'You around for drinks tonight?'
Three years ago Emily would have called up one of her friends to tell them that douchebag Aaron Shore just texted her, asking her out on a date. Or she was pretty sure it was a date. Obviously, she was going to say no. Because dreamy good looks aside, he was the enemy. With him working in the White House she was never going to get Kirkman's HUD policies anywhere.
Two years ago Emily would have replied, 'Sounds fun! I'll invite Seth!' Not yet ready to spend time alone with the man she accused of treason, hoping that her liberal use of exclamation points would mask how anxious she was. Would convince him they could be friends again.
A year ago Emily would have replied 'Yes' and immediately moved any plans she actually had so she could spend time with him, lying to herself that she wasn't upset he had a girlfriend, she was just surprised how fast things were moving between them. Or surprised that he was dating someone so unlike him, so idealistic. But not jealous, that would be ridiculous. And since she wasn't jealous she didn't need to feel guilty about the thrill she felt when he confided things in her that he'd never told Isabel.
Two months ago Emily would have ignored the text. Just because Isabel dumped him didn't mean she'd ever feel okay around him again. Feel like any less of a liar and cheater.
But just like a lot could change in three years, a lot could change in two months. She and the Kirkman administration were still under investigation. Which technically made drinks with Aaron just about the worst idea imaginable. But she told herself nobody needed to know about it. It's not like she had anyone she was going to be telling, she couldn't remember the last time she'd had a social conversation with anyone. Her lawyer was the only one who called, and with the 800 dollar an hour meter running she was not wasting any time on small talk. She had no family, and her circle of friends were all decidedly on Team Kirkman, making them decidedly off limits. So after two months of pretending that listening to podcasts or leaving The Office streaming were basically the same as human interaction, she was ready to jump at the first opportunity to see someone, no matter how ill-advised.
And to be honest it was a little worrying that he was reaching out to her at all. He was three days into his term as Vice President, and it didn't bode well that he was already reaching out to her of all people. She would have thought he still would be high on the excitement of it all. And as Vice President easily able to find someone else to spread their legs if all he was looking to do was get off.
So it was a mix of desperation and curiosity that got her to make plans to meet with him. His place, 10PM. Didn't exactly take a genius to figure out what was on his mind.
To her surprise, Aaron brings her into his office for drinks. He gives them both a healthy pour of whiskey and then starts, "Thanks for meeting with me." He practically whispers it.
Suddenly the late hour feels less sexy and more clandestine, "Is there a reason we're whispering?"
"Secret Service everywhere."
She'd hardly characterize the two agents at the front door as everywhere. "You've got to be used to it by now." He's been working around presidents for god knows how long.
"But not in my house. It's weird." He continued whispering, and she decided not to argue the point.
"So what's up?" She was actually curious now.
"It's Kirkman. Well Mars mostly actually, but Kirkman's going along with it. No ones supposed to know."
"Know what?" She asks, her insides sinking. This can't be good news.
"They're throwing you under the bus. Kirkman's going to claim you never showed him that tape."
"He's going to lie?" She was aware she sounded very much like a naïve child, but Tom Kirkman didn't lie. Certainty not under oath.
"I don't know, they've been talking about executive privilege, and pleading the fifth, but they're setting you up as the fall girl. Lorraine's second in command, keeping all her secrets, only turned on her at the end to save your own skin."
A shiver went down her spine at how plausible it all sounded. She wondered how many years you did for orchestrating the hacking of a Presidential candidate. A lot she would guess. "What do I do?" Logically she knew all hope was not lost, she would have Dontae at least to testify to her side of the story, and there would be a record of her visit to the White House, or she thought there would be. But up against the word of the President, it all didn't seem like much.
"I wouldn't worry too much. Kirkman will come to his senses, and find some way to weasel you all out of this."
She didn't share his confidence. And honestly, she wasn't sure he even shared his confidence, why else would he have told her all this. "Well, I appreciate the tip." She said, pushing her chair back to get up, hoping to get away before he could see her cry.
"Em, wait." She froze. "If I need to, I'll testify."
Aaron Shore. Willing to put his career on the line for her's. She wouldn't believe it if she didn't just hear him say it. "Thanks." She mumbled tearily, unable to hide them any longer.
He hugged her and muttered something about just doing what any decent person would do. And she kissed him, which was becoming an unfortunate pattern for her. Cry into Aaron's shoulder, and when that didn't dull the pain, kiss him. He kissed her back for just a moment before pulling away.
"Em-."
"I know, I'm sorry." She interjected hurriedly. Better to get this rejection over with as quickly as possible.
"No, that's not it." He said. He ran a hand over her face, wiping away tears before tucking a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. "You're sure about this?"
Honestly, sleeping with Aaron would be about as bad a decision this time as it had been last time. The only redeeming fact was that he wasn't in a relationship. Which when she thought about it was actually a pretty big redeeming point. If they hurt anyone it would only be each other.
She wound a leg around his and leaned back in whispering, "Yes." And then kissed him again.
From there she let Aaron take control, leading them up to his bedroom, stripping her naked, and then taking her with the same intensity and passion as he had before.
"It's going to be okay, you know." He said to her later, as they lay in bed both lost in their own thoughts. And she almost believed him.
A/N: This was also originally part of a longer story that I won't be writing. If I had written the whole thing, Kirkman would not turn out to be a total asshole in the end :)