Page 80 of Innocent

Chapter Seventeen

It will only be a matter of days, if that, before it becomes common knowledge that I’m back in DC and working at the White House alongside Elliot.

I mean, it’ll immediately be news among Elliot’s staff, starting tomorrow. Secret Service, of course, already knows. The first thing I plan on having Elliot do is to notify all his staff who I am, that I get full and unrestricted access to him 24/7, and that I’m basically his personal chief of staff. That all scheduling and access goes through me.

That I’d better be afforded the same level of respect and deference his staff gives Leo.

How long it takes for that news to reach Leo, since few people knew Leo and I were a romantic item to start with, remains to be seen.

I let Elliot stay where he is for about thirty minutes before I make him move so I can go talk to the crew and the head of his security detail, get our itinerary, and order food for myself, which I’ll tell them is for Elliot.

Oh, I don’t make him get off the sofa. I keep him right there. The guy looks stressed as hell, and I hate how that makes my heart hurt for him.

I also hate that I’m already trying to plot it all out in my head, how this will work, long-term.

That Iwantto make it work.

That I’m getting my hopes up.

Partly because I know it’ll put me squarely on a path that’s once again intersecting with Leo Cruz.

Partly because I’m probably a damned sucker, and I can’t stand seeing Elliot in this condition.

Partly because I do believe in him as a statesman and politician, and would hate for him to lose the presidency to someone who doesn’t deserve to be in that office just because I said no to this.

If our positions were reversed, I’d hope Elliot would take care of me.

In good conscience, I cannot turn my back on him—Elliot needs me.

Leo sure as hell seems to have dropped the damn ball.

Why that is…

Is it sick that part of me hopes it’s because of losing me?

I leave the door to the suite open, meaning Elliot’s completely visible where he’s lying on the sofa. I want them to see him like this and note that he’s not in good shape right now. Iwantthem talking about him amongst themselves.

I just don’t want them knowing the full reason why he’s feeling shitty, obviously.

I repeat and clarify my order to the crew and his security detail about not disturbing Elliot. I tell them it’s because he’s working on a migraine and doesn’t feel good.

This isn’t news to his staff, because they’ve seen him go through that before.

Although Leo once told me they used the migraine excuse a lot even when Elliot didn’t have a headache, so they could have privacy.

I add another mental note to my list to stock up on food-grade peppermint, lemongrass, and ginger essential oils for aromatherapy, as well as empty capsules, so I can make him take them like that. He has an aversion to using medication more than necessary because he had to take so much early on after his injuries. Even getting him to take an over-the-counter remedy for headaches sometimes requires Leo ordering him to do it.

I also add lavender oil to my mental list, to help relax Elliot. And valerian and chamomile tea.

I’m going to need a work phone sooner rather than later so I can keep track of all of this. Because since I’m doing this, I’m going to do itallthe way. I’m not going to half-ass it.

I’ll make my Sir proud of me, because yes, I know he loves Elliot.

I’m also reasonably sure, even before Elliot’s admission to me, that Leo loves me, too. I mean, Ihopehe still does. I wouldn’t blame Leo if he feels differently about me since I left him.

Ironically, I refuse to get my hopes up that this will mean a reconciliation between me and Leo. I’m doing this for Elliot.

I’m doing it for ourcountry.