Another god awful, shoulder rubbing, play nice get together. Fuck that Eve didn't have to play nice.
Out of the taxi, her heels clicked on the path as she walked into the House of Commons. Tonight was a rare night, due to certain cuts, the PM had taken the decision to have one Christmas party for everyone, instead of separate for each individual party. Eve wanted to saw he was fucking mental for even suggesting it. But here they were, all the parties under one roof.
It wasn't until she had been getting ready that she realised Malcolm could be there tonight. She hadn't seen nor heard from Malcolm since kissing him in his house. That was nearly 3 weeks ago, but she hadn't forgotten about the kiss, the feel of his hand on her hip, how tightly he held her.
Inside, out of the cold air, Eve walked through the corridors of the building. Stopping to take off her coat as someone gave her a ticket. Putting it into her clutch purse, Eve headed into the main hall. Rows of tables for everyone to sit, a few already taken. However most were mingling, drinks in hand. Her eyes spotted Nicola Murray, Eve had never actually spoken to the woman. But if she was here, Malcolm wouldn't be far. And she was right. Staring directly at her was Malcolm Tucker, stood next to a man who she was unfamiliar with but in hot discussion with Malcolm. Although whether Malcolm was listening Eve was unsure with how intently Malcolm was watching her instead.
Eve had been undecided on what she would wear tonight, between purple or red, she had chosen the red. A long halter plunge dress with diamonds around the strap and around her waist, a thigh slit which showed off her silver sling back heels. She had spent a good two hours on her hair, her usual soft dark curls now waving over her shoulders. As Eve walked to the bar she felt the keen eyes of those around her, her back bare to all to just above her waist. Perhaps Eve had gone overboard. Fuck'em, she could do as she pleased.
Receiving a small white wine Eve suddenly came face to face with the Chancellor of the Exchequer Henry Gray. A sneery looking man but he was polite enough.
"Ms Shaw, may I say you look lovely tonight" Henry said as Eve witnessed his eyes wander over her cleavage.
"Thank you Henry, how is your wife?" Eve wasn't having any sleaziness from anyone tonight, no matter how she was dressed. If any man even found their hands wandering they would have a quick knee bollocking. Eve wasn't taking any bullshit.
"She's well, she couldn't come tonight unfortunately." Henry answered.
"That's a shame, well give her my best. If you'd excuse me" Eve slid away from Henry, seeing the Secretary State for the Home Department Elizabeth Morgan. Eve wasn't friends with anyone in the Government, but there were a select few she would not be repulsed in talking too.
Malcolm looked at the man speaking to him, William Tide, fat fuck, he always caused a fucking tidal wave of shit wherehe went. Just as he fell into a rant, Malcolm's attention was stolen away. Through the midst of the dark suits came a light. The bright red stunned him, the beauty made his throat dry. Seeing the bare skin on show, the slit in the dress that allowed him to see her long legs, her breasts nearly out for everyone, her back, bare to all showing her smooth slightly tanned skin. But what caught his attention the most was her eyes. So captivating with one look they take you deep into her soul. Yet Malcolm had to watch as she walked away from him and as Henry fucking Gray spoke to her.
"Malcolm" Malcolm tore his eyes from Eve as Nicola Murray entered his vision. "My you look handsome tonight" Malcolm was taken aback by Nicola's comment.
"Thank you Nic'la, you look very fucking loud." He said as he noted her flowery print dress. Always with the fucking flowers. At least he had managed to get her to fix her hair, no longer so fucking wild.
"Always such a charmer Malcolm" Nicola answered only for Ollie to decide he would also join in.
"Here we fucking go" Malcolm muttered to himself.
"Malcolm, Nicola, you look nice" Ollie spoke playing nice to Nicola.
"Thank you Ollie, as do you, new suit?" She asked him. Ollie looked exactly the same as he always fucking did.
"Oh Malcolm, have you seen who just arrived" Ollie was smiling at Malcolm, but he just gritted his teeth.
"Who are you talking about?" Nicola asked and Ollie, holding a beer in his hand, indicated to the bar.
"Evelyn Shaw" He said.
"Oh really, wearing something like that, she is Director of Communications for goodness sake, not at a celebrity award show. How old is she? She must start dressing her age" Nicola rambled.
"Oh Nicola are we jealous-"
"Jealous! Don't talk such bullshit Ollie" Nicola spat and looked to Malcolm. "You're very quiet, I would have thought you would love to mouth your opinion on her, she has taken your job after all." Nicola turned to Malcolm who held his glass of Whiskey in one hand, the other in his trouser pocket.
"Oh I'm sure he would rather use his mouth for other things when it comes to Evelyn Shaw" Ollie snickered. That was when Malcolm turned, giving Ollie a deathly look.
"You watch your tongue you lanky fucking snide fucking retarded cunt" Malcolm was about to go into full rant mode but stopped himself just in time. Taking a deep breath he walked away from Ollie and Nicola before he did something he would regret.
Nicola watched Malcolm disappear into the sea of suits before turning to Ollie. "What was that about?" She asked with curiosity.
"Malcolm and Eve had a thing many years ago" Ollie whispered.
"No really?! A thing as in...they were together" Nicola was stunned.
"Never were open to the press about it, but I heard they lived together. I only know as I caught them-"
"Having sex!" Nicola hushed but Ollie shook his head.
"No one New Years Eve at the fireworks. Never saw Malcolm happy before." Ollie noted.
"Wow, Malcolm happy...I find that hard to believe. So where did it all go wrong?" Nicola questioned, relishing in the snippets of Malcolm's personal life.
"It was when Hugh was here, no one knows what happened, she just left, vanished." Ollie answered.
"Well I am surprised. I would never have thought she would aim for someone like Malcolm" Nicola thought aloud and her eyes looked across to Eve, watching her chat to a group of men. Just as she was about to make another comment, a gong sounded for everyone to be seated.
Looking slightly flustered she took a chair and prayed that she would have someone decent next to her. Noting Malcolm sitting opposite her a few chairs down, staying in ear shot in case she said anything she shouldn't. But she noticed Malcolm looking keenly down the table. Some distance away Eve sat, near the PM of course, a flock of men jostling for seats near her. Letting out a chuckle Malcolm looked to Nicola to frown at her. Quickly turning away, instead she concentrated on the food put in front of her.
The food went easy enough, keeping an ear on Nicola, managing to get through the meal without mouthing off. But his eyes kept falling down the table. Seeing Eve smile and laugh, barrels of laughter from the men around her. Fucking suck ups. They wouldn't be laughing if Eve was giving them a bollocking. Eve had learnt her fierce tongue from him, and she used it well.
Once the meal was over and Eve had spoken to what felt like every member of the entire Government, she realised she needed some air. Walking through the back rooms she left for the balcony that looked over the Thames. Stepping outside the cold air hit her bare skin, it was fierce and brittle but Eve relished it. Leaning on the wall she gazed up to the stairs, the clouds were starting to drift over, threatening snow once more. Taking in a deep breath Eve paused, smelling cigar smoke. Turning around Eve stopped, seeing Malcolm leaning against the wall, cigar in hand.
"When did you start smoking?" She asked leaning back against the wall on the riverside.
"I will have a good cigar when I feel it." Malcolm answered and he took a deep breath before exhaling the smoke.
"I had an interesting conversation with Nicola Murray" Eve said and Malcolm replied with a bark of laughter.
"I bet that was fucking interesting" Malcolm stated before he stubbed out the cigar on the wall, his feet moving towards Eve. "I have had many comments about you tonight Eve, all about that dress." His face was dark, angry, clearly he was pissed at something, she hadn't spoken to him all night, was he angry because of that. "You wear that and flaunt yourself in front of me yet you spend all your time with everyone else." Malcolm growled and Eve laughed.
"Are you being serious Malcolm! I'm not yours for fuck sake, I can do whatever the fuck I want. If I want to run about this place naked I fucking would. I'd be carted to the fucking mental hospital but it would be my fucking choice" Eve shouted angrily but Malcolm rushed towards her, closing the short distance before taking her face in his hands and clamping his lips against Eve's with some force.
Eve couldn't breath, her hands gripping the tops of his arms, only just managing to push him away. "Malcolm!" She gasped as he gave her a fiery look. "Don't do this, not here" Eve tried to break away but Malcolm held her tightly.
"Only doing what you did to me, kissing me in my house, running off. Stop fucking running and fucking talk to me!" Malcolm shouted in her face, his hands gripping her arms tightly.
"Malcolm please let go" Eve pleaded, his grip was starting to hurt. But when she looked in his eyes there was something wrong. His eyes glazed over, hands falling loose. "Malcolm" Eve grabbed Malcolm when he stumbled, his hands landing on the wall to stop him toppling to the ground. Eve quickly guided Malcolm to a bench and sat him down, seeing Malcolm holding a hand across his chest. "Slow breaths Malcolm, I will get you some water" Eve stood and dashed inside, without making a scene she came back outside to see Malcolm still on the bench, leaning back, eyes closed. "Malcolm" Eve whispered and he opened his eyes, holding a glass of water out to him. Hand trembling Malcolm slowly took the glass, sipping it before Eve quickly took hold of it before Malcolm dropped it. Slowly crouching in front of him she looked to his face. He was deathly pale, sweat glistening on his forehead.
"Malcolm?" Eve placed her hand on his cheek. "Maybe I should get you to the hospital"
"No" Malcolm croaked. "No chance."
"Malcolm, something is clearly wrong-"
"I know what's wrong" Malcolm snapped but he took a few breaths before pushing himself to his feet. Wobbling Eve held onto his arms in case he fell.
"At least let me help you home" Eve said, she wasn't asking. No matter what Malcolm would say she was taking him home.
Gathering her coat she called for a taxi. Linking her arm with Malcolm's, taking him through the quiet corridors before reaching the front. As they walked Malcolm became more steady, feeling his strength return.
Opening the taxi door, Eve slid in followed by Malcolm, closing the door after him and he told the driver his address. Eve just sat next to Malcolm, watching him as he gazed out the window, so worried. Was there something seriously wrong. Slowly Eve took his hand, wrapping her fingers around his, he was so cold, but she felt his fingers respond and take hold of her hand in return. But he didn't look at her, instead continuing his gaze out of the window as they drove to his home.
It took half an hour but they finally pulled up to the house, paying the driver they both climbed out. Keys jangling as Malcolm unlocked the door and turned the hallway lights on. Eve shutting the door behind her, watching as he shuffled down the hall into the living room, flopping back onto the sofa. Sitting beside him she waited. Waited for him to speak first, she didn't have to wait long.
"Second time that's ever happened." Malcolm muttered, staring across the room to the wall. "It's called Long QT Syndrome. I have to take Mexiletine and Propranolol every day" He spoke quietly.
"What is Long QT Syndrome?" Eve asked,
"It's a heart condition, my heart can sometimes start beating too fast, it's what can make me dizzy, first time it happened I passed out cold for a few minutes." Malcolm explained as Eve turned on the sofa to face him.
"Then shouldn't the medication be helping?" Eve Malcolm with such intent.
"I was only diagnosed two months ago, still coming to terms with it." Malcolm was breathing very slowly, suddenly looking so tired.
"What caused it?" Eve dared to ask, but she feared she already knew the answer.
"Stress" Malcolm said it so quietly that Eve barely heard him. Slowly she reached out her hand and placed it on the back of his head, running her fingers through his hair. Closing his eyes, Malcolm leaned back against her hand. "I haven't even told Rachel, you're the first person to know."
"You should tell her Malc, there is no shame in it" Eve spoke but heard Malcolm only sigh, slowly he lay on the sofa, his head falling to Eve's lap. Keeping her hand in his short hair she slowly moved the other across to his chest, stopping when she felt his heart beating.
After a few minutes, gently twirling Malcolm's hair in her fingers, she felt his body change, relax and a steady breathing set in. He had fallen asleep. Not wanting to wake him Eve stayed where she was, her mind falling to worry. He had been suffering, she wished he had told her when he had found out. She should have been there. Malcolm went through too much alone, she wanted him to share things with her.
But what was she to Malcolm.
Looking down at his sleeping form she wondered. Could there be another chance for her. They kept playing this stupid game back and forth. Was that affecting his health. Eve had to just tell him, they both had to stop messing around and talk.
After an hour of sitting in her own thoughts, Eve realised that she needed the bathroom. Biting her lip she as gently as she could lifted Malcolm's head from her lap, sliding out of the sofa and entered the bathroom. Only being in there a moment before leaving, she walked back into the living room to see Malcolm sat up and rubbing his face.
"How are you feeling?" Eve asked quietly as she edged closer.
"Tired" Malcolm whispered and let his hands drop, his eyes looking up to Eve, watching as she held a hand out to him.
"Come on, I'm taking you to bed" Eve told him which caused Malcolm to raise an eyebrow.
"Are you my mother now?" Malcolm questioned and Eve smiled to him.
"If I have to be" Eve spoke as Malcolm took hold of her hand and stood up. Wrapping her fingers around his she led Malcolm up the stairs. Once entering the bedroom Eve stood Malcolm by the bed, he looked dead on his feet. Stepping in front of Malcolm, watching his face she slowly pushed his long coat from his shoulders. Malcolm stared to Eve, watching as she hung up his coat, push his blazer off and slowly pull the tie from around his neck.
Placing the tie on the back of a chair, Eve looked over his chest, trailing her fingers across his neck before reaching the buttons of the shirt. In slow graceful motions Eve undid each button, pulling the bottom from his trousers. His shirt open, Eve looked at Malcolm's naked chest, letting the fabric fall to the floor she gazed up at his face, catching his eyes. They were hard but they stared deep into her. They kept each others gaze as Eve pulled open Malcolm's belt, her long fingers pushing down the zip as the trousers fell to the floor.
Standing in only his boxers, Eve reached up behind her neck, unfastening the dress and letting the silk dropped to the floor in a heap. Like Malcolm, she wore only her underwear.
Eve gently pressed her palm against Malcolm's chest, her fingers through his light grey hairs. All this time Malcolm had not moved a muscle, just watching, watching everything Eve did. And there she was, naked in front of him, but he could not take his eyes away from her face, so beautiful, so loving and caring.
It was his turn now. Malcolm slowly ran the tips of his fingers up Eve's arm. His skin tingling as he touched hers, running his hand to her neck as Malcolm pressed his lips to hers. When he woke this morning he had never thought he would go to bed that night with Eve in his arms. After everything that had happened between them, the thought of making love to her again seemed idiocy, but here he was, lying on top of her, his lips on her soft neck as she raked her fingers through his hair. Groaning Eve's name as he came deep inside of her, breathing deeply as he stared down to Eve's face, his thumb stroking her delicate cheek.
"I love you" Malcolm whispered and Eve smiled up at him.
"I love you too Malcolm" Eve replied and Malcolm kissed her again. It had been a long time since he stayed up to late, but when they did finally sleep, Malcolm felt so at ease.