Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews. You guys have kept me going so far. Well I hope you all like it. Enjoy!
After court went to her office for a meeting with Eli. She really didn't want to meet with Eli, sure that Peter had told him everything already. But her new job requirements force her to meet with Eli. She is his liaison after all.
"Alicia, sit down."Eli said gesturing Alicia to sit down as she entered his new office.
"Eli where is the client?"Alicia asked, not sure why she needs to be here.
"You are the client, Alicia. You will be needing my help after all." Eli said closing his office door.
"So he told you."Alicia said, following Eli as he sat down.
"Yes and Alicia, I have to ask."Eli said growing remorseful.
"Is there anyway that I can persuade you to stay?"
"I told him that I would stay for the campaign, but then I'm out. I'm this close to leaving now."Alicia said, the anger coming back from before.
"I understand, so there is no way?"Eli said picking up his phone.
"No I will not stay with him, he has gone too far, I just can't anymore."Alicia said getting up from her chair.
"Alicia, I'm not trying to persuade you to be a happy couple anymore. I was surprised that you stayed with him the first time. Yes it made my job easier, putting all the pressure on you. But over these past months, I've gotten to know you better. And I'm glad your are getting happiness. And if you will stay with Peter for this campaign, I can get you a clean break from it all."Eli said moving closer to Alicia. She was skeptical, not really sure that she could trust Eli. He was Peter's campaign manager. He was here for Peter, not her. But something in his eyes, something told her that he wasn't lying.
"You're going to give me a clean break?"Alicia asked, questioning his abilities.
"Yes after he has won, I will get Peter to agree to a fair settlement, and I will make sure that the press doesn't badger you, as well as ruin Peter's chances of doing greater things. You and...your kids will be able to live in peace. After a shitstorm of reporters, of course. But I promise to keep the shitstorm short and less damaging than most."Eli promised with a huge smile. He wasn't sure if she was ok with him talking about Will, so he just decided to talk about the children instead.
"You promise?"Alicia asked, still not sure about the deal.
"Yes I promise. And I never break my promises."Eli said checking his phone.
"You better. Because if Peter screws me over. He will regret it. I will make his life a living hell, and he will never see the kids again."Alicia threatened before leaving. She wasn't really going to take the kids away, but she knew that it would get Peter's attention. But Eli knew she was serious. Alicia wasn't just some housewife, she was a lawyer. And a damned good one at that, he knew she would destroy him if she wanted to.
"I know you will."Eli said, fully aware of Alicia's rath.
"Oh and our real client will be here tomorrow. So be ready."Eli said with a smile as he escorted Alicia out.
Alicia arrived home from work early, earlier than the kids. So when the two teenagers arrived home from school and smelled something cooking, the automatically thought Jackie was coming to babysit them that day. But as they saw their mother, they knew something was up.
"Mom? Is everything ok?"Zach said as he put his stuff on the kitchen counter.
"Hey kids, you guys are late." She said as she continued to cook dinner. Grace went to her mom and put her hand on her forehead, making sure she wasn't sick. Alicia swatted her daughter's hand away.
"Grace!" Alicia whined as she stirred the pasta sauce.
"Sorry, just making sure that you are ok." She giggled as she moved back to her seat next to her brother.
"Yes I'm fine, now go do your homework. Dinner will be ready at seven."Alicia said going back to her dinner. The kids shrugged and went to their rooms.
Alicia continued to make dinner. She hated deceiving the kids but she had to. She had to be the strong one here. In about an hour, she would have to tell her kids that their parents are breaking up and their whole childhood was a lie. Alicia could barely handle the news, and since she didn't want to be wasted, she had to cook and not be around them, for fear of breaking down in front of them.
They ate promptly at seven and finished around seven thirty. Alicia then asked for them to meet her in the living room after they completely finished with homework. By eight, everyone was in the living room. Alicia on the coffee table and the kids on the couch.
"Mom what's wrong?" Zach asked, picking up her difference in character all night.
"Well things are going to change a lot around here soon."Alicia said, hoping the words would come out clear and understandable.
"Is it because of the campaign? Because we are ready for it." Grace said trying to be as compassionate as possible.
"Yes and no. Me and your father is splitting up."Alicia said bluntly, thinking sugar coating it would be rude and insulting.
"Why?"Zach asked,not sounding hurt or angry, just confused.
"Me and your father have not been happy for a while. I just can not do this with him anymore. And we just don't love each other anymore. I love you both dearly." Alicia said rubbing their hands.
"Just not enough to stay with dad"Grace said sounding hurt and maimed. Alicia tried to hold it all in and stay calm.
"Grace that's not fair, dad has done worse things than this. Mom is just trying to be happy. And if she finds someone to make her happy, well that's fine with me."Zach said, challenging his sister.
"And she can't do that with dad?"Grace pleaded, more with her brother than her mother.
"And would you stay with your husband if he constantly hurt you? Because I wouldn't want you to. That is all that is happening. I'm sure that dad isn't being shipped off to another island."Zach said wiping tears from his sisters face.
"Will he be staying here with us?"Grace asked her mother now.
"Yes. Of course. This won't happen until after the election."Alicia said hugging her children.
"I love both of you so very much. Remember that. And I am so very proud of both of you."They both hugged her back.
"But mom, we are to be a happy family while dad is running. Doesn't he want to stop, for us?"Zach said feeling hurt now.
"Yes of course. But I told him not to. But yes, we are to be a family while the election goes on. For your father. And when he comes home, no ambushing him ok? "The kids looked at each other and shook their heads.
"Yes ma'am."They said in unison. Not completely ok with the fake family plan. This only caused the kids to feel like he was using their mom. And as the two of the went to their room after their talk, they thought about it. About just how much their dad used their mom, and they didn't like it. Not one bit.
After sending the kids to their room, Alicia got up to get a glass of wine. But just as she was opening the wine, there was a knock at the door. She walked over to the door and looked through the peephole. The person she saw standing there was not who she expected.
"What are you doing here? I didn't expect you here, and not now."
So how did you like? Another cliffhanger, I know. But who do you think is on the other side of the door? And to be honest, I'm not sure. So really, tell me who you think it is. I hope you enjoyed it.