Seriously, guys, you all are blowing me away with your love for this story and your well wishes and sympathies for Cayden. I freaking love you all! And all of you who have shared stories of your own children, my heart goes out to all of you. It sucks when there is an issue with your child, something I know all too well, but I think it makes us stronger as parents and people.
Now, onto the story. I hope you all continue to like it, and I know there are so many unanswered questions, and they will slowly start being answered, I promise you that. I don't have a predetermined length for the story, but I know what I want to happen, so I will let you know that there is still a lot to happen.
Thanks go to preciousfairymom80, who is seriously the best I could ever ask for, even when she challenges me on repeated words, and my choice of sentence structure. Love you lady!
I'm not SM but I do own this story, so don't steal, it's not nice!
The Presidential Treatment Chapter 14
BPOV
I was trying to rush through the new hire paperwork and get the hell out of there before Seth could cause too much destruction. He had already almost toppled a vase, had drooled on a chair, and had tried to dig in dirt. He was only a toddler, but still, I'd rather him keep his antics to the parameters of my house.
But the paperwork was extensive and more seemed to appear when I finished a page. I was actually lost in it when I heard the Asshat yell, fucking yell the word 'no' at my son!
I jumped up and ran to retrieve Seth, who had moved behind Asshat's desk. Seth was standing there, face screwing up and turning red signaling the beginning of a crying fit. Asshat was there, his hand on the pole of the American flag, staring down at my son, almost standing over him.
I quickly picked Seth up, trying to keep him from exploding into tears and glared at the jerk who had just yelled at him. What in the hell was his problem? He was the one who didn't want to reschedule!
I tried to ignore him, sitting back down with Seth on my hip, and tried to finish the paperwork, but Seth kept squirming and sniffling.
"It's ok, baby. Mommy will be done soon, I hope, and we can go home," I said to him quietly, hoping to not be overheard, but the Asshat decided to hang up his phone right before I spoke and most likely heard every word.
He didn't say anything in acknowledgement, instead he pushed a few buttons on his phone and a moment later, there was a knock on his office door.
"Come in," he called out and in walked Oaf and Surfer Ken. I tried to ignore them, but it was hard to.
"McCarty, can you locate Miss Swan's sister? She's meeting with the Press Secretary," Asshat asked and Oaf, who was apparently named McCarty, left the office and returned a minute later with Alice in tow.
"Hello, Miss Swan," Asshat said in his 'vote for me because I'm hot' voice, and I swear I saw Alice swoon, fucking swoon!
"Mr. President, it's an honor, truly an honor to meet you. My sister tells me wonderful things about you," Alice blatantly lied, and I spoke before I could stop myself.
"Shut your mouth, Alice! I haven't said one good thing about him other than he gave me a job!" I seethed, and all eyes in the room turned to me. And, with all the attention on me, Seth took that moment to try to get my attention.
"Mom-mom!" he called out loudly and went to pat me, but his hands landed on my face, and his chubby little finger poked me right in my fucking eye!
"Argh!" I shouted, and grabbed Seth's hands. "No, Seth, bad!" I scolded him, one eye squinted shut and tears beginning to form in it.
"As you can see, Miss Swan," Asshat started, speaking to Alice, but she interrupted him.
"Please, call me Alice," she said with a toothy grin, laying it on thick for him.
"Alice, then. As I was saying, Miss Swan could use some assistance with her son while she fills out paperwork, and I was wondering if you could assist so that she could finish." The fucking nerve of the dick! I had no problem taking care of my son!
"No problem at all!" Alice replied cheerfully, and I looked at her through my undamaged eye and gaped. Why on earth was she helping him? "Bella, does he need to eat? And is it in his cooler?" she asked, turning to look at me finally, and I just gave her the stink eye. She challenged me with a raised eyebrow, and I caved to her, just wanting the damn day to be over already.
"He needs to eat, and his nap time is in an hour, so I'm going to try and be done before then. And yes, his food is in his cooler, several options just in case." Alice nodded and reached for Seth, so I stood up and hugged him.
"Give Mom-mom a kiss," I said and was presented with the slobbery, open mouth that I adored. I planted a big one right through the slobber, and I swear I heard three disgusted sounds from the room, all of them male. But I ignored them, hugged Seth one more time, and handed him over to Alice.
"Is there somewhere I can take him to feed him and let him down to play?" Alice asked Asshat, turning back to him.
"Yes, Agent Whitlock will show you to the family dining room, and you can let him play in the court if you wish," Asshat said, and Alice thanked him before moving to grab the diaper bag and Seth's food cooler, but Surfer Ken, or Agent Whitlock as he had been called, grabbed it for her and led the way out the door. "That will be all McCarty," the Asshat told Oaf, and then we were alone in the room.
"Now you can finish your paperwork without distractions," Asshat said to me just as his intercom buzzed, signaling another call coming through. I wanted to scream at him, smack his satisfied smirk right off of his face, but I decided to internally boil about the situation and get back to the paperwork at hand so I could get out of there. Why on earth I had actually taken the job was beyond me at that moment, but I knew I needed it to take care of Seth.
I flew through the rest of the paperwork and signed the last page just as he ended his call. I stood to hand it to him, and he stepped around his desk, meeting me halfway.
"All finished?" he asked, that smirk back in place.
"Yes, can I go now?" I asked, trying to keep my tone under control.
"Not just yet. We need to get you a badge, set up your clearance, and file all of this. Follow me," he said smugly and started walking toward the door.
The moment it opened, Oaf, I mean McCarty, stood at attention and began following the two of us as we moved down a few hallways.
"You know," I said, speaking in a low, but strong tone, "if you were so bothered by my son being in your office, you could have just rescheduled. You didn't have to yell at a baby because he was behind your desk," I pointed out, stalking along behind him, with McCarty bringing up the rear.
"Excuse me?" Asshat exclaimed, spinning so suddenly that I actually ran into his chest…his rock hard chest at that. I stepped back before I could even consider feeling it, and glared up at him.
"You heard what I said. I'm sorry that my son is a nuisance. But you had no right to yell at him for being curious!" I accused him, and I became aware of doors opening on either side of the hallway we were in, people looking out to watch.
"McCarty, guard the door," Asshat said as he opened the door to a room beside us and ushered me in to the empty space.
Shutting it behind us, and turning the lock, Asshat positioned himself between me and the door, guaranteeing that I couldn't leave without going through him to do it.
"Now, Miss Swan," Asshat started, his tone harsher than I had ever heard before. "First off, I don't know what your issue is, or why you feel the need to be so hostile toward me, but it ends now! You will address me as Mr. President, Sir, or President Cullen, and you will speak to me in a cordial manner. And second, I had no problem with your son being in my office. I may not have children and may not be around many, but I do know how to treat them, and I would never yell at one without just cause. He had grabbed onto the flag and when I saw the pole beginning to tilt, I reacted. I thought you would have been happy that I saved your son from injury over letting him get harmed by a flagpole that probably weighs more than he does."
"You...!" I started but stopped as his words settled in my mind. He had been protecting Seth? But, I didn't see the flagpole falling at all.
"What, Miss Swan? Nothing to say? no quick retort? You can yell at me and cause a scene when others are present but not when we're alone? I know you can do better than just yelling 'you' at me!" he almost growled at me, and I felt my defensive hackles rising.
"Oh I have plenty more to say to you, but it would only make you issue more threats; something you seem all too happy to do!"
"God you are such a pretentious bitch!"
"And you are an egotistical asshole!" I fired back, and then found myself pressed against the wall, Asshat stalking toward me in the suddenly too small space.
His hands slapped against the wall beside my head and I looked up at his face, scowled in anger, as he towered over me.
"You are so damn infuriating, you know that? I don't know what I did, or why you chose me to direct it toward, but your anger, attitude, and hate are getting pretty damn old. I know you aren't really like this, and underneath that hard as steel exterior is a kinder, softer hearted woman. I've seen her in you. I don't know what you have to do, or what you need done, but I'm done with this hot and cold routine of yours. I demand to know what in the hell makes you think that you have the right to treat me this way!"
His presence was large and dominating as he surrounded me, and I felt myself fighting the urge to sink inside my shell and hide.
"Don't go quiet on me now. Tell me! What did I do to deserve your hate? It's more than just the Assistance Reduction Bill, because I'm fixing that...for you! So what in the hell is it?"
"That's none of your damn business," I retorted, crossing my arms and huffing, which actually made Asshat laugh, fucking laugh.
"Don't play coy with me, Miss Swan. Whatever you think I did, I deserve to know as I seem to be the only one on the receiving end of your tongue lashings," he growled in a low tone, but it sounded more like a purr to me, and I felt my body begin to react in traitorous ways...especially thinking about his tongue.
"As I said, it's none of your business, it's personal," I replied, but with less fight than before, my face staying turned toward his. He leaned in even more, his nose inches from mine, and I felt my breathing pick up.
"You're going to tell me, and you're going to tell me now, if I have to force it out of you," he said in a low voice, dropping his face an inch closer.
I licked my lips involuntarily. His nostrils flared. Both of our chests expanded and contracted with the deep breaths coursing through our lungs, and we were suddenly only an inch apart.
"No," I whispered, the heat of the fight leaving me, only to be replaced by the heat of him.
"Yes, you will. Tell me...please? I want to make it right," he replied, his voice tapering off as his head moved even closer, his mouth so close I could feel his exhales across my skin. His deep emerald eyes burning into mine.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Mr. President, sir?" Agent McCarty called through the door after knocking on it, making us both break apart, dazed and gasping for breath.
"Yes?" he asked in a semi strangled voice, his eyes still locked on me.
"There's a situation...with Miss Swan's son," he said and I shoved past the President and flung the door open, effectively breaking the intense draw of him, and rushed out to find my son.
OOOOOOO! Tension is getting thick! And why does Bella hate Prezward so much? What could be hear reason? I know...but do you? lol! Any guesses? Don't forget to check out my other story, Cougar Town, if you aren't already reading it. Cougarella and Cubward are lots of fun!
And this week, I have anotehr rec for you all. I know I don't normally do it, but this story had hooked me and I'm absolutely loving it (even if I haven't had a free moment to leave a good review, but I promise I will soon!). The story that has me snared is Thump by chartwilightmom. Seriously, go check it out. Daily updates on the drabbleish fic, and you will LOVE it! E's human and B's the vamp, and that's all I'm going to say. So, if you find yourself wandering over there, tell her Prezward sent you!
And don't forget to cast your ballot in the review box for the Prezward Party! Reelection is coming up for him and he needs you!