Political Affairs
Chapter 1
~David~
Thirty seconds. He had been gone for thirty seconds, that's all the time it took to walk to the office and return. Yet it seemed thirty seconds was enough for the President. When he opened the door and found them, his heart shattered. He had not realize how completely he had fallen for Natalie until that moment. To see another man's hands moving that strand of hair from her face and kissing her cheek. That was his hair and his cheek. He was going to be the one that gently played with that strand between his fingers as he gazed her. He was going to the one who pressed his lips against her soft cheek, her beautiful lips, her smooth neck.
His eyes immediately went to Natalie's face. There was a gleam of something in her expression: embarrassment? shock? fear? He wanted to rush to her aid, but he found himself frozen to the spot. She stepped away refusing to meet his eye and he felt the seeds of doubt begin to bloom. Perhaps she hadn't wanted saving. Surely if she had needed his help she could have called for him, or would have run to his arms when he walked through the door. She made her excuses and quickly made to exit. Despite the little voices in his head, he couldn't fight the louder voice in his heart desperate to make sure she was well. As she made to cross the threshold, he gently grabbed her arm making her stop. He gazed down at her, scanning for an evidence of harm, and just as she began to meet his gaze the President made his presence known again with some comment about getting to know her better. David clenched his jaw and felt his grip on Natalie's arm tighten possessively. Their eyes finally met as he turned to assess her reaction to the other man in the room. Her cheeks colored slightly before turning her face away once again. All he could do was release her arm and let her walk away.
~Natalie~
She had never fled from a room so quickly in her life. She couldn't think, she couldn't breathe. After she left the offices, she practical ran to an empty room and closed the door behind, her pressing her body against it. Her body trembled as she tried to process what had just happened.
Thirty seconds. She had been the office for thirty seconds, that's all the time it took to get the tea cart into the room. Yet it seemed thirty seconds was enough for the President. She had turned to ask him if he would like some tea and suddenly he was there. Not just there in front of her, but there in her space. He whispered about her being beautiful before moving her hair and kissing her cheek. She had wanted to push him away or shout for David, she found herself frozen to the spot. Then suddenly David was back, and she was relieved, embarrassed, and scared all at the same time. She quickly stepped away from the President and stared at the ground. She mumbled an excuse to escape but right as went to cross the threshold, David gently grabbed her arm. She could feel his eyes on her, but she was too ashamed to meet his gaze. What must he think of her? She hadn't encouraged the President, the only man she even dreamed of encouraging was now holding her arm. She was sure he must hate her, but something in his touch gave her hope that maybe that wasn't the case. She was just about to meet his gaze when the President spoke making her cringe. She felt his grip tighten on her arm and she finally turn her eyes to meet his. She couldn't fight the blush of embarrassment and the second he released her, she fled.
She felt a tear slide down her cheek as she fought the urge to break into a full sob. She wasn't sure what as worse, the President's unwelcome advances or having David witness it. When he had walked in, she was stuck between thrilled and mortified. She wanted nothing more to run into his arms and have him save her, but when he simply stood there, she felt her heart shatter. If he had any affection for her at all, why didn't he step in? Or perhaps, the affection he may have felt disappeared when he saw her. Did he think she wanted the President's attentions? She slid down the door and put her face in her hands. How was she ever going to face him again?