is ridiculously long (over 12,000 words) so I split it up into different parts. I guess this would change it's status from a One shot, I'm not sure. Either way, this is how I chose to post it for those who haven't read it as a one shot. If I am breaking a rule, let me know.
Thanks for reading! :)
