Grace Hoffer is here
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Rachel's POV
I stuff the croissant into my mouth and drink mouthful of water just to gulped that massive gluten food into my stomach. I have no time to waste, Dolores will whip our ass like some mentally unsound witches if we are late. Her obsession with punctuality is unnerving.
Once I brush my teeth, put on my lipstick, I pull my luggage and head straight out of my room and we bid our hotel "Sayonara".
The dawn greets the city with dullness, shops were still close since it still early. Traffic were smooth, leaving the window view with nothing than just greenery of the trees.
Dolores stood up, holding to her notebook that has the label "Air Force One", that book usually contains our staffing and work delegations. She starts announcing the names of other cabin crews and their job, I'll just be waiting until mine while I gaze upon the window and drifting some of my thoughts to Derek.
'Rachel Woods, the Presidential Suite.' Dolores announced.
My thoughts drifted back as I heard my name. 'The Presidential Suite, again?' I asked, I don't know if I can handle this, facing Derek the whole time with questions marks I'm bursting to shoot at him, while I don't really have that position to demand him about anything.
'We'll go according to the previous schedule since it was a last minute decision.' She finished her sentence and closes the book, which means discussion is closed.
'You're damned lucky, Rachel.' Corbin peered at me and put his headphones back, close his eyes, taking a few more minutes of nap before our job start.
I should be looking forward meeting Derek Hoffer, if only he called me last night. I mean, I am very certain he has my number, what's holding him back?
Grace.
Maybe his wife called him after watching the news, their feelings rekindled.
I'm so dumb, I should have thought of that. My face were purge with the blood that shoots up my face, I can feel the heat that is frying on my cheeks.
Five Hours Later
'Don't forget the coffee.' Dolores reminded me as she walked pass. Of course I remember Derek Hoffer's habit of drinking coffee with digestive biscuit. The plane has took off for almost an hour, but I've pretend to be busy in the kitchen, I tried every possible chance that I can to avoid him.
However, I can't run away from coffee duty. Placing the hot beverage neatly on the tray, I lay another plate of digestive biscuit on the side with serviette. It's all ready, I'm going to his office.
I walked out from the kitchen, Alan and Joe saw me, I put a light smile at them, while they return with a nod. Tores is serving coffee to Astor.
'Is the President inside the office?' I asked them.
Joe looks around discreetly before he pace towards me. 'He's in the suite.' Joe cleared his throat, avoiding my face. This is awkward.
'Right.' I mumbled and excuse myself.
I took a deep breath, lifted my hand and knock on his door. I look around me, hoping nobody besides the two bodyguards saw me.
The door gave a click sound, my heart stop beating for a moment.
Derek opens the door, he wasn't shirtless this time. Today, he wore light blue shirt with his sleeves folded, unbuttoned on the top. He said nothing but his greeting smile melts my heart. I've miss him for a while. He stood aside, leaving space for me to pass through.
I step inside his room, my hand was trembling, unsure of what's going to happen next. The door closes. I put the tray on the table beside his bed. The next second, I felt his hands on my waist, molding the curves.
I can't breath.
'I've been looking for you.' He whisper straight to my ear and I squirm. His tone is alluring and inviting.
I stay frozen, feeling only the warmth from his hands. My heart races.
'Where have you been?' He whisper again, kissing my cheek. My legs becomes weak, I don't think I'll be able to stand for long.
Avoiding you.
His mouth work its way down to my neck. Oh God. I close my eyes, this is all too sudden for me, I wasn't prepared. I felt his tongue brushing my skin. I'm dying.
'Derek...' I breath.
'What?' He whispered, mouth never leave my neck.
'I'm still on duty.' It require immense amount of strength to say those words out, because all I could think of is Derek's body.
'Torturing, isn't it?' He stops kissing me. He turn my body around to face him, his hands still wraps on my waist.
And if...I wasn't wrong, I felt something hard on his pants. My head is dizzy from the massive sex hormones that Derek ignites.
'I tried to call you last night, did you have a habit of switching off your phone every time before you sleep?' He cups my cheek and sent another kiss to my lips. The same lips that I miss so much.
'You called?' My eyes widened.
'I finished meeting the Prime Minister at ten last night, because of the incident, we had to cramp everything we need to discuss on the agenda within five hours. And I thought, I could give you a call after that.' He pulled me over and we sat on the sofa.
'Oh.' I muttered and look at him. I don't know how I should begin.
'Why?' He asked.
'I thought...' I paused and gave a shrug.
'You thought what, Rachel? Tell me.'
'I thought you were fooling with me or maybe you decide to go back to your wife. I don't know.' I give another shrug again.
He pulled me closer to him, wrapping his arms around me. 'Still have that thoughts that politician are the greatest liars thing, didn't you?'
'Like you said, the scariest part of love is that you'll never know when they'll take off their mask, and I'm beginning to feel afraid.'
Derek looks at his wedding band, deep in his thoughts.
Time is ticking, and if I remained in his suite for long, rumors will arise. 'I, uhm, I better leave, Dolores might be looking for me.' I stood up, pulling my uniform to make sure it's neat before I leave.
'You mentioned about watching the star and sharing cheesecake.' He said out of the blue.
He remembers.
'Uh-huh.' I turn back to look at him. He get off from the sofa and walk towards me. 'Would you like to visit the White House? I have a marvelous view from my balcony and we can have cheesecake, New York, Oreo or whichever you prefer.'
I caught myself in his ocean eyes, it's so hard for me to reject him. I never thought he would proposed that idea.
'Just say yes, Tores.' He fingers entwining mine.
'You'll have to call me again to confirm it.'
He plant another kiss onto my lips. 'I'll manhandle you myself if I have to.' He jokes.
'I really have to go.' I told him. I cleared my throat again, took a deep breath and I opened the door.
Bizarre. Gavinski was standing at the door. He didn't smile at all. 'Mr. Gavinski.' I greeted and excuse myself out from the room. I can imagine what conversation Derek and Gavinski would have the moment I'm out of sight.
For the rest of the five hours before my shift stops, I delivers lunch to the conference room, where Derek and the other congressman were having meeting. I avoided any eye contacts with Derek. However, I can't avoid his mischievous nature, when I place the plates in front of him, his hands made a deliberate brush over mine.
'Sorry,' he said. His level of joker face is incomparable.
When it was time to serve coffee to his office, I purposely place a large scoop of peanut butter on a small plate to serve along with his drink. I noticed Derek stifle his laugh when he saw the huge chunk of death weapons I presented to him. Gavinski was sitting at the sofa reading his folder. There is absolutely nothing he can do to stops us right now.
Seven hours later
Air Force One has landed on the American soil. The cabin crews were expected to bid goodbye to the President. We waited for Derek outside his suite. When he came out, he was smartly dress in his black suit, red tie and his usual blue shirt.
'I would like to say thank you to everyone on board, this trip has been marvelous with the service we received from all of you...'
I stood the furthest away from him so I can spend a little while longer when he exits through the executive entrance.
'We hope to see you again, Mr. President.' I shake his hand, like what everybody else does. I tried to control my smile, hopefully nobody would be suspicious about our body language.
'Thank you for the coffee, Miss Woods.' His finger does a rotating move on my palm.
'It's my pleasure, Sir.' I smirk and step back, the door has been opened. I tried to prevent myself from the cameras if possible, you can't imagine how many reported has been waiting outside the plane.
I watched Derek's back, how firm he stand, spreading and aura of confidence to meet the press. He lifted his right arms to wave to the public and he walks down the airstair.
Our job doesn't stops when the President left the plane, there is a couple of cleaning up to do. I walk towards Derek's suite to see if there is any cups or plates that I need to clear. I close the door, and watch him from the window.
Grace Hoffer is here.
Deriving from the name that is given to her, she is graceful. She wore a purple dress, vibrancy flows in her. Grace Hoffer's is every woman's dream, she is the First Lady.
She walks forward with elegant footsteps to meet her husband.
Suddenly, Meghan Trainor's song, Like I'm Gonna Lose You came up on my mind. I witness Derek kissing Grace on her lips.
They look so fucking natural.
I can't help but felt a slight crack in my heart. Politics is a dark game. Why did I chose Derek Hoffer to break my heart to? It wasn't a choice to begin with. It was attraction in the beginning, but it turns out to be more than that when things inside the bunker spice up my attraction to him until it's no longer an attraction anymore.
I think I'm falling for him.