Tess was lounging across Martin’s couch, a pillow tucked under her arm, lazily flicking through channels on the massive flat-screen TV. She had a pastry in one hand and her legs draped over the armrest like she owned the place.

Her phone buzzed on the coffee table.

She glanced at the screen. Martin.

Smirking, she picked it up and answered with mock sweetness, “Morning, sunshine.”

Martin’s voice came through sharp and low, no hint of amusement. “How did Cressida find out about you?”

Tess blinked, then chuckled, shifting to sit upright. “Oh, that’s what this is about. Relax, Secretary. She didn’t find out anything.”

“Then why did she come knocking on the door?” Martin demanded. “She told the president she saw someone in my room. And the president just called me pretending she didn’t know what was going on.”

Tess’s grin widened. “Because she does know.”

Martin fell silent for a moment. “What?”

Tess stretched her arms above her head like she was basking in the sun. “Yep. She found me. Well—technically, she ran to me. Adeline ran away from her date with Cressida and ended up in this room.” She glanced around fondly. “Very dramatic. I should’ve filmed it.”

Martin groaned. “Oh my god, Tess. Please tell me you didn’t—”

“We made up.” Tess’s tone turned smug. “Kissed. Got halfway undressed. Then guess who knocked on the door?”

Martin’s tone dropped to a panic. “You’re telling me the president snuck away from a date, went to my room, and started making out with you while Cressida was in the house?”

“Exactly,” Tess said proudly.

Martin muttered something under his breath. Then, as the pieces clicked into place, his voice rose again. “So why did she pretend not to know—? Oh… I see.” He exhaled heavily. “She’s keeping you a secret.”

Tess laughed. “Bingo.”

Martin sighed again, rubbing his temple on the other end of the line. “And you’re okay with that?”

Tess bit into her pastry, then licked the jam off her thumb. “Exactly,” she said through a mouthful. “And that’s how it’s going to be… for a long while.”

She let the silence linger as her words sank in.

Then she added with a mischievous hum, “But hey, tell the staff I like those berry tarts. They slap.”

Martin groaned again, deeply, miserably. “You’re going to ruin my career.”

Tess laughed even louder this time. “Please. I’m the only reason this estate has any spice.”

*

The afternoon sun cast a golden hue over the quiet terrace of an exclusive rooftop restaurant tucked above the city skyline. The wind carried the scent of fresh herbs from the decorative plants, and a private waiter hovered at a respectful distance, ensuring no one disturbed the pair seated at the best table — one with a view of the sprawling city below.

Adeline sat across from Cressida, a soft smile on her lips and a glass of sparkling water in her hand. She wore a pristine white suit that shimmered under the sunlight, her slicked-back hair unbothered by the breeze. If she looked like royalty before, now she looked untouchable.

Cressida, dressed in a form-fitting wine-red dress, couldn’t keep her eyes off her. “I forgot how breathtaking you are in white,” she said with a soft laugh, her cheeks flushed.

Adeline leaned slightly forward, resting her chin on her hand, her smile polite. “You say that every time I wear it.”

“Because it’s true every time,” Cressida replied, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I missed this. Just us. No press. No eyes. It feels like the world belongs to us for a little while.”

Adeline’s smile faltered just a touch, but she quickly masked it with a sip of her drink. “That’s rare,” she said. “Time like this.”

The waiter returned briefly to place down two small plates, seared scallops on a bed of saffron risotto and retreated without a word.

Cressida glanced around. No cameras, no other diners. The president had arranged for privacy. For her.

She reached across the table, gently brushing her fingers over Adeline’s hand. “Thank you… for today.”

Adeline didn’t pull away. Her gaze lingered on Cressida’s hand, her expression unreadable.

“You’ve always been loyal,” Adeline said, voice quiet. “And that means something. More than most would guess.”

The words felt like a gift to Cressida. She smiled, heart beating faster. “Does that mean there’s hope for us still?” she asked.

Adeline’s eyes softened. “Cressida…”

She let her voice trail off, allowing silence to fall, the kind that can mean anything to someone who wants to believe.

From a distance, the two women looked like lovers stealing a moment away from the world, hands barely touching, lips speaking in low, private tones, eyes searching each other.

But only Adeline knew that her mind, her desire, her loyalty… was somewhere else entirely.

Cressida’s fingers lingered on the back of Adeline’s hand, waiting for something. But Adeline slowly withdrew her hand, placing it gently in her lap.

“I need to be honest with you,” Adeline said softly, but clearly. Her eyes met Cressida’s, steady, unblinking.

Cressida’s hopeful expression began to shift, her breath catching ever so slightly. “What is it?”

Adeline’s gaze wandered briefly to the skyline before returning. “You’ve always been good to me. Your friendship, your loyalty… it’s helped me through more than you probably know. But lately—” She paused, searching for the right words. “Lately, I’ve come to realise that what we shared… or thought we might share… can’t continue.”

Cressida blinked. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Adeline continued, her voice steady, “you deserve someone who wants the same things as you. Someone who can give you the kind of attention, love, and time that you deserve. I’m not that person, Cressida. Not anymore.”

The smile that had started to form on Cressida’s lips froze. “But… we haven’t even tried properly. I wouldn’t be a burden to you, Adeline, I promise. You wouldn’t even know I’m there most days if it helped—”

“Cressida,” Adeline said gently but firmly, raising her hand to pause her, “this isn’t about burden. It’s about truth. I’ve changed. My life has changed. Maybe if the things I’ve experienced recently hadn’t happened… maybe things would’ve turned out differently. Maybe you would be my woman now.”

Those words hung in the air like a fragile glass orb.

“But,” she continued, “they did happen. And I can’t ignore how I feel now. It wouldn’t be fair to you if I stayed silent and let you keep hoping. I need you to accept this peacefully. No anger. No resentment.”

Cressida looked stunned. The silence stretched, her lips parted as if to respond, but no words came.

Adeline gave a small smile — bittersweet and calm. “Nothing in life is set in stone. Past feelings… they can always change. Sometimes it’s time that changes them. Sometimes it’s experience. And I’ve had both.”

Cressida looked down, hurt flashing across her features. She gave a small nod, trying to swallow the lump in her throat. “You’ve really made up your mind.”

“I have.”

“And… is there someone else?”

Adeline didn’t answer right away. She simply looked toward the horizon, her expression unreadable, her heart tucked quietly away where only one woman truly had access.

Then she said gently, “There’s someone I’m beginning to understand…”

*

Adeline stood frozen, mouth slightly agape, her white coat still halfway off her shoulders, as she stared at the storm in lingerie standing before her.

Tess.

Arms folded tightly across her chest, brow arched with delicious rage, and legs planted like a goddess of punishment, Tess was a sight to behold. Her cheeky lingerie left little to the imagination, a fiery contrast to her expression and behind her, lounging far too comfortably on Adeline’s bed, was Martin, holding a half-eaten pear like he was watching prime-time television.

“I broke it off with her,” Adeline said, her voice pitching defensively.

“Oh?” Tess tapped her foot against the floor.
Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

“At a fancy restaurant? On the rooftop where the paparazzi basically live? The whole damn country is shipping you two now. Did you see the headlines? ‘President’s Secret Romance Blossoms Under Stars.’”

Adeline groaned, rubbing her forehead like the weight of the entire country sat on it. “Tess, I didn’t plan for it to go public—”

“But it did,” Tess snapped. “There was nothing private about that getaway with your little lover.” Her glare intensified, daring Adeline to say anything else foolish.

“I’ll make it up to you. I swear,” Adeline said softly, stepping closer with arms reaching for forgiveness.

But Tess swatted her hands away with a scoff. “I was going to let you kiss my body tonight, Madam President.” Her tone dripped with mocking venom. “But I changed my mind.”

Behind her, Martin was suddenly sitting a little straighter, clearly trying to hide his amusement. Tess glanced back at him and gave a dramatic toss of her hair.

“Let’s go, roomy. The president needs a time-out.”

Martin stood up with the air of a loyal but gleeful accomplice. Buttoning his jacket with exaggerated grace, he turned to Tess and bowed slightly. “As you wish, Lady Tess.”

Tess was already strutting past Adeline toward the door, grumbling under her breath, “I ain’t no Lady Tess tonight.”

As the door shut behind them, Adeline stood alone in the silence of her grand bedroom, where power meant nothing, and a single woman in lace could unravel her world in seconds.