Abbey fidgeted in her office, trying to focus. CJ was away with the President, and had been for 2 days so far. So far
they had only exchanged text messages, CJ having been working until 1 or 2 every night. Abbey was itching to call her, but knew it was unlikely CJ would be alone at 2 in the afternoon. She tried to go back to reading the paper in front of her. Some sort of report on selective abortion of girls in third world countries, she knew. Something that at any other time she would be reading avidly before calling Amy into her office to call the relevant people with recommendations. Something she would debate with CJ later on. Abbey sighed. It was no good. She picked up her phone and dialled the number for CJ's cell.
"Hello?" CJ answered the phone, sounding harried.
"Hi." Abbey responded, embarrassed already for having called.
She heard CJ pause, surprised. "Hi…uh…Dad."
"Dad?!" Abbey snorted into the phone. "Is that my new code name?"
CJ smiled. "How are things going?"
"I miss you."
"I miss you too, Dad, but this is a bit of an awkward time. We're on site in Ohio and I have to give a press briefing in about 2 minutes. Could I give you a call tonight? It might be pretty late."
"I'd like that." Abbey said softly. "I love you."
"I love you too. Talk to you soon." CJ hung up the phone and turned to Toby, who was standing next to her. "Sorry about that."
"How is he?" Toby asked kindly. "Okay?"
CJ smiled sadly. "I think he misses me."
Josh gestured at them wildly. "I think it's time to start." She commented wryly, making her way towards him.
The trip was pretty standard: visiting a couple of states, meeting with a few key players, making a few speeches, attending late night events – all with the White House press core in tow.
By the time CJ made it back to her hotel room that evening, it was somewhere around 2, and she was more than a little tipsy. She fell, still in her floor length deep turquoise satin dress, onto her bed, and dug through her bag searching for her cell phone.
"Ab!" She exclaimed happily as Abbey sleepily said hello, and then, frowning: "Did I wake you?"
"Sort of." Abbey yawned. "I was reading and I guess I fell asleep. How was the party?"
"More than a bit dull, to be honest. Donna and I resorted to drinking to get through it." CJ giggled, lying stomach down on her bed.
"I can tell." Abbey smiled. "What're you wearing?"
"That turquoise thing you talked me into buying. It shows too much cleavage."
"A little cleavage never hurt anyone, Claudia Jean." Abbey sniffed. "And you looked beautiful in it."
CJ blushed. "Thanks, Ab. How are you?"
"Unfocused." Abbey sighed. "I keep thinking about you instead of whatever I'm meant to be thinking about. When are you flying back again?"
"I'll be back in the office for the 5 pm briefing tomorrow."
"We should have dinner." Abbey decided.
"Shouldn't you be doing that with your husband?" CJ questioned softly.
"You think he'll have the time?" Abbey commented sarcastically. "He's been gone three days. He'll be fully booked, trust me." She sighed. "Have dinner with me, Claudia. We can order in, drink some wine, spend the evening in my office."
"I'd love to Ab. I've missed you."
"I've missed you."
"I should get to bed. I have an early morning tomorrow."
"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow night, love."
"Yeah. The plan is to cap at eight, so I'll come over around then."
"Great."
CJ hung up her phone and looked down at her dress, deciding she should probably change out of it before going to sleep. Sighing, she stood up.
She finally made it to Abbey's office at 9:30. "Sorry!" she apologised profusely. "You heard about Kundu?"
"Yeah." Abbey replied, closing the door behind her, and kissing CJ soundly. "Hungry?" she whispered.
"Starved." CJ answered, biting her way up Abbey's neck and biting gently at her lower lip. "Is it against the rules to have sex in your office?" she murmured into Abbey's hair. '
Abbey giggled. "Not as long as we don't get caught. Remember there are guards outside." She locked the door and started unbuttoning CJ's blouse. CJ's hands ran tangled in her hair as they found the zipper at the back of her dress. Abbey lowered her arms momentarily and it dropped to the floor. CJ unzipped and stepped out of her skirt. She stood before Abbey in white lace underwear, her blouse hanging sexily open to show a glimpse of her bra. She moved to the floor.
Abbey climbed on top of her, biting her neck, reaching a hand down into CJ's underwear. CJ arched against her. "Abbey" she gasped. "God, I missed you." Abbey grinned.
"You naughty girl."
CJ kissed her deeply. "It's a secret, don't tell anyone." She murmured quietly, wrapping her arms around Abbey and pulling her down. She unhooked her bra, throwing it aside. Abbey laughed, gently.
"I won't."
CJ kissed her way down Abbey's neckline, making her way to her breasts. Abbey moaned a little. "SHH!" CJ clapped a hand over her mouth, and rolled them so she was on top.
Later, dressed again, they sat at Abbey's desk, take-out cartons of Thai food scattering the table, each with a glass of wine in hand. Amy had come in to join them for dinner, and they were debating the paper Abbey had read the day before. Well, not so much debating, as ranting about, CJ thought to herself, as all three of them were against both selective abortion of females and infanticide. At any rate, they were definitely enjoying themselves.
"CJ, here you are." Leo walked into the office and handed her a piece of paper. "I've just given Carol everything we have so far for the morning briefing, but I want to discuss Kundu with you beforehand, give you any fresh information we get overnight."
"Sounds good." CJ agreed. "Do you need me now?" she questioned, wondering why he had come looking for her to tell her something which Carol could have dealt with.
"No." Leo grinned. "I just wanted a spring roll." He grabbed one from a carton and walked back out the door. "See you later."
"Bye" they chorused.
"Pass the pad thai?" Amy asked. CJ did. "We should do this more often. The guys hog everything." She pointed out.
"Agreed." Abbey nodded, grabbing some more curry.
"I'm stuffed." CJ announced, leaning back in her chair. "But I'd love another glass of wine." Abbey complied, filling her own glass and Amy's at the same time.
They sat and chatted for another hour or so before CJ claimed exhaustion and bowed out.
"Running tomorrow?" Abbey asked.
"I can't. I have that meeting with Leo before the briefing." CJ responded. "How about lunch, though?" Abbey smiled and nodded.
"I'll call you."
CJ lay in bed that night and thought back to the day in Manchester when her affair with Abbey had started. She realised that she'd been sleeping with the First Lady of the United States for more than six months now. More importantly, the lady who was married to CJ's boss. CJ groaned. She knew someone would find out eventually…It was inevitable, working in such a high profile position. And when they did…Well, CJ didn't want to think about that just yet.