Chapter One: Chronicled

THE CHRONICLE

A WHITE HOUSE ROMANCE? By Harrison Hayles

Tom Kirkman's administration has had to face many challenges over the past few months. A more positive feature in the legacy of his leadership is the confirmed relationship between our commander-in-chief's chief of staff, Emily Rhodes, and his national security advisor, Aaron Shore. The relationship has been rumoured since they were reported kissing at a New Year's party at the White House.

Mr Shore was recently named by Cosmopolitan one of the most eligible political bachelors in the US. So did several of the Chronicle's female journalists. He recently resigned his position as chief of staff under secretive circumstances, to be replaced by Miss Rhodes, who was chief-of-staff during Kirkman's HUD days. Was their relationship the factor that pushed his oh-so-mysterious departure from the leadership team of the free world? Did Kirkman elaborate on a choice between the White House or Miss Rhodes? Many questions are begging to be answered, but alas: radio silence from the White House.

The last wedding in the white house has been over more than twenty years ago, though no noticeable bling has been shining on Miss Rhodes in the past week. A source has told the Chronicle that Miss Rhodes has indeed moved. Connect the dots and you'll probably figure out where.

Emily Rhodes woke up, her neck hurting. She had gotten five hours of shut-eye, a miraculous amount. No. Truly. She glanced at Aaron, who had just woken up. All of a sudden, her phone buzzed like crazy. So did Aaron's.

Please may there not be another terrorist attack. No fires. Emily prayed. She opened the moving phone and glanced at a text, the sender blurred out in her groggy vision. Something more trivial, but still disastrous.

WHY IS THE CHRONICLE SAYING YOU 2 ARE DATING? HOW COME YOU TOLD ME YOU WEREN'T? The text screamed at her. She clicked on the article she had been sent in another text.

She handed the phone to Aaron. "How come you never told me about Cosmo?" She asked.

"Cosmo?" He said, his brow knit, flashing a furious grin afterwards. "I'm the most-"

"Not important. Who spilled? And why is there a photograph of us kissing?"

Silence.

"I think we've been pretty obvious, Em."

"There was no PDA…"

"You could say that." He said, kissing her nose. "We are going to be late otherwise. It's quarter to six."

Emily thought back to all the times they had kissed in public. If you count the white house as public, that is. Too many to consider their relationship as secret. She groaned and got up. Snitches in the white house. What more could she ask for?

She moved to her side of the cupboard, carefully selecting an outfit she hadn't yet worn. Aaron came up and put his hands down her neck, undoing her night robe and kissing the back of her shoulders.

"We really are going to be late if you keep this up." She swatted his hands away. He grinned at her, moving to the shower. Emily threw the clothes on her bed and quickly changed. Steam moved from the shower to her room. She breathed the smell of his minty shampoo. God, it was strong.

She made her way to the sink and started to apply her makeup. That alone took fifteen minutes: time she did not have.

"Move," Aaron said, pushing her aside. She retaliated, swinging her hips at his with full blast. He did the same.

"If my mascara-"

"If my gel." He said, kissing her head. Emily sighed and grabbed her brush and dry shampoo, furiously attacking her hair. She did not have time for this.

Aaron moved quickly, putting his suspenders and suit on. He changed too fast to be a human.

"And we are ready to go." He said, pulling his pants up.

Emily and he raced to the motorcade, which was waiting outside their car, with their detail racing after them. It was raining and so they had yesterday's newspapers above their heads (as well as sunglasses. The press could be nasty.)

They quickly went on their phones. Emily, re-reading that article on The Chronicle, and Aaron, telling his poor assistant to get breakfast for two.

"Liesel, two croissants and two coffees. You know the regular." He said, hand on temples.

Emily glanced outside, thinking. She smiled at a particular memory that had popped up.

It was a party celebrating new years. A lot of people- fifty, maybe seventy- stuffed into a room. Alcohol all around. She was feeling dizzy, and so she was making her way to a couch, where Tom was sitting. He did not seem to be enjoying the event. But who cared? The night was still young.

She was happy, too happy. A load of stress had come off her back, and she was ignoring the fact another was soon coming on in the coming year. She had done a great job.

Someone was calling a toast, the stewards giving out glasses of champagne. So far the booze was mainly wine, brandy, the usuals. When she saw Seth was calling a toast, she made her way to the group. "To a new year!" He said. Everyone raised their glass, repeating what he said. Aaron did so rather loudly.

"Tipsy?" She asked, smiling. He didn't hear her because the countdown had begun. Why they were counting down, she knew not. No one was dating. It wasn't like anybody was going to kiss-

Suddenly Aaron and she were kissing.

It was, to put it in one word, surreal. He had his hand carrying her back, her feet an inch from the ground. She felt the warmth of his muscular chest, his body tingling in an electric mix. Added to that mix were the cheers of many, many people. Whistles too. Her eyes shut, feeling an unfamiliar tongue roam her mouth for a good fifteen seconds. Not that she was counting, not that she could. It seemed time was frozen forever. God, he was such a good kisser.

He didn't let the awkwardness take control. Emily felt a pang of regret. Kissing a coworker? That was against her rules. I mean, she'd kissed him before but that was private. And never talked about again.

It was clear he didn't feel the same way.

"I've wanted to do that for a very long time, mi querida. " He laughed at her, taking her arm and twirling her around. Emily laughed. She hadn't laughed like that in a while.

Emily allowed the memory to replay yet again. Now it was April. Spring soon. She looked out of her window for a few seconds, only to feel a familiar hand squeezing her leg. She sighed in comfort and satisfaction.