by Vivian Wood
“Hi,” he whispered, smiling when she opened the door, making her grin in return.
“Hi,” she greeted back with an idea popping in her head. “Wait there,” she spoke, shutting the door.
Meredith quickly grabbed her purse, phone and sunglasses before exiting her room. Eli was standing by the elevator when she searched the hallway. It would be questionable if others saw him standing outside her room, wouldn't it?
She walked toward him while putting on her sunglasses, feeling excited more than ever. She had decided to spend the entire afternoon with him – have fun and create memories – something normal couples would do.
Pressing the button for the elevator, Elijah looked at her, clearly confused. She just nodded at him, indicating that he had to take the elevator with her.
“What are you planning?” he asked the moment the doors closed.
“Nothing,” she responded with a shrug, trying to play it cool.
She was sure Elijah would never agree to her plan if she told him. She would make sure he wouldn’t get a chance to turn her down. He was going with her whether he liked it or not.
When the elevator stopped at the ground floor, Meredith walked toward the exit. And Elijah followed her quietly, nodding and smiling at people who acknowledged him.She called for a taxi while searching online for the nearest arcade. She would take Elijah out to release some stress and have some fun. Not like sex wasn't good for both those things. It's just that she wanted some quality time with him without having sex for a change.
She felt her pussy clench when she thought about the other day, how he'd made her cum with just his fingers. It was the wildest and naughtiest thing she'd done so far, getting fucked inside a moving car. She never thought she'd be daring enough to do such a thing.
But she had – and with Elijah Scott.
With the man who rendered her defenseless each time he touched her.
When Elijah got in the cab, she told the driver the address for the arcade. She was excited as her eyes wandered over the busy streets.
“Where are we going?” he asked, breaking the silence.
“An arcade,” she answered.
“For what?” he questioned, his forehead creased.
“To have a little fun.”
“Am I not enough?” he said playfully, giving her left leg a squeeze.
“I meant outdoors,” she said, rolling her eyes. She was hoping he wouldn't fight her on this when he left out a soft chuckle.
“Alright,” he agreed, much to her surprise. “My time is yours.”
“Thank you,” she murmured when she felt his fingers intertwine with hers. His touch was warm and reassuring, making her feel more relaxed as they traveled in silence.
After a good fifteen minutes, they arrived at the crowded arcade. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the go-karts. She went to the booth to buy tickets immediately. That was the first thing she wanted to do together.
She could see Elijah shaking his head, but she didn’t mind. They were there to have some fun.
“No wonder Ellie likes you,” she heard him commenting as they got in their own karts. They raced, and she laughed heartily when Elijah was having a hard time maneuvering his ride. He looked awkward because of his tall frame.
For the first time, she saw him genuinely laughing and enjoying himself. She watched him smile, wishing he would smile more often like that.
“I’m tired,” he shouted, finally giving up the cramped space of his kart.
“Let’s have a match, then,” she urged, looking at the air hockey table.
“Game,” he spoke, accepting the challenge as they got off the go-karts.
After buying tickets, they went straight to their assigned table and started a fierce competition. The game was getting intense, so she thought she’d talk about something to lift the competitive air between them.
She pursed her lips, stealing a glance at him.
“Can I ask you something?” she asked, biting her lower lip.
“Ask away,” he answered with a smile on his lips, not sparing her a glance as he focused on the puck.
Meredith swallowed as she mustered all her courage.
“Do you have plans to get married?” she inquired, looking away when he shot up straight in surprise, missing the puck that was whizzing by.
“What makes you ask?”
“I’m just curious,” she spoke innocently, shrugging.
“What about you?” he shot back instead.
“No. Not yet. But I still have plenty of time to figure that out,” she answered.
She was only interested in getting married to Elijah, of course.
But she didn't want to scare him away by saying that.
He smirked. “Gotcha,” he muttered.
Finally getting bored of the game, they went to the batting cages. The competitiveness between them just a couple of minutes ago completely vanished as the conversation turned into something deeper and serious.
Meredith lined up behind the plate, waiting for the pitch.
“Is not getting married a dealbreaker for you?” he asked just as she was about to swing.
It had been ages since she'd gone to the batting cages, but she thought she'd try her best to hit at least one or two. When the whizzing ball flew from the machine, she swallowed hard and swung her body, hitting it with her metal bat.
She still had it.
“Long-term?” she asked, glancing up at him. “Yeah, that would be a dealbreaker.”
“What about short-term?” he probed.
She shrugged, waiting for another ball.
“I don’t know. Maybe if I knew there was a ring waiting for me in the future,” she answered, chuckling softly at the hilarity of her statement.
“Would you… would you consider keeping a relationship low-key if you knew that it would be rewarding eventually?” he asked hesitantly, making her stand up straight.
Meredith's turned to look at him, completely missing the ball.
“Is that your way of asking if I'm willing to be your secret girlfriend, Elijah?”
He fell silent for a moment and averted his gaze.
“Maybe.”
Feeling insulted, she let go of the bat and pulled the helmet off her head. She had never dreamed of getting involved into a secret love affair. She had always been patient when it came to relationships, and she knew what she deserved.
She knew her worth. And being Elijah’s little secret was not something she would gladly accept. She deserved better than that.
She looked at him with a blank expression on her face. But deep inside she could feel an invisible hand squeezing her heart. She was hurt. And the pain was just too extreme for her to even cry.
She felt like she was going to vomit any moment now because of the burning sensation in her chest. It was getting harder to breathe with each second that passed, and she wasn't leaving without giving him a piece of her mind. How dare he ask her to be his dirty little secret?
But just when she was about to open her mouth and tell him off, a group of people recognized Elijah excitedly and he was pulled away to talk about the campaign, leaving her behind with a heavy heart.
Swallowing her tears, Meredith slipped out of the arcade. She was in so much pain, and she just wanted to be alone.
Expecting something good from him had been her biggest mistake. Thinking he'd be willing to go public with their relationship was nothing more than a stupid fantasy. She was an idiot for thinking her love life was some kind of fairy tale come true.
Trusting Elijah Scott with her heart had been her second mistake.
She should have known better.
Of course he'd never give up his political ambitions for her. They barely knew each other, after all.
She never should have gotten herself mixed up with him!
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Elijah's schedule was increasingly hectic. Instead of spending time on the road campaigning over the past week, he'd remained w
ithin D.C. and the surrounding area, attending a series of donor meetings and fundraisers. He'd barely spent any time at home. It had been over a week since going to the arcade with Meredith, and he was dying to be alone with her. But she hadn't made any effort to see him.
He knew why she was mad, and why she kept blowing him off. And he knew what he'd asked her, however indirectly, was wrong. But he didn't know what else to do. He didn't want to lose her, but he was so close to winning the election. Going public with a relationship now would kill his approval ratings.
What was even more irritating was that with Meredith making herself scarce, Sosie was back to acting like a clingy, jealous girlfriend. He was relieved when he was able to ditch her at the gala he was attending.
He looked around for Henry, and found him chatting with Meredith by the veranda. She looked stunning in a white gown that hugged her curves perfectly. Her hair was styled into a loose bun, with a few strands loose on either side of her face. He felt a pang of longing as he watched her laughing gleefully while talking with his best friend.
Walking toward them, Elijah worked hard to get his face straight. He missed her so much he thought he was going to slowly go insane. He stopped when he was just a few feet away from them.
“Eli!” Henry spoke, noticing his presence. “I was just telling her how you puked the first time you got drunk,” he said with a laugh.
It had been one of the most embarrassing moments of his life. No wonder Meredith had been laughing her heart out before he'd walked over. He wanted to tell her she looked gorgeous and pull her in for a kiss, but he knew that was impossible.
Still, he thought she looked like a fucking angel in her white dress.
Henry suggested they find an empty table, and Eli hoped that Meredith would sit next to him. Instead she sat next to Henry, laughing hysterically at his jokes. Eli didn't catch any of them, because he'd been too busy staring at her.
She was the total package. Gorgeous, smart, hardworking... she deserved so much more than what he could give her.
All too soon, Meredith stood up, saying she had to leave, mentioning something about a get-together at her parents' house. She politely said her goodbyes and left.
Eli was barely able to wish her goodbye, sitting there stiffly as he watched her leave.
“Want to go for a walk?” Henry asked, looking at him like he was truly pitiful.
Nodding his head, Elijah rose from his seat and followed Henry, seeing them out of the crowded ballroom. They went down the illuminated pathway that led to the greenhouse and manmade river.
The place was gorgeous, but he couldn’t enjoy the beautiful view because he was bothered by a lot of things. Plus, he didn’t have the slightest idea what to do with Meredith. He didn’t want everything between them to end just like that. But he didn’t have a choice, did he?
“What’s wrong with you?” Henry asked, and he raised his head in surprise at the hint of irritation in his friend’s tone.
“What?” he asked, confused.
“You finally found yourself an amazing girl, but you're all moody. Are things that bad with the campaign?” Henry asked, kicking at a tiny rock.
Elijah took a closer look at Henry’s face. The man was serious.
“No, the campaign is going great, actually,” he answered.
“So what’s wrong?”
He stayed quiet for a moment, staring blankly at the dark night sky filled with stars. Henry was right. Meredith was amazing. And she deserved better and more than what he could offer.
“I care about her, a lot… but I wish I could give her more,” he spoke in between sighs. “There’s no way she’s going to stay with me as things are.”
He didn’t understand why, but tears started to form in his eyes. The mere thought of Meredith leaving him was tearing him apart. He wouldn't be able to bear it if he saw her with someone else.
“How things are?” Henry repeated, still puzzled.
“I’m a presidential candidate, Henry. Goddamn it! I can’t exactly bring my twenty-something girlfriend out onto the stage for a kiss and expect people to applaud,” he spoke while gritting his teeth as his hands clenched into fists. “My political enemies will rip her to shreds. And that’s only the beginning.”
“I see.” Henry patted him on the shoulders while nodding his head, finally understanding what was wrong.
“I just… I know she’s going to leave. And besides, I’ve got other things to worry about. Christ! I’ve got the fucking campaign to win.”
“So… that’s it, then?” Henry asked.
Eli wiped at a tear rolling down his left cheek.
This was the first and only time in his entire life he'd ever been scared over losing a woman. Worse, he knew he'd fucked up, and he'd never have the chance to tell her how he really felt about her. He never thought he could be in so much pain over someone he'd only known for a few months. How was this even possible?
You found love, said a voice in his head.
And this time, he didn’t have a reason to disagree. What else could it be?
Yes, he loved Meredith Fields.
He was madly and infuriatingly in love with her.
“Yeah, Henry… I guess that’s it,” he murmured in agreement. The realization gutted him.
“How ‘bout a glass of whisky?” Henry suggested.
After a moment of silence, Eli nodded his head and Henry led the way back to the large ballroom. He hoped the alcohol would help lessen the pain he was feeling. He silently wished it would help his heart grow numb.
Chapter Thirty
Eli and his campaign team arrived in Boston a few days after the gala in D.C. After the conversation he'd had with Henry regarding his relationship with Meredith, he was having a hard time getting to sleep – just like the other night. And he was getting more and more irritable with the slightest things – especially Sosie.
Sitting at the foot of his bed, he dialed her number as he planned to cancel all his plans for the day. He wanted some time alone for himself, to clear his mind.
“Reschedule all of my plans for today,” he said the moment Sosie picked up.
“What– You can’t,” she answered begrudgingly. He could imagine the sour look on her face. “You can’t cancel your plans for today. You're meeting–“
“If you can’t, then I’ll have to find someone who will,” he said cutting her off, not bothering to hide his annoyance. He didn’t have the patience to put up with Sosie’s nagging anymore. He was just too tired of having silly arguments with her.
She gasped over the line, making him feel a pang of regret for talking to her that way. More than anyone else, he knew that Sosie was doing her job perfectly. And if it weren't for her efforts, he wouldn't be leading the polls, and the campaign wouldn't be as good as it was.
“Fine,” she responded curtly, cutting the call short.
Elijah was more than happy to finally get some time to himself. When he checked his phone, he decided to attend the Navy SEAL’s funeral at the last moment, locking himself in the bathroom to get a quick shower.
He had donned a black suit and sneaked out of his hotel room. As he marched through the corridors, he hesitated when he passed by Meredith’s room. He found himself knocking on her door, thinking about something to say.
When he was finally able to make up his mind, she opened the door, a crack, surprised to see him. She opened the door a little wider and he found her looking beautiful as usual, dressed formally in a white blouse and black pants.
“Today’s events are canceled,” he informed her, looking deep into her ocean blue eyes.
“Yes, I just got Sosie's announcement. You shouldn't have bothered coming all the way here,” she said coolly.
“I want you to come with me somewhere.”
She bit her bottom lip, looking hesitant while looking down at her outfit. He suspected she felt self-conscious about what she was wearing.
“You’re perfect,” he whispered, tucking a few loose st
rands of hair behind her ear. “You’re always perfect.”
Meredith flushed but smiled at his statement, nodding her head.
“Okay, let’s go.”
Intertwining his fingers with hers, he led the way out of the hotel. His grip was firm, and he didn’t have any intention of letting go of her hand. When she struggled to pull away from his grip as people around them watched, he only held her tighter.
Meredith shot him a confused look. Her face was beet red by the time they got in a cab. Clearly she was embarrassed with the attention they got from the people in the hotel. But he wasn't the least bit bothered by it.He just wanted to spend some time with her.
Elijah expected her to question him the moment the cab pulled away from the hotel. But she remained silent. She was just staring out the windows as they traveled to their destination. She stopped trying to pull away, and let him hold her hand.
He was glad she didn't want to talk. He didn't have any answers for her, none she would like at least. All he knew was that he wanted to be with her.
When they arrived at a cemetery, she shot him a puzzled look.
“What are we doing here?” she asked.
“We’re attending a funeral.”
She paused, still confused.
“Whose funeral?”
“A friend. He died while serving the country,” he murmured softly.
Meredith fell silent again, regretful for asking questions. He squeezed her hand softly, reassuring her everything was fine. He was fine – because she was with him.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“You don’t have to be,” he said, then sighed.
He looked at the crowd of mourners. He felt incredibly guilty, watching the sobbing family members of the SEAL who had died in the strike. The outcome of which he'd altered for selfish reasons. Smiling bitterly, he uttered a silent apology.
And as much as he wanted to regret what he'd done, he didn't. That could have been his brother they were burying instead, his mother sobbing at the graveside.
It was an impossible decision to make.