Chapter Twenty-One
"I'm so glad you accepted my invitation for dinner at the Blair House" said Alexandra as she brought a plate from the kitchen "And thank you for letting the staff take the night off" she said as she looked up to Mellie.
"And well, thank you for making dinner" said Andrew as he put the main entrance at the table.
"I just hope it's… eatable..?"
"But what is so important that we can't have dinner at the White House?" asked Mellie as she sat down.
"I've already told you about Uncle Fitz' offer" said Alexandra as she gave her aunt her plate "Thank you" she said after Mellie served her "He just wants to make the speech and I'm not sure. I love my life as chief of staff! And you've always seemed so bored as first lady."
"If the problem is you being my chief of staff let me reassure you, again, the positions is yours. It will always be yours. As long as I'm Vice-President you are my Chief of Staff. And let's face it you won't be First Lady for too long!" Alexandra laughed at Andrew's mention of Fitz relationship with Olivia.
"And I will help you with everything you need" said Mellie.
"I know all of that! But what am I gonna do with you two while I'm First Lady! It's not like I can say that my boss called me for a late meeting in his house! I will no longer be his chief of staff! That won't serve as an excuse! And the media is already over with me being your girlfriend"
"So, you're worried about us coming out to the public eye?" said Mellie
"Yes! I know you'll be divorcing Fitz. But it's not like you'll be able to hold hands and steal kisses in the park. Cause if you do that right after the divorce is announced…. the press will immediately start saying that you had an affair! I know it's not a lie. But it can damage you, as Vice-President, and you, as President wannabe. And don't give me that look! I know you want that chair!" said Alexandra as she looked at Mellie with a smile on her face.
"We'll fix something" said Mellie as she held her niece's hand.
"We can always have our little love nest!" said Andrew chuckling.
"THAT'S IT!" said Alexandra as she got up from her seat.
"That's what?" asked Mellie not sure of what her niece was talking about.
"A love nest! I have an apartment! Well, at least I did…" said Alexandra
"You have an apartment…?" said Mellie not knowing what Alexandra was talking about.
"Yes! My father bought me an apartment so I would moved in when I graduated. But I never did. And when I got back I went straight to the White House" her eyes were focus on something but her mind was making up a plan. And the moment Mellie saw the smirk in her face she knew she was up to something "You know what? You guys finish dinner. I have to go meet someone" she said before leaving "I'll take the tunnel back to the White House, don't worry" Alexandra turned around the moment Mellie was about to say something.
James Wright was working late in his office like he did every single night. He was used to be the only left. So, when he felt a presence by the door he looked up.
"Alexandra" he was surprise to see his own daughter in his office. This was the first time since she returned to the country she went to see him.
"Hi" neither of them said another. They stood there starring at each other for what seemed an eternity "Can I come in?" she asked.
"What if you tell me what you're here for? I know you didn't come to see how your dad is doing" he seemed bitter. This was the first time they were seeing each other since Jerry's funeral.
"Remember that apartment you bought for me before I went to study in the UK?"
"The same one you never seemed to bother with? Yes, I do."
"Do you still have it?" she went straight to the point.
"What do you mean?"
"Did you sell the house or not?"
"Why do you care now? You spend all this years aboard and you never showed an interested on it!"
"I'm going to need that apartment. Not for me… but for Aunt Mellie. I'm pretty sure you heard the rumors. Uncle Fitz is going to make the official announcement tomorrow… So, she is going to need a new place to live with Teddy. I thought about that house cause of its privacy. It'd just make things easier… she would still have Secret Service. And… I…. I would feel a lot better knowing they would be safe and sound. So, do you still have the house or…"
"Yes, I still have it. And you don't have to ask twice. I bought that for you"
"So, is it okay that instead of being me living there it's Aunt Mellie?" she asked.
"Your mother wouldn't want it any other way."
Alexandra smiled at the mention of her mother "And oh… I wanted you to know before anyone else… I will be stepping into the role of the First Lady. And I'd like you to just keep all this between us. Fitz is gonna make the announcement tomorrow. And it's gonna be crazy. So, if you just…"
"I promise you I won't mention it to anyone" for more than he liked power he loved his daughter more.
"Dad, I really gotta go. I got people waiting for me" this was the first time since she arrived that she called him 'dad'.
"Okay" that all he said before she got up "Hey do you think we could have dinner together…?" his voice made her turned around.
"Sure. I'll give you call… when things slow down. I really have to go now" and she left his office just like she had appeared. Suddenly.
Alexandra stood in her car thinking about what her father had said to her. "Your mother wouldn't want it any other way" Her father hardly ever mentioned her mother but he had do it when she went to ask for a simple thing. She wondering why he had done it. But she shook it off that thought when she remembered she had still to call Fitz.
"Hi" she said as soon as he answered his phone "Sorry it took me a week to decide" she laughed nervously "I'll take your offer. I have some requests though" she laughed at herself "But we can discuss those tomorrow"
"Do you wan to discuss before or after the announcement?" asked Fitz on the other side of the line.
"Whenever is best for you. It won't change my decision. I gotta go. Aunt Mellie is waiting for me"
"Be safe" said Fitz.
"You too" she said before hanging up.
Mellie was laying on the couch with her head against Andrew's chest as he had his arms wrapped up around her. The television was on but they weren't really paying attention to it.
"This is nice"
"What?" she asked already knowing his answer but wanting to hear him say it.
"You. Me. And no one to walk in on us"
"Alex can come back at any time"
"Yeah, but it's Alex. She knows about us since the beginning"
"You're right" Mellie chuckled "I like this too" she said after awhile. Andrew kissed the top of her head.
"Oh you're here" said Alexandra as she walked into the living room.
"Hey! Look who's back!" said Andrew as he turned off the television.
"What took you so long?" asked Mellie.
Alexandra laughed as she let herself fall against the couch in front of them "I went to see if that apartment was still mine"
"Really?" said Mellie with a smile as she got out from Andrew's embrace.
"Yap! It's yours now!" she said as she took off her shoes "We'll just have to come up with a plan that seems like you two are falling in love and not already in love! But well, if the secret services were able to cover up an affair for years they sure can handle you two" she said as she lied down in the couch.
Andrew put a piece of hair behind Mellie's ear before kissing her in the forehead. Alexandra was right. Pretending that they weren't falling in love would be the hardest part. Because the moment she'd sign the divorce papers the only thing he he'd want to do was kissing her each and every chance he'd get. It would be hard to not have his hands on her all the time. When Andrew was about to speak he noticed that Alexandra had fallen asleep.
"I guess I should leave" he said as he got up.
"Why?" she said as she got up, standing now on top of the couch.
"Your niece just fall asleep" he said as he put his hands on her waist.
"But do you really have to go?" she pouted.
"Melody Grant, what are you thinking?" he said with a smirk.
"No one knows we're here… we could discuss… my new house…" said Mellie as she wrapped one of her legs around his waist before leaning into him in order to kiss him. Andrew lifted up her other leg as he kissed her passionately. Mellie laughed as he took her to one of the rooms but suddenly stopped when she remembered that her niece was sleeping. They looked back to see if she had woken up but Alexandra remained still. He opened up the first door he saw before letting her fall against the mattress. He pinned her up against the bed before whispering "I love you".