AN….here you go.

Chapter 20

Truth be told, I wasn't entirely sure how I felt.

Usually I try my best not to think about clients after the fact. It does no one any good, particularly me. Alice tends to give me really good assignments. So the men I end up sleeping with tend to be good looking, though not usually my type.

Usually I just get to go about my business afterwards and forget all about the men.

Not so with Edward Cullen. The man was everywhere. And as he'd been in my hometown of Chicago for the last couple of days he was all over the local news as well.

I found myself switching off newscasts, and avoiding online news sites just to make sure I could shake the memories and not let them fester into something that could never be.

And for the most part I was successful.

Work at the gallery was usually slow, which gave me plenty of time to do a little client work that I had taken on as part of my new graphic design business. It was still in its very early stages, but I was happy with its progress and it was keeping me busy. Keeping my mind away from places it would do no good to go.

In the weeks since I had been with the president I had done very little painting. Painting left me too much time to dwell, and that was something I was definitely avoiding. It was taking a little longer to shake this one, but I was confident I would.

I had received a phone call from Alice asking me to come into her office to see her. I wasn't really in the headspace to take on any more assignments, but we were catching up for dinner later so I figured I may as well meet her there and hear her out.

Her secretary waved me straight through to her office and I sat and listened as she finished up a call.

"So?" I said in greeting once she got off the phone, getting straight down to business.

"So yourself missy." She had that pleased look on her face again. "I had a call from one Emmett Cullen last night."

My heart dropped to my stomach, which now felt like it was full of lead.

"Oh really," I replied nonchalantly. Not pulling it off….at all.

"Hmmm, it's a shame you have a strict policy about no repeat performances."

Fuck. She was right, I had always said I was strictly a one night only escort. No going back for second helpings. Shit could get real for me that way.

"Why's that?" I knew my voice had gone up an octave.

"Seems the president would like to see you again." Oh fuck. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to stop my heart from hammering.

Okay, how do I respond? Come off eager and Alice would refuse to send me in. Tell her I'm not interested and she'll know I'm lying through my teeth.

Clearly my efforts to avoid thinking about Edward Cullen have failed. Big time.

"When?"

"Providing it suits his schedule it's up to you." I raised my eyebrow in silent question. "Clearly he's very keen to have you back. Emmett has given me the dates of when he'll be back in Washington…"

"I'll be flying into DC this time?"

"Yes."

"The White House?"

"Yes, the president doesn't typically stay in a hotel when he's in his home town," she replied sarcastically.

"DC isn't his home town," I deadpanned.

"For the next four to eight years it is."

"How are you going to get me in and out of the residence?"

"Don't you worry about that. Emmett and I will have that covered for you again." Unless….no, I couldn't let my mind go there. There would be no Oval Office sex. That would just never happen. Maybe if we were married. And then my mind went to previous president's and their wives….eeew. Then that morphed into blue dresses and…..OK stop.

I wasn't sure whether I should take the job. But how could I say no.

"What do you think?" I asked Alice, chewing my lip.

She smirked like she knew something I didn't. "Professionally, I think you should do it."

"Personally?"

"Only you can answer that B. But if it were me? Are you fucking out of your mind? I'd back up in a heart beat. You've just got to keep your wits about you though. Remember, it's a job, your providing a service….for your country," she sniggered. "Talk to one of the other girls about how to protect your heart if you need. Don't get personal, don't talk too much, no kissing. Keep it about him this time, don't let him turn the tables and make it about you. Stay in control."

"That's very hard to do when we're talking about taking control from the most powerful man in the country."

"Guys all think with their dicks Bella, just make it about his and he'll gladly give up control," she looked pensive for a moment. "You don't think….you don't think he wanted to dominate you do you? I mean did you get the vibe that he was into…"

"No Alice, I didn't get the vibe that he was into BDSM."

"Good, because that costs more."

Okay, not letting my mind go there.

AN: Thanks for reading