I wasn't able to post a teaser for this chapter, but pics for this chapter will be going up in my FB group later this afternoon. Hope you all enjoy!
Chapter 14
January began with a story on 60 Minutes, Bella's first non-political interview as President. It was a human interest story on the importance of being a living donor, whether it be blood, tissue, or organs. The story included Alice Brandon's medical struggles, an interview with her, and footage of several White House staffers, senior officials, members of the Secret Service, and Isabella and Emmett themselves undergoing the cheek swab that would determine if any of them were potential matches.
It felt good for Isabella to raise the profile of such an important cause, and it meant possibly saving her best friend's life. What shocked all those closest to them, was when Edward turned out to be a match for her. He began pouring over the literature, so when it was time, he would be ready to do what was necessary.
As Alice began treatment, she hired a new Deputy Chief of Staff. Pamela Elle was in her early fifties with black hair, dark eyes, and a mothering nature. She handled the staff so Alice could focus on the more sensitive aspects of the job. Pamela was an excellent fit.
The campaign trail was well traveled, with Emmett going out on the road more frequently, but Isabella made sure to join him, along with a few of her own stops, which were vetted by her protective detail.
Edward was growing bolder in his displays of affection, though he never did anything inappropriate. Squeezing her hand as she passed or pressing a kiss to her forehead when shift change came. Little things that showed he was willing to be open in front of her staff and his agents.
The White House staff were Team Bellward, Athenodora informed her, happy to see their boss finding some happiness in all of the chaos that surrounded her.
Bella and Edward spent Valentine's Day in the Residence with a wonderfully prepared meal and a bangle bracelet that had this inscription on the inside:
I hope you believe in you like I do.
Bella loved the thoughtful gift, and used her body to show Edward just how much that faith meant to her.
Another policy win in March had her opponents on the defensive since Isabella was proving not to be a lame duck president.
April included the planning for the White House Correspondents' Dinner, something Isabella was looking forward to. She'd been expecting to attend the previous year before the event was canceled due to Harry's passing.
Edward and Garrett were both working hard to secure the event, knowing that both Phoenix and Pegasus would be in attendance.
The first anniversary of Harry's assassination passed with a public acknowledgement, but no new answers on who had paid off Waylon to carry out the poisoning.
A week before the Correspondents' Dinner, Athenodora entered the Residence with an armload of garment bags and a smirk.
"What is all that?" Isabella asked.
"The final five choices for your dress to wear to the Correspondents' Dinner."
"Only five?" Bella teased.
"There are a wide range of styles. Let's get started."
"Is Alice joining us?"
"No, she's spending the night at home ahead of her treatment in the morning."
Bella nodded, knowing that Alice would be sad to be missing it. "Maybe we could do a video call on her secure phone?"
"That could work, but first, let's get them out of these bags."
Isabella looked at the first one with a curl of her lip.
"What's that face for?" Alice asked as Teeny handed Bella the phone.
"This first dress. It looks matronly." When Bella turned the camera around, she heard the moment Alice saw it.
"Sweet Jesus. I understand the expectations of how you should dress, but I wouldn't even dignify that one."
"Pamela and Riley mentioned how some of your choices have been received in the past," Teeny explained apologetically.
"It isn't your fault, Teeny. I'm the leader of the free world, but heaven forbid I show my bare shoulders."
"You aren't the first to be criticized. Think of all the hell Michelle Obama caught for her fashion choices. She looked classy and they still found fault. Wear what makes you feel powerful. The press office can defend the dress." Alice's voice sounded through the phone.
"All right, let's not delay this any longer than necessary. I know you have an early start to your day," Isabella said to her phone.
The first two dresses were beautiful, with their wispy attempts at sleeves, but the feathers on the blue one annoyed Bella, as did the sleeker silhouette, and the green one felt too similar to the one she'd worn the night her whole world had changed.
The third felt a little too sultry for the event, a slinky red sequined dress, with one off the shoulder sleeve. It was gorgeous, to be sure, but it would garner all the wrong attention for the night. The last dress was a deep purple velvet dress. It too, was one shoulder, but it covered more of her decolletage and had an A-line skirt. But that wasn't Bella's favorite feature.
"Wait a minute, it has pockets? Sold!"
The women laughed just as Edward rapped his signature knock on the bedroom door.
"Come in," Bella called.
"Wow," he whispered, his eyes wide as they traveled over her body.
"Like it?"
"Love it. Is this the winner?"
"It is," Athenodora answered. "Let's get that back in the garment bag, then you two can enjoy your evening."
Only a few minutes later, Alice was off their call, Athenodora had left with the dresses Bella hadn't chosen, and Bella was curled up in bed with Edward.
"Any issues with the security?"
"No. We'll have a few more checks to do the day of, but everything is checking out. We've got the field office running backgrounds on everyone on the list. Sean Henry was certainly a spirited young man. Explains how he got the gig as the host of the Late Show."
"Nothing too bad, I hope."
Edward smirked. "No, he was just a typical college student. Some pranks and drunken nights, but nothing to land him on our radar until he agreed to perform at the dinner."
"That's excellent news," Bella remarked.
"You know what else is excellent news?"
"No, what?" Bella asked, intrigued by the glimmer in his eyes.
"Now that Athenodora is gone, Bravo Team knows it is just us in here, so they're only patrolling the main part of The Residence."
"You act like that isn't commonplace when you're here."
"True, but I don't intend on slinking off into the dark tonight."
Bella's face lit up. "You're staying?"
"I am. We've been together again for almost a year. I'm ready to wake up beside you."
"Nine months until Inauguration Day. We have a lot to plan for."
"We do. Being the first female president elected into office is a big deal."
"Your confidence in me is humbling," Bella murmured.
"The fact that you love me is humbling to me. And I'm going to show you exactly what that means to me."
Edward tugged on Bella's ankle, knocking her out of her seated position on the bed. His body was quick to cover hers as his hands and lips trailed over her body. The anticipation of having all night was heady. It meant they could take their time with one another.
Clothes were shed and skin slid against skin as Edward teased and pleased his lover, his love. When Bella couldn't take the torture anymore, Edward gave in to her need and sank deep into her. Bella's keening cry was only the first of many sounds that faintly made their way to the outer rooms.
Garrett turned his back to the doorway that betrayed the pleasure being experienced within. He longed for the day he could be that free with his Alice, but she was too focused on her treatment, so he was happy to support her and get to know the extraordinary woman he'd admired from afar.
In the President's Bedroom, the slow beginning built to a frenzied pace, both Bella and Edward chasing each other's release as their pleasure grew. Edward lifted Bella's knee just a bit higher against his hip; the subtle change was enough to send her toppling over the edge. Her climax triggered his own as they fell together into the bliss they'd only known with one another.
Minutes passed as they calmed their raging hearts and cooled their overheated bodies. Edward was the first to move, offering Bella his hand so they could clean up and get ready for bed.
With the blankets pulled over them and his arm wrapped around Bella's waist, Edward whispered into her neck, "One day soon, I'm going to ask you to marry me."
Bella's breath hitched before she answered, "And on that day, I'll say yes."
The final days leading up to the Correspondents' Dinner passed as usual. Edward and the field office were coordinating on last-minute details, but in the end, things were running smoothly.
The first portion of the evening went on as scheduled, with the awards and honors being given out as the world press watched. The In Memoriam reel played, then with glasses raised to the First Amendment and the President of the United States, the White House Correspondents' Association President welcomed Isabella to the podium.
Bella was gracious and charming in her speech. It managed to be a mix of heartfelt words and playful barbs as she opened the roasting for the evening. It was clear in the room why she was so popular; even the conservative news networks enjoyed her speech as their anchors laughed and clapped along. She didn't pull punches, but kept away from mean-spirited attacks before she opened the floor to the evening's comedian. Bella sat, listening to the quick wit of Sean Henry as he roasted the press and politicians in the room.
The movement was subtle, but it caught her attention as she looked out at the sea of people in the crowd.
Additional agents were filing in, taking up too much wall space to make her comfortable. It was at that moment that she heard Mr. Henry stutter mid-joke.
"I apologize, we seem to be having a momentary technical issue. If everyone could remain seated, we should be able to resume shortly."
A soft groan floated throughout the crowd, but Bella tracked her teams as they moved towards her. Garrett was the first to reach her. He knelt at her side, making her even more anxious.
"Edward is checking into the validity of the source, but I need to look under your seat. Stay still and try to appear calm."
Bella nodded.
It only took a moment for a muttered curse to escape his lips. His wrist rose to his mouth as he spoke.
"The tip appears to be legitimate. Clear the room, I'll continue with the stage."
"Garrett?" she asked.
He leaned into her ear to whisper. "There is what appears to be a bomb under your chair. We need you to stay as still as possible."
With swift movements, table by table out in the crowd was checked and attendees escorted out.
Two agents carefully lifted the covering on the head table to verify there wasn't anything below, before they moved down both sides of the podium to clear the tables of their occupants.
Emmett, who was cleared first, moved to Isabella's side. His face showed the concern he felt about being led away. "I shouldn't be leaving you here."
"Emmett, if the worst happens, you need to be able to take my place. We spoke about it when you took the job." Bella's voice was a little too even as she spoke about a promise he'd made just a year earlier.
"I didn't think the time would actually come."
"Mr. Vice President," Royce said sternly.
"Go home to Henry, I'll see you in the morning." Isabella nodded woodenly, trying to hide her growing worry.
With a tormented look in his eyes, Emmett gave a curt nod in return and left with his agents.
As the room emptied, cameras abandoned where they'd been recording the event live, terror began to claw up Bella's spine.
"Ma'am, I'm here," Edward said.
She felt his hand on her knee and opened her eyes to see they'd removed the table from in front of her. How had she missed the noise of that?
"How bad is it?" She asked.
"Not great. But the bomber warned the media, so the bomb squad is on the way. They should be here in less than five minutes," he reassured as best he could.
"Good," she whispered, trembling.
"Bella, I need you to try and stay as still as possible," he pleaded.
"Telling me that doesn't make it any easier. I'm scared, Edward," she admitted.
"I know. But I've got you," Edward promised.
"What I really need is a distraction."
Edward met her eyes and gripped both of her hands where they sat in her lap. "Too many eyes."
"We've never hidden what we are to each other," she told him. Her hands squeezed his, drawing his attention back to her.
"In the White House and in private. We've never flaunted it in public."
"Edward," she sobbed. "If these are my last moments, I don't want to spend them playing it safe. I want to meet my maker with your taste on my lips."
His hand cupped her cheek and he rose on his knees to meet her lips. Their kiss was desperate, but not obscene. They were both aware of the severity of the moment.
Edward pulled away at the sound of heavy booted steps. He raised her right hand to his lips and kissed it reverently as the lead member of the bomb squad approached.
"Agent, Madam President, we'd like to assess the device."
"Go ahead," Edward answered. He helped hold the heavy velvet material of her dress out of the officer's way so he could focus on the task at hand.
It took a few moments of examination and some whispered conversation among the team before they approached.
"The device is simple, but powerful. We can't tell for sure what may be inside the chair itself, but there is what looks to be a pressure sensor that activated the explosive when the President sat the second time."
"Can you disarm it?" Edward asked.
"It'll take a little time. They didn't install anything to override it, so we should be okay. We just need you to clear the stage, Agent Masen."
"It is Special Agent Masen, and I'm not leaving my protectee at a time like this. I'll move out of your way if needed, but I'm not going anywhere."
The bomb technician agreed and Edward stayed in front of Bella, running his thumb over her hands, which sat clasped on the bunched up fabric of her gown while the bomb squad tried to get a look at what was inside the chair using a tiny camera.
After about fifteen minutes, they removed the camera. "This wasn't something hastily attached to the chair, it was built into the cushion and carefully positioned. But we're confident that we can cut the wires and disarm it."
"Do you need anything from me?" Bella asked.
"No, Ma'am. If you can just remain seated as you have been, we'll have you out of here soon."
"Then get to work," Edward barked.
For a few tense minutes, it felt like the air had been sucked from the room, but with a final snip, the tech sat up.
"Clear," he said to the pair beside him before yelling it to the room.
"Ma'am, let's get you out of here so the FBI can take the chair to examine it."
"I don't know if I can stand," Bella admitted.
Before anything else could be said, Edward swept her into his arms. The rest of Alpha Team surrounded them and made their way to the underground dock where the motorcade waited. As soon as Bella was inside the vehicle, it pulled out, the last two cars following once the agents were inside.
The trip back to the White House was intense, Bella's tremors shaking both her and Edward as he held her close, squeezing her every time. The car jostled them while Sam drove quickly through the streets and through the secure gates at the White House.
When they came to a stop at the North Portico, the teams poured out, getting Phoenix safely inside.
For the moment, she was safe. But the morning would present a whole new set of complications.