Mason Kent does not say any more words. The way Alycia talked about her ex-lover... he can tell she still cares a lot about Elliot. As such, he is convinced that it is best for him not to talk too much.
Nevertheless, the confession he makes after 13 long years also triggers the desire he has long suppressed. His desire to make her his was the wish he had long given up on, all because of her relationship with Elliot McCall which only went strong in his eyes. Now, the same old desire is back and when he carefully confessed his feelings earlier, this desire almost swallowed him once again.
But he won't allow it to happen.
Still, it does not mean that he has given up on her. Now that he has made the first move, he wants to give it a try and do everything. That way, he wouldn't be left with regrets even if his feelings were not reciprocated until the very end.
As time passes by in silence, the two quietly finish their dinner and prepare to leave.
"I want to thank you again in person, Mr. Kent," Alycia breaks the silence before offering a paper bag to Mason which has his jacket inside. "For last night and for this jacket too."
Mason Kent takes the paper bag with a little smile. "I think you already thank me enough," he playfully remarks and makes a deliberate pause before he asks, "If I were to ask you to get together for another meal one day... would you accept?"
Alycia Reese is a bit taken aback but she still flashes a small smile and nods. "It's calm and relaxing to eat with you," she points out despite the sudden confession, eliciting a hearty chuckle from the Colonel.
"I will try to believe you mean that," Mason playfully responds, earning another small yet genuine smile from Alycia.
"I mean it," she truthfully says and explains, "You are so calm about everything and it feels relaxing. I think it's been a while since I felt this way while having a meal."
He wonders what would be behind those words. After all, he knows a lot about her but never in detail. He is often curious but never has a way to know about it.
Again quietly, the two walk out of the restaurant and say nothing until they are outdoors.
"Thank you for the meal, Miss Reese." Mason Kent turns to Alycia when he notices the private assistant of Alycia waiting for her next to a car. "I really enjoy it."
"I am glad to hear that," Alycia promptly says and glances at her wristwatch before looking at the Colonel. "Good night, Mr. Kent."
Mason watches as Alycia turns around and settles in the backseat of her car. He does not move or walk away and stares at the car until it is out of his sight. Then slowly, he narrows his eyes and takes a deep breath, recalling his confession.
"It's better than having another regret," he quietly tells himself but tries his best to not overthink it. Then finally, he gets inside his car and leaves the place.
*
"Shall I take you home, President?" Kevin Shaw asks while driving a car. Since he started driving just a while ago, he spares Alycia a glance once in a while through the front mirror of the car and notices that something seems to be going on with her.
Did something happen during dinner with that Colonel? He refrains from asking her about it.
Being snapped out of her stupor by the question, Alycia Reese glances at her wristwatch once again and stares out of the window as she responds, "Take me to a department store. I have to pick out something."
She sounds tired than usual and Kevin does not miss it. Besides, when he thinks of the President's schedule, he does not recall anything where she has to pick out something for someone and he is sure that she is not picking out something for herself in that hour.
"You look tired," he points out after a brief thought. "If you tell me what you need, I will drive you home first and go to the department store to pick out -"
"I don't know what I should pick out, yet," Alycia quietly interrupts and leans back before shutting her eyes. "And it's something I must do myself."
It's one of the very rare times when Kevin is not sure of what his boss is up to and he can't help but feel confused and curious at the same time. However, he does not ask anything and quietly keeps on driving.
"We have arrived, President."
Alycia Reese opens her eyes and briefly glances at the Reese Department Store building right next to the car. Noticing this, Kevin tries to get out of the car but...
"Wait here," She instructs him. "I won't take long."
The private assistant slightly bows his head and watches as Alycia gets off the car and enters the Department Store alone. As she says that it won't take long, he thinks that she will go and pick out something quick and return right away but... there is no sign of the President even after almost an hour.
Glancing at his wristwatch, the private assistant notices that it is quite late, late enough for his boss's mother to be home. He is not wrong after all, because soon after this thought enters his mind, he receives a call from Miranda Reese. He answers the call right away.
"Is Alycia running late tonight?"
He hears the question before he even gets to greet the mother and like always, he senses concern in her voice.
"She didn't tell me that she will be late and she is not picking up her phone either," Miranda Reese adds from the other line.
Hearing this, Kevin quickly looks at the backseat and notices that Alycia's phone is there. Then he gives a brief thought and response by saying, "President has a dinner appointment and we are on our way back, Ma'am. She is sleeping and I think that is why she missed your calls." When he notices Alycia coming out of the department store, he asks, "Should I wake her?"
The response from Mrs. Reese comes very fast. "No need. Just bring her home safely."
"I understand. Please rest assured, Ma'am." As he puts down his phone, Alycia just settles inside the car and he quickly turns to her.
"Your mother called."
A hint of anxiety flashes in Alycia's eyes as she looks for her phone which she forgot inside the car. Once she finds her phone, the missed calls from her mother only add to her anxiety but she soon hears Kevin again.
"Don't worry. I tell her we are on our way back after a dinner appointment. I said you are asleep."
Alycia lets out a breath she does not even know she is holding and takes a moment to calm herself. "Thank you, Kevin."
"Don't mention it. If you want your mother to know about it, I believe you will tell her yourself." Kevin Shaw glances at the time before he asks, "Shall I take you home now, President? It's late."
He notices that Alycia returns with just a small shopping bag despite spending around an hour inside the department store. He finds it strange but does not ask about it as it is not his place.
"Alright," Alycia Reese responds after a brief silence. She narrows her eyes at the small shopping bag next to her but turns away soon after. "Let's get going."