Alisha smiled when she awoke that morning, the sun was leaking through a curtain without attacking her eye-sight and her entire body felt invigorated. She wondered why she hadn't woken up with her usual morning laziness and was instead filled with energy and joy. Her thoughts began listing all the things she wanted to do that morning and wanted her to have a brilliantly productive day. She felt some sound next to her and observed his sleeping face. He had just shifted his arm around her even tighter and was sleeping soundly, she could hear his breaths, calm and consistent, and found herself cuddling into him.
"Hey." She whispered as she pecked his forehead lightly. He remained asleep so she decided to leave him in his state. She slowly wriggled out of his hands and replaced her body with the pillow she had been using. The kitchen of her mansion was empty as her staff wouldn't come to this house unless she asked them to save for a cleaning service that came once a month. However, her pantry had been stocked as well as her fridge because she had asked someone to fill them up in the night time, enough for three meals between two people. She started cleaning some vegetables and began cooking. She hadn't known how to cook until she was sixteen when she started taking classes, she no longer attended any classes but liked to cook. Her humming was the only sound in the mansion however she didn't feel the usual loneliness that tormented her thoughts.
"Something smells wonderful!" His voice echoed into her left ear as she tossed some vegetables in a wok. "Is all of this just for me?" He asked as he scooped up a carrot and began munching on it.
"Nope, it's just for me! Make your own food!" She winked at him and continued cooking. Suddenly she felt his breath on her neck and found his chin placed between her neck and shoulder. His arms cuddled her waist as he peered at the vegetables she tossed around. "I could make an exception." He heard her mumble as his grip around her tightened.
"What would I need to do for you to make me an exception?" Goosebumps flared down her arms as heat filled her ears and cheeks. A blush found its way to her ears and cheeks as his arms traveled lower down her body. She felt a nibble on her ear move to her neck and found herself lost in his arms.
"What you're doing now is good." She commented. She had to pull herself out of the trance he'd put her in and pulled away from his chest whilst complaining "not so close to the gas!" He whimpered and heard her giggle, her giggle led to him cuddling against her again. He began to sing and swayed with her, she wondered how his voice could sound so beautiful. The song he sang was quite old, but they both loved old songs, and she found herself singing along and swaying to the beat of the song with him. She whooped as he picked her up from her waist and spun her around before resting her in front of the gas again. She turned it off and ordered "take me to the table!" He picked her up, like a child, from the waist and took her to the table as she giggled.
"So, can I eat?" He asked as she pulled her into the chair. "Please?" She lovingly smacked his face away and nodded as she pulled the chair next to hers and pet its set. She found herself yearning more time with him, however she knew better than to do so. Even if she felt the way she felt she didn't know where he stood. Does he feel this contentment? She asked herself but she couldn't ask him. Her fear of love scarred her and wouldn't stop scarring her. "This tastes amazing!" He exclaimed as he munched the food she had made. "How long have you been cooking for?" She smiled and wiped some sauce from his cheek so naturally it felt like she had done it a hundred times prior. Her lack of noticing the gesture surprised him and made him blush profusely.
"I started learning a while ago simply because I needed something to do but I found that feeding people made me happy and so I never stopped making food. I guess it's true that making others happy can make you happy, but it's weird that I only feel such happiness when I feed the people I love." She grinned at him before grabbing a spoon and stuffing some salad into his mouth. "Eat up! I don't want any leftovers."
It wasn't particularly special, their time together, not to anyone else at least, but they found that it was the most freeing nights they had had in years. Two workaholics rarely found time to themselves let alone the entirety of twelve hours. "Let's not leave." Chris suddenly announced. "What if we just stayed here, forever? Carefree and happy? You have enough money to keep us going forever." Hearing her tinkling laugh, he moved his face close to hers. "It's a solid plan, isn't it?" He kissed her lips and she found herself considering his words.
"What about becoming President? What about achieving your goals?" She found herself asking as his hands wandered around her body. "Maybe once all that is done?" She asked aloud. She regretted her words only for a second.
"Do you promise?" His eyes bore into her, making heat rise into her ears, she found herself kissing his lips. The innocent question left her heart fluttering. "Do you?"
"Only if you promise too." Hearing her shaking voice he realised she was opening her heart to him even further. This terrified yet incredibly strong woman was possibly his greatest weakness and was definitely his greatest strength. He wondered if he would ever become her greatest strength. He raised his pinky and felt her chuckle against his chest before her tiny finger wrapped around his own. "It's a promise." His heart began glowing.
They left the mansion and found themselves parting ways once again, however the promise gave them both a sense of peace. They would have to meet later for their businesses.
Alisha felt her phone ring and saw Eliza's face turn up. "Hey Liza what's up?" She asked.
"Lisha, come to HQ immediately. We're finally at Code Red, dad's starting his attacks." Alisha felt her grin widen.
"Get Saint to launch Project Falcon and get Alpha Unit One, Three, and Eight to the location Saint finds. Get all other Alpha Units to start an attack at F-base Home." She ordered as she started a conference call and moved to her Bluetooth as she drove to the HQ. Saint picked up the call she had started and joined the conference.
"Saint, the Falcon is flying." Eliza announced and started sending out the various orders I had asked her to.
"Location is Home Base Five, move units to surround the base. Call on all S-class Units to launch Cyber Attacks to all F-Bases and sweep darkness. Beta Units to attack F-Bases seven, twelve and Hydro. Cut off the supplies. Do you think we could call Operation Giuseppe today?" Saint asked as Alisha listened to the clicks of her keyboard.
"Yes. Launch Giuseppe today. Omega Units we are operating Giuseppe today. Failure isn't an option." Alisha turned into her office and walked to the highest floor, the eightieth. "Let's wipe out James Richards' power today." She smirked.
"Welcome back sister! I think dad's gonna be in for a terrible day today." Eliza wasn't hesitant with the actions she was launching. Her father's relationship with her had grown rocky as she began to learn more about his affairs. Dianna had divorced James now and James had lost himself in alcohol. Annabelle's firing and the general verbal abuses that spewed from James' mouth had tipped her completely to Alisha' side. In order to help Chris, too, Alisha needed to control everything. There was only one way to do so, take down her father.
Annabelle stared at the sisters and announced "we need to go shopping tomorrow." She was tired of seeing them wear the same type clothes for so many years. "Or let's go after this is done. Also cancel all other appointments for today, this will take the full day. I made popcorn."
Alisha quickly called Chris because they had an appointment that day. "Hi Chris?"
"Hello Alisha, do you miss me already?"
"Ye- Um, I have to cancel our appointment. We're taking down James Richards today." She announced and heard him spit out his drink and start coughing.
"You- You're what? Really? Can I watch?" He asked, his excitement was unhidden and made her snort.
"Absolutely, we're on the top floor. When you reach the reception say 'Guest by A-One, code 0001'."
"I'll be there in five… am I the first guest you've ever had?"
"...maybe." She answered before cutting the phone.
"Who was that?" Annabelle questioned as she ushered Alisha to sit next to her.
"Chr- Senator Rodrigo."
"You like him." She announced whilst munching on her popcorn and elbowing her cousin in the ribs suggestively.
"I- I don't know?"
"Yes, yes you do. Be a tiger not a puppy. Go get that man."
"Maybe I will… I will." She answered, though there wasn't much resolution in her voice, it was in her eyes. Annabelle grinned and kissed her cheek.
"Eliza, is it all ready?" She asked and Eliza nodded.
"Let's watch."