AN: Wow! I am blown away by the response to the last chapter, I am loving all your theories around who 'Char' is. I just wanted to give a little insight into my thinking behind this update/direction before you read on. - I had thought over this chapter and direction for a long time before writing it, i kept deleting it and then circling back to it, so i went with my gut instincts. I know this is going to be AU and 'out of character' BUT i promise you, I promise, I promise, I promise there is method to my madness, there is always method to my madness!
Even if things don't make sense now, I hope that by the end of the story everything will. I have an amazing Beta reader who literally writes notes on each chapter and makes sure I do not miss a single thing in the future, so please hang in there and your questions will be answered!
Some reviews I wanted to reply too;
- I don't like Stevie's character at all in the show, she is my least fav hence why she is always a bitch in my fics. I don't enjoy writing her character and I struggle to convey the nice side of her some see, so i tend to stay clear of that.
- Henrys side of the story is coming, it will come I promise, it's just much later. The way I wanted this to go was for the readers to 'Side with Elizabeth' in the beginning but then later when things are expanded upon start to 'Understand why Henry acts the way he does', so please hang in there. If you want specifics, DM me :)
- Finally to the reviewers who's hearts I am breaking, I apologise, but I am also thankful for that as it means my message is coming across, no good writing about divorce, or break ups should ever be a easy read. I do not mean to break your hearts and make you cry, all i can say is, I hope to mend them again...
With all of that said and done, Let's meet Char...
Chapter Fifty Nine - Green with Envy
'Ma'am I know you don't want to go but because you stayed late last night you now have free time and, well, Russell Jackson thinks-'
'Let me guess, it will be good for the optics' Elizabeth replied sarcastically to Blake as they drove in the back of her motorcade to the Military Museum Opening Fair.
'Unfortunately yes, but you have to also get ready for the evening ball, so we're only planning on showing your face around for an hour, two tops' He tried to lighten the moment but Elizabeth rolled her eyes sarcastically as she flung her head to the side, her gaze falling out of the window.
She had not returned home at a normal time yesterday evening, in true Elizabeth McCord style she opted for complete avoidance and stayed at the State department doing work until early hours in the morning. Walking into her home to face a potential argument with Henry, Stevie or both of them at once was not how she wanted to unwind, so she decided getting her teeth sunk into the new climate change proposal was a much better use of her time. At least it was.
With her conscious decision to remain at work and avoid Henry meant that their next encounter would be awkward, she never imagined it would be a public event. Their first since the split at that.
'Remind me again why I have to go to these things?'' She moaned
'Because you're the Secretary of State' Blake quipped and Elizabeth's eyes widened as they fell on him, capturing his humor in her silent response.
'Because the President said so' Jay jumped on board which also earned him a sarcastic glare from his boss.
'Ma'am it will be ok. Dr McCord will be inside giving his speech and we are planning to head out the back towards the greenery where a lot of the Museum staff, Veterans and other war college professions will be. You can mingle with them' Daisy tried to offer reassurance
'Sure, mingle with them whilst the press are watching my every move to see if I even so much as glance at Henry the wrong way' she replied, her head tilting as she mocked her staff.
'It was going to happen tonight at the ball, we might as well get it over with?' Daisy shrugged awkwardly not knowing how to respond.
'Smooth' Matt chuckled at Daisy
Elizabeth sighed heavily as she spotted the venue in the distance, her stomach churning as this was the first time she had to be around Henry and keep her calm at all times, something she knew was going to be difficult given their most recent encounter was fuelled with rage.
'Blake, stay with me. I feel like people won't ask me about Henry if my staff are around,' she pleaded with him, smiling softly as he nodded in response to her request.
'We will do our best to split up and greet as many people as we can so you don't have to Ma'am' Jay reassured her
'Get in, chat some politics and get out' Matt joked and everyone exchanged glances failing to find the humor in his words.
"Matt stay with me,'' Nadine requested as the motorcade pulled to a stop.
'Showtime' Elizabeth whispered to herself as she scanned the venue trying to anticipate where Henry might be. As the door opened she stepped out, her staff following close by as the surge of camera's began to encroach on their space. Matt placed a protective arm around Elizabeth and led her through, guiding her to a point of safety. Elizabeth used the barrier of her DS agents to keep her head down and walk straight through the Museum and out into the gardens, secretly thankful as she knew Henry wouldn't be outside just yet; giving her a moment to breathe.
The afternoon was in full swing, Elizabeth had somewhat eased herself as she walked around with Blake at her side, stopping randomly and enjoying conversations with many, using it as a form of distraction from her reality. Blake and Elizabeth stood together in one corner of the garden area, both deep in conversation with one another as Blake spotted a tall, young blonde walking towards them.
'I think our quiet time is over' he winked and Elizabeth turned to see the woman walking over. 'What is she wearing? Pink is not good for her complexion' he scoffed and Elizabeth shot him a warning look, suggesting that he reign it in and be kind.
'Hi you're Elizabeth McCord right?' She spoke, her Texas roots evident as her accent unveiled itself.
'Its Secretary McCord' Blake corrected her, there was something about this woman he felt unsettled about.
'Hi, yes that's me, Elizabeth' she paused once again, throwing Blake a look before holding her hand out to greet the woman in front of her. 'And you are?'
'Oh silly me, I am Charlotte Rodriguez, Henry's girlfriend' She grinned, her hand shaking Elizabeth's firmly.
'Henry's what?' Elizabeth almost choked on her words, her lungs and heart stopping momentarily as she waited for confirmation.
'His new girlfriend? Oh no have I made this awkward. Silly me. He said he was going to tell you, anyway, it is so nice to meet you Lizzie, I've heard so much about you' she grinned excitedly. Blake stood wide eyed, shook at her revelations.
Elizabeth's mouth ran dry. Girlfriend She thought to herself, her mind hazed instantly as she tried to wade through the muddy waters of her thoughts.
'And you are? Oh wait let me guess; Are you Lizzie's new boyfriend?' She shook with excitement as she turned to greet Blake.
'No. No no no, I urm' He paused and looked at Elizabeth completely shocked he was having to explain himself. 'I am her PA' he confirmed.
'Ooo a PA, Check you out girrrll! You must have a fancy job for that, that's all I can say. What do you do again?' She laughed. Elizabeth almost laughed with her. Her shock and devastation manifested in hysteria as she glanced sideways at Blake.
'I'm the Secretary of State,' she responded flatly, an awkward smile falling on her lips.
'That's it!'
'And you Charlotte? What do you do?' She cleared her throat
'Well I work at UVA with Henry, that's how we met, I am a secretary too, but more like you-' she turned and pointed to Blake before continuing '- I just run errands and do things other secretaries tell me too. Isn't our job fun? It's basically coffee beaks and gossip, you know what I mean' she cackled and nudged Blake playful.
'Please don't touch me,' Blake muttered as he stepped back a little. Elizabeth stifled a laugh as she caught a glimpse of the disgusted look on his face. 'Huge fan of all those coffee breaks Lizzie here gives me' he winked and took a swipe at Elizabeth for laughing at him. She threw him a playful gaze as he mocked her in his smile.
'Aww you two are adorable. I have to go now, I need to find my Henry Kins, he will be finishing his speech soon' she giggled and began to glance around the field to see if she could see him.
'Henry kins?' Elizabeth mouthed to Blake who looked every inch horrified as her.
'I think he is inside, don't mind me. Oh and Lizzie hunny, I don't know why you ever gave up such a lovely man, but I sure am thankful you did. That guy knows how to please a woman, and I am not just talking about day to day life, he sure knows his way around the bedroom if you know what I mean' she winked, her elbow gently nudging Elizabeth as she walked past them in pursuit of Henry.
'I think I am going to be sick' Elizabeth swallowed harshly, at first Blake chuckled thinking she was laughing, but when he noticed her covering her mouth and gasping for air as the color ran from her face his concern grew quickly.
'Let's get you a drink and a seat' He guided her towards the opposite end of the field, walking slowly by her Side, moving around to the outside to cover her from the press as much as possible.
'Girlfriend' she whispered in shock
'Let's not think about that now, let's save that one for the motorcade or your office, where you can have some privacy' he reminded her, she nodded slowly as she exhaled.
'Or maybe not' Blake grimaced as he spotted Henry walking towards them.
'No, Blake I can't-'
'I don't think you have a choice. Dr McCord Hi, how lovely to see you again' Blake smiled falsely as Henry stepped within close proximity.
'Hi Blake, Elizabeth I am so sorry, I asked Charlotte not to approach you and, Blake, can we have a moment alone please?' Henry asked. Blake shifted awkwardly not wanting to leave Elizabeth alone. She sensed his loyalty to her and tuned to flash him a reassuring smile.
'Can you go and get me that drink? Maybe something a little stronger than water?' She hinted and he nodded firmly
'Yes Ma'am, I'll be right back' he dismissed himself, stealing glances from behind as he walked off to warn the staff that they needed to leave.
'Elizabeth I-'
'Is this why you came to my office yesterday? To tell me about her?'
'Charlotte' he corrected her
'Trust me Henry using her pronoun is far better than the words in my head' she mocked but with a serious warning tone to her speech.
'Yes, I wanted to tell you yesterday but I saw how unwell you looked and I couldn't do it, it didn't feel like the right time.' He sighed
'How long?' She responded flatly, her stomach churning all over again as she battled her emotions beneath the surface.
'Only two weeks'
'And at no point through the endless calls and texts from you did you think to mention it?'
'Elizabeth you're hurting, I don't want to add to that'
'Yet you bring her to a public event?'
'No, I didn't, I didn't know she would be here, she turned up to surprise me' he sighed heavily. His head pounding with the mess he found himself in.
'How sweet' she mocked
'Don't be like that. She is really sweet and she has been kind to me since I returned to UVA'
'From what I hear it's you that has been kind to her' she teased, humor slowly becoming her defense mechanism as she hinted at Charlotte's earlier confession. Henry rolled his eyes in annoyance.
'You're just irritated by the fact I am moving on' He snapped, his voice hush but harsh as he tried to avoid unwanted attention.
'Yes! How did you think I was going to react? Be happy about the fact you threw our marriage away and moved on as if twenty years meant nothing to you?' She snarled, inching closer to him so she could convey her anger quietly. 'And for what it's worth you haven't moved on at all, you've found yourself some company.' She glared at him, the icy tones of her blue eyes sending shivers down his spine.
The press around them began to draw In closer, images of them in a heated discussion captured for the world to see and interpret how they choose. Elizabeth sighed heavily as she stepped back from him, her gaze falling to Charlotte who was walking back towards them. Elizabeth averted her gaze to the floor, desperate for a sinkhole to appear and take her.
'Henry, there you are' she grinned as she walked over to him, her arm instantly linking into his. Elizabeth blinked back the tears, the anger, the jealousy as she watched another woman fall for her husband. 'I only popped to the toilet and this one is off, he is like a social butterfly' she giggled and Elizabeth's eyes widened as she shot Henry a gaze, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment, knowing Elizabeth was right deep down.
'Are you going to the ball tonight?' Charlotte asked, fear flooded Elizabeth's eyes as she looked between them both.
'It depends how much work I have to do' she lied. Henry saw straight through her, his heart sinking a little as he cursed himself for his approach to this situation.
'Well, if you do go hunny, don't be wearing green now, that's our color tonight' she giggled, softly swatting Henry as she blew him a kiss. Elizabeth swallowed the despair that rose in her throat, words evading her as she gritted her teeth, falsely smiling in response to Charlotte.
'Madam Secretary, sorry to interrupt but there is a situation, we are needed back at the White House' Nadine broke through the tension. Elizabeth felt a wave of relief rush over her as she glanced thankfully to Nadine. She looked at Henry and Charlotte and then back to Henry. Elizabeth shook her head disappointingly as she walked away from him in silence.
'There is no situation Ma'am, I just thought you needed rescuing' Nadine whispered
'Thank you' she sighed
'Here is a drink Ma'am' Blake smiled and handed Elizabeth the plastic cup, she poured the drink into her mouth and screwed up her face in response, trying hard not to spit it back out.
'Grape juice, they didn't have having else' He grimaced apologetically
'Take that away' she wiped her mouth and handed it over to Blake. 'Can this day get any worse' she huffed.
'I know that was a rhetorical question but; yes.' Matt pointed, all of their gazes falling to Charlotte posing for the press with Henry standing at her side, to the world smiling but Elizabeth saw straight through it. He's unhappy. She thought to herself as she watched them for a moment longer.
'Do I have to attend this ball tonight?' She asked and everyone nodded in sync.
'Yep'
'Afraid so'
'Yes Ma'am'
'In that case, Blake get that stylist on the phone, I need to update my wardrobe if I am going to be compared to the leggy blonde who is probably twenty years younger than me' Elizabeth tried to pass her tone off as sarcasm but they all knew it held the truth.
'Yes Ma'am'
'And tell her that I want to wear something Green, I feel like that's my color' she smirked.
AN: - I've posted a little one shot to soften the blow of this chapter if you want to check it out! It's called 'Prove You Wrong'