So incredibly grateful to everyone who voted for me in the TFFA during the first round. For the first time (that I know of) I've made it to the second round in three categories. Favorite Scream Fic and Favorite Undiscovered Gem for WTFF, and Favorite Ficlette for Frayed! Voting begins tomorrow and closes on the 12th. More information can be found on their website or in my FB group. I'm in great company, so it is an honor.
Enjoy and I'll catch you in 2 weeks!
Chapter 10
"Garrett, I think Bella needs more details than that for her to remain calm, so start talking," Athenodora ordered.
"Shit, sorry. There was a car accident. It was only a fender bender, and he was treated and released. Fitzwilliam has been in touch with the field office and Edward's not to return to work until we arrive, which will give him some time to rest."
Bella shook her head. "Can you contact him? I'd like to speak with him."
"As long as his agency-issued phone wasn't damaged, yes."
"Good."
"Bella, can I speak with you alone for a moment before you talk to Edward?" Garrett asked.
Bella turned to Athenodora. "Would you mind?"
"Not at all. I believe we're all done for the day, so if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way."
"If you could wait around a few moments, I may need your help with one other thing, but it will be determined by the next two conversations."
"Of course. I'll be in the Yellow Oval Room when you're ready." Athenodora picked up her belongings and walked out, closing the door behind her.
"When you talk to him, don't lash out. I know what he did hurt you, but it hurt him too. He's been burning the candle at both ends trying to figure out how to best neutralize potential threats and find the loophole you asked for. So far, he found one, but he knows your feelings on it so he wouldn't bring it up."
"What was that?"
"If you were engaged, he could be on a team, but not be in charge of it. But once you were married, he would need to step down from the detail and would be provided with one of his own. Edward said that after what happened with Jacob, you shouldn't be asked to endure an indefinite engagement again. You'd talked about it and had decided that if you were to get engaged, you would want a set wedding date, and he couldn't promise you that."
"He's right. I would have reacted badly to that, but I may have an option he can live with. Which is why I want to speak with him."
"I'll make the call."
Bella stood and watched as Garrett dialed Edward and paced around her bedroom.
"Edward, man, how are you?" There was a momentary pause then he continued. "No, she's fine, Edward. In fact, she's right here. She wants to talk to you. Okay."
Garrett held out the phone and she eagerly took it.
"Edward?"
"Hi," he said. She could hear the exhaustion in his voice.
"Are you really okay?"
"A few bumps and bruises. I'm just mad I wasn't paying enough attention. I could have swerved out of her way."
"It's because you're so tired. I can see it on your face when you're on duty. Is it your insomnia?"
"It isn't as bad as it was last time. But I can't turn my mind off, so the sleep I do get isn't restful. I always feel like I'm on high alert."
"You can't keep going like this. Next time it could be a lot worse." Her voice broke at the end and she let out a stuttering breath.
"Don't cry, Bella. We'll figure this out."
"Do you trust me?" she asked.
"Of course I do. Why, what do you have in mind?"
"A way for us to have it all. But I need to know something before I go in. Garrett told me what you discovered. Would you be willing to not be the team leader for Alpha, but still be on the team for us to be together?"
"Yes, but I'm not sure Fitzwilliam will budge."
"He's never sat across the table from me. It's time I take a little control back in my life."
"You're right. Fitzwilliam won't know what hit him." Edward yawned and she immediately felt bad for keeping him up when he needed to rest.
"Get some sleep, I'll see you in a few days."
"Call me after you've spoken to him so I know how it has gone."
"I will. I love you."
"I love you too. Stay safe, and listen to Garrett and Samuel."
"Night."
The phone disconnected and she handed it back to Garrett. "Thank you, Bella. He needed the reassurance, though the stubborn fucker would never admit it."
"No, he wouldn't."
Garrett started walking towards the door so Bella called out to stop him.
"Yes, Bella?"
"If Edward is on duty when we get to Chicago, that means Royce will be taking his place on Emmett's team, correct?"
"Yes, why?"
"He makes me uncomfortable."
Garrett stepped forward. "Has he done anything?"
"No. He just stands a little too close, and when he's in the room I can feel his eyes on me."
"I'll call Samuel and have him release Royce to Vice President McCarty's detail. You don't have any engagements outside the White House before the trip, we can manage."
"Are you sure?" Bella asked.
"Bella, never doubt your instincts. And if you don't feel comfortable talking about it with Edward, then as a team leader, I'm who you come to."
"Thank you, Gar."
"I'll send Athenodora in on my way out."
It was a few minutes before Athenodora walked in. "What did you need me to handle for you?"
"Call Director Fitzwilliam and tell him I need an in person meeting before the fundraiser. I want it as soon as he can manage. If it needs to be outside scheduling, fine. Just make it happen."
"Yes, Ma'am."
Bella settled in to read on her encrypted e-reader, a gift from Alice. It wasn't tied to her so she could read whatever she wanted. The fact that a romance novel would be frowned on was asinine, but it was one of the drawbacks to the office.
The following morning, Athenodora woke Bella up before her alarm was set to go off.
"What is it?"
"Fitzwilliam will be here thirty minutes before scheduling. I wanted to give you enough time to get ready."
"Thank you."
Isabella took her time to look put together, ate her breakfast, and was on the move with her agents.
She noted that Royce was not on duty, which made her incredibly happy. When they arrived at the Oval Office, Director Fitzwilliam was seated outside.
"Madam President, good morning, " he said in greeting.
She turned to her agents. "You all can remain out here until I've finished with this meeting."
Samuel opened the door and did a check before holding the door open for her.
Instead of taking a seat on one of the sofas, Isabella went directly to her desk. She wanted the full weight of her office behind her as the director sat in the inferior chair.
"I know that prior to my swearing in, a conversation occurred between you and Agent Masen regarding him making a choice between a relationship that had already been fully disclosed and his job. In doing so, you made him choose between that relationship and my safety without my consultation."
"The optics of an agent in a relationship with a protectee is always a concern," Fitzwilliam stated.
"So is that of a second dead president within a matter of months. You believe Agent Masen to be one of your best; it was why he was given the assignment of vetting the other agents when a compromise was suspected. It was why he was en route to Italy when the news broke.
"In all the time we've been together, he has never shirked his responsibilities. Now that my safety is his job, he takes it even more seriously. He's been burning the candle at both ends because he wants to prove himself worthy of your faith in him and in hope that a threat can be eliminated so we can be together again."
"I'm well aware of how talented an agent he is. I have a feeling you're about to tell me how things will be moving forward."
"We won't be made to feel ashamed of our relationship. Obviously, it will be handled with the same level of discretion as when I was the Vice President, but the ultimatum will be rescinded. If he can't head up the team, Agent Masen is willing to step down and allow Samuel take the lead if necessary, but I think we both know he's able to put the job first."
"Yes. I've been grooming him for a higher level position once he's completed his time on a detail. Agent Masen has always been one of the best I have. I will speak with him when I return to the office."
"Good. I'm glad we could come to an understanding."
Fitzwilliam shook his head with a chuckle. "If this is how you handle all of your opponents, you'll have little trouble getting your agenda passed. Good morning, Ma'am."
"Director Fitzwilliam, have a good day."
Isabella began her day as scheduled, working through meetings with various cabinet members, when her intercom buzzed.
"Ma'am, there's a call from Agent Masen."
"Put him through."
The phone rang and Bella quickly snatched it up. "Agent Masen."
"Madam President. I wanted to let you know all the preparations are complete and we're ready for your arrival," Edward told her.
"That's excellent news. Did you get any updates from Director Fitzwilliam since we last spoke?"
He chuckled and she could almost see his expression in her mind.
"I did. But we can discuss that more in person. For now, I'll let you go."
"See you tomorrow."
"Travel safe, Ma'am."
Bella hung up and sighed. Tomorrow morning could not come soon enough.