Chapter 1
Emma Swan loved her job. It was the highest honor a politician could American people had chosen her to be their leader over everyone else, and she finally had a very real chance to make her country a little bit better.
Despite her difficult past, she had risen to glory.
Still, there were some parts of the presidency that were exceedingly dull. She was in the Oval Office, her secretary going over her schedule for the week. It was going to be a slew of meetings and conferences, a speech or two, and at the end of the week, the White House was holding a charity event. It would be a dignified event, with a dinner and some dancing. The White House event coordinator had booked the philharmonic orchestra.
Emma scanned the guest list, recognizing the names of many affluent politicians and visiting foreign diplomats. She glanced at the press list, her mind vaguely wondering to the charming reporter she met two weeks before. Her lips curved up when she saw his name on the list.
Killian Jones.
It was foolish, but she'd thought of him often since he'd interviewed her. His article had been as unbiased as any news article could be, which was certainly saying something. From what she heard, the editor of The American Mirror, Regina Mills, wasn't her biggest supporter. It said a lot about her journalistic integrity that she allowed one of her reporters to write such a supportive article. "It only took a brief meeting for my faith in President Swan to be confirmed, I believe she will go down in history os one of our nation's most competent leaders."
The final line of his article had stood out in her mind ever since her secretary had brought it to her to read. She pictured him smiling as he wrote it. His blue eyes twinkling. Her heart pitter pattered in her chest.
Emma closed her eyes and put the list down. She shouldn't be thinking of Killian Jones, or any man at all really. She had more important things to focus on.
There was a knock on her door, and Emma called for the person to enter. The door opened to reveal David Nolan, the head of her security and her personal body guard. "Yes, David?"
"Madam President, I would like to go over security for Friday evening's charity event."
Emma glanced at her personal secretary. "You may go, Ms. French."
The brunette woman nodded and excused herself from the office.
As soon as the door was closed, Emma smiled at David. "How many times to I have to remind you to drop the formality. I might be the president, but I'm still the duckling that went to high school with you."
David smiled. "No, you're a swan now. You don't need me to to protect you from bullies, and you got rid of those goofy any case, a modicum of professionalism is still appropriate. Besides, President Swan just rolls off the tongue."
"We used to dream about this in high school debate club," Emma said.
"Yeah. Your take no prisoners rhetoric always dominated."
Emma grinned. "Right, well, you came to go over security?"
"Since the event is at the White House, this makes things much easier. Your security team will consist of myself, Booth, and Humbert. There will be security at very door door of the ballroom, and the usual patrols."
"Ah, Emma's Angels?"
"Exactly, and should any of those dignitaries trample on your feet during dancing, you can flag me down and I will rescue you."
"My hero," Emma said. "And what about the merciless reporters?"
"Only a few are attending, and I've been assured by their editors that they will be nothing but professional."
Emma's thoughts once again drifted to Killian Jones. Some of the thoughts that had crossed her mind over the past two weeks were decidedly not professional.
"What is it, Emma?" David asked.
"Nothing, just thinking," Emma said.
"That's your enamored face, Emma, and I haven't seen it since right before senior prom. Who is it?"
Emma cursed the fact that David knew her so well. "I'm not enamored with anyone," she said firmly. "But do you remember the three reporters that interviews me two weeks ago?"
"Sure," David said. "I didn't like the look of any of them."
"Well, the last one, Killian Jones, he was rather . . . um . . . dashing."
"Jones," David said softly, and Emma saw the moment he recognized the name. "He's the reporter that said you'd go down in history, isn't he?"
Emma nodded.
"Well, he's not stupid, I'll certainly give him that. He'll be at the event. I spoke with Ms. Mills yesterday. Apparently he is her star reporter."
"That doesn't surprise me," Emma said. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Sure," David said.
"Make sure he has a good view of my table, for picture taking purposes. He wrote a wonderful article, the least I can do is give him a journalistic advantage."
David gave her a look, and she knew he saw right through her flimsy excuse. "Will do, Emma."
-/-
Regina Mills strutted into his office on Wednesday morning and placed yet another White House press pass on his desk. "There is a charity event at the White House on Friday evening. You're going to cover it for the society column."
Killian looked up from his computer. "Thank you for the honor, Ms. Mills."
"You wrote an excellent article, and I reward good work, Jones. If you do well on this piece, you could be our regular reporter for White House events, so do well."
"I'll do my best, Ms. Mills," Killian said with confidence.
She nodded and left the room without another word.
Killian traced the edges of the badge. Of course, he was glad to get high profile assignments for the sake of furthering his career, but this also meant that he could see the radiant President Swan up close again.
She'd been in his thoughts constantly since he's interviewed her two weeks prior. Of course he knew it was insane, she was unattainable. He'd always loved a challenge, but pursuing President Emma Swan was a suicide mission, and even if she did give him a passing glance, anything that happened between them would be passed off as a scandal, and with his luck, he'd be the one reporting on it.
It was all a moot point anyway. A woman like Emma Swan would never give him the time of day.
At least he'd get to see her again.
-/-
The dress she ordered for the charity event was her new favorite. It was a tasteful red gown, with off the shoulder sleeves and a long skirt that touched the floor and flared slightly at the hips. The sweetheart neckline was dignified, and she finished off the look with a string of pearls and a low chignon.
"You look stunning, President Swan" said David, when he arrived, ready to escort her to the East Room where the event was being held.
"You look pretty sharp yourself, Mr. Nolan" Emma said, taking his arm.
Emma and David entered the East Room only to be blinded by camera flashes.
A small platform had been set up so Emma could deliver her speech and start the event. She spoke in an unwavering commanding tone an explained that the money raised and donated tonight would go to the foster systems, in D.C., New York, and Boston. It was a cause that was near and dear other heart. At the end of her speech she thanked everyone for their attendance and for their support of a worthy cause. As she took David's hand to step down from the platform, she glanced out over the crowd.
He was sitting two tables away from the head table. He was wearing a designer suit, his dark hair was perfectly askew, and his blue eyes were sparkling as he looked right at her. Her heart fluttered. Killian Jones could only be described as a lady killer.
Emma tried to focus on the debate going on at her table about the latest political debate in congress, and contributed half heartedly. In truth, she could practically feel Killian's gaze on her. How dare he be able to distract her like that.
Emma managed to personally reel in a few huge checks for her cause. Some details of her past were widely known, like the fact that she had grown up in the foster system, and had eventually gotten a full ride scholarship to Harvard. No one knew what her life was like in those homes, but the details didn't matter. She'd had a clean government record.
When dinner finished, the orchestra started to play. Mr. Booth, Mr. Humbert and David were sweeping the room from all different directions.
Emma was asked to dance by a senator from New York. He guided her to the floor as a waltz began. "So, Madam President, I would like to thank you for donating a portion of the proceeds to the great state of New York."
"A pleasure. I spent some time in New York when I was young, I would like to help those who are like me."
"A noble cause," the senator said, his eyes drifting from her face to her neckline. Emma cleared her throat, determined to say something to distract him, when someone tapped on his shoulder.
The senator turned, and Emma caught a glimpse of Killian Jones. "May I cut in?"
The senator nodded, after a moment of hesitation and walked off the floor.
Emma shot Killian a grateful smile. "Thank you," she said, "Senator Collins is not my favorite person."
"He's not very respectful, I might add," Killian said, as he closed the distance between them, and started the dance.
"Is that a journalistic observation," Emma asked.
"More like a gut feeling," Killian said.
Emma laughed. "By the way, I'd like to thank you for your article. Reporters from The American Mirror haven't always been my biggest supporters in the past."
"So I gathered from my research, but I have always written fairly," Killian said, "and if I may say so, Madam President, you are a political star on the rise."
"Thank you, Mr. Jones," Emma said, feeling the color rise in her cheeks. "Is that a gut feeling or a professional observation?"
"A little bit of both, I'd imagine," Killian said. "I look forward to covering the event tonight. Your speech was rather moving, and it had many people in the room ready to pull out their check books."
"All in a day's work," Emma said."It's a cause very near and dear to my heart, and you can quote me on that."
"A direct quote from you will be the gem of the article," Killian said.
The song ended a moment later, and Killian looked a little put out as he stepped away and thanked her for the dance.
Emma flashed him a smile as a congress man came to dance with her.
Killian pulled out a notebook and wrote down her words, and tucked it back in his suit pocket. It was a near flawless event, and for a few moments, Killian had been able to hold that gorgeous woman in his arms. He was in too deep already, and he knew that if Regina Mills kept giving him Whit House assignments, he would only fall deeper.
He was a professional though. He could handle this. Or so he hoped.
-/-
Emma didn't get to see Killian the rest of the night, but she did her best to make sure the event was a success. She wondered if her efforts would earn her another glowing article from Killian Jones.
She hoped so.
The event came to a close, and David appeared by her side to escort her back to her suite. "So, how do you think it went."
"I heard from the event coordinator that we got dozens of six figured checks," David said, "and there were no security troubles."
"Excellent."
"So you're not going to say anything about it?" David asked.
"About what?"
"I saw you dance with Jones."
"He was very professional. I gave him a statement for his article."
"And?"
"Still dashing," Emma admitted.
"It seems that President Swan has a little crush," David teased. "Don't worry, it's our little secret."
"Thanks, David," Emma said. They arrived at the door of her suite, and Emma embraced him. "Goodnight."
Emma fell asleep that night and dreamed of dancing with Killian Jones.