Adeline stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her as she dried her damp hair with another. Her steps halted when she spotted Martin standing by the door, tablet in hand. She gave him a small nod, silently granting him permission to enter.

  Martin walked in, setting the tablet on the bed. “The background check is done, Madam President,” he announced with his usual efficiency.

  Adeline smiled faintly, her fingers still combing through her damp hair. “Thank you, Martin,” she replied. Gncing at the tablet, she added, “Arrange for us to have breakfast at the café tomorrow, but keep it discreet. I don’t want the press catching wind of it.”

  Martin’s lips quirked into a subtle smirk, his sharp eyes glinting with curiosity. “Are you interested in her, madam?” he asked.

  Adeline paused mid-motion, side-eyeing him with a pointed look. Her lips curved into a small, almost pyful smile as she replied, “Tess is... beautiful.”

  Martin’s smirk widened just slightly as he inclined his head, sensing there was more she wasn’t saying. “Very well, Madam President. I’ll see to it,” he said, turning to leave, though the hint of amusement in his tone lingered.

  As the door closed behind him, she sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the tablet for a moment before leaning back with a soft exhale. Her gaze drifted to the ceiling as the thought of Tess flickered in her mind again. ‘Beautiful indeed,’ she mused, her smile lingering before she shook her head and reached for the tablet.

  *

  The morning sun filtered through the café windows, casting a warm glow across the small space. Inside, Tess was on the floor, moving from table to table with cleaning supplies in hand. Music bred through her headphones, and she danced in rhythm, her movements carefree and unguarded.

  Her outfit was bold—an all-pink bodysuit hugged her form, paired with a denim jacket and thigh-high denim boots. Her brown hair was tied up in a curly bun, a few curls escaping to frame her face. The scene was of unbothered joy, completely unaware of the world outside.

  Adeline stepped into the café quietly, the soft chime of the doorbell going unnoticed by Tess, who was too immersed in her music. Adeline paused, folding her arms as an amused smile spread across her lips. She leaned against the doorframe, watching as Tess danced her way to the next table, cleaning with practiced ease.

  Tess moved to another table, backing up as she cleaned, still swaying to the beat. As she worked her way through the tables, she didn’t realise she was backing straight into Adeline.

  The moment of contact startled her, and she froze. Adeline reached out instinctively, steadying her with gentle hands on her shoulders. Tess spun around, her cleaning supplies clutched tightly, and her wide eyes nded on Adeline.

  For a moment, Tess just stared, her breath caught in her throat. Adeline’s smile deepened as she reached up, slipping the headphones off Tess’s head.

  “Good morning, Ilya,” Adeline said, her tone light and teasing.

  Tess blinked, still stunned, before she managed to stammer, “G-Good morning, Madam President.”

  Adeline chuckled softly, her gaze lingering on Tess’s flustered expression. “I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said, though the glint in her eyes suggested she didn’t mind catching Tess mid-dance at all.

  Tess swallowed hard, her cheeks flushing as she tried to regain her composure. “Uh, I-I didn’t hear you come in,” she admitted, clutching her cleaning cloth as if it were a lifeline.

  “No,” Adeline said with a smirk, her gaze dropping briefly to Tess’s outfit before meeting her eyes again. “You seemed... quite absorbed.”

  Tess’s face turned a deeper shade of pink. “I, uh, was just cleaning,” she mumbled, stepping back to create some space between them.

  Adeline tilted her head slightly, her smile never wavering. “Don’t let me stop you. I rather enjoyed the show.”

  Tess’s jaw dropped slightly, but before she could say anything, Adeline took a seat at a nearby table, crossing her legs with an air of rexed confidence. “I’ll have a coffee, please. Bck,” she said, her tone calm but expectant.

  Tess nodded quickly, eager to disappear. “Right away, Madam President,” she said, turning away and muttering under her breath, “Why does she have to be so... unfairly gorgeous?”

  Tess returned to Adeline’s table, bancing a tray with practiced ease. She set the coffee down first before presenting a pte piled high with an unexpected breakfast: pancake tacos stuffed with eggs, chopped burger meat, crispy bacon, and melted cheese, perfectly browned in the broiler. Beside it, a small pte of cinnamon toast bites sat enticingly next to a small dish of syrup.

  Adeline looked at the food, her brows lifting in surprise. “I didn’t order this,” she said, her voice both curious and amused.

  Tess smiled, the corners of her lips quirking pyfully. “I know,” she replied. “It’s mine, but you can have it. Mario is already preparing more for your group, so no worries.”

  Adeline tilted her head slightly, studying her. “Generous of you,” she remarked, though the gleam in her eye suggested there was more she wanted to say.

  Tess shrugged lightly, her casual demeanour masking the flutter of nerves she felt under the president’s steady gaze. “Enjoy,” she said, stepping back as though to leave.

  But just as she turned, Adeline reached out and gently caught her wrist, her fingers warm and firm. “Why don’t you join me?”

  Tess hesitated, her eyes flicking to the hand on her wrist before meeting Adeline’s gaze. There was something in the president’s tone—an invitation, yes, but also a quiet command.

  “I—uh...” she faltered, gncing toward the counter as if to remind herself she had work to do.

  Adeline tilted her head, her smile soft but persistent. “Please,” she added, her voice dropping just enough to make it clear the request wasn’t one she made often.

  Tess swallowed and gave a small nod, slipping into the chair across from her. “Alright,” she said, her tone quieter than usual as she rested her hands in her p, unsure where to look.

  Adeline leaned back, her posture rexed, but her eyes stayed on Tess. “Do you always share your breakfast with strangers?” she asked, picking up a fork and delicately slicing into one of the pancake tacos.

  Tess chuckled, finally rexing a bit. “Not usually,” she admitted. “But I figured if anyone deserves it, it’s the president.”

  Adeline raised a brow, a hint of amusement in her expression. “Fttery will get you everywhere, Miss Tess.”

  “Good to know,” she said, a small grin tugging at her lips.

  Adeline took a bite of the taco, her eyes widening slightly in appreciation. “This is... surprisingly good,” she said after swallowing.

  “Thanks,” she said, a hint of pride slipping into her voice. “It’s not fancy, but it’s hearty.”

  Adeline smiled again, her gaze lingering on Tess. “It’s perfect,” she said, though it wasn’t entirely clear if she was still talking about the food.

  Adeline finished her first taco, savouring the hearty, simple fvours. Setting her fork down, she turned her gaze to Tess, her expression soft but curious. “So, tell me,” she began, her tone casual yet deliberate, “why is a woman like you, so unfairly gorgeous, still single?”

  Tess froze, the question catching her off guard. Her cheeks turned a soft pink as she gnced nervously out the window, fumbling for words. “I… I haven’t found the right person for me yet,” she admitted, her voice quieter than usual. “And believe me, I’ve tried.”

  Adeline hummed thoughtfully, her fingers lightly circling the rim of her coffee cup. Her gaze remained fixed on Tess as she asked, “Person? So, it doesn’t matter if they’re male or female?”

  Tess turned to look at the president, her eyes meeting Adeline’s sharp yet inviting gaze. The weight of the question made her pause, considering it carefully before shaking her head slowly. “No, Madam President,” she replied, her voice steady. “It doesn’t matter.”

  Adeline’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile as she pced her coffee cup down. “And what do you think about me, Ilya?” she asked, her tone light, but her words nding like a carefully aimed arrow.

  Tess’s heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening as her mind scrambled for a response. Before she could even process the question fully, Mario’s voice rang out from the kitchen.

  “Tess! I need you back here for a minute!”

  Tess practically jumped out of her seat, seizing the opportunity to escape the president’s gaze. “Excuse me, Madam President,” she said hastily, standing up and moving toward the kitchen.

  As she reached the door, she paused, gncing back over her shoulder. Adeline was focused on her pte, eating with a calmness that stood the tension Tess felt in the air. With a soft sigh, she stepped through the door, her mind racing as Mario’s voice brought her back to reality.

  Tess and Vivienne emerged from the kitchen, carefully bancing ptes of food. They moved efficiently, setting the dishes down in front of the president’s people, who thanked them warmly. With her task completed, she retreated behind the counter with her own pte in hand.

  Settling into her usual spot, she took a bite of her food, savouring the moment of calm. Her focus quickly shifted to an order form resting nearby, its contents demanding her attention. Scribbling details onto the page, Tess became immersed, the background hum of conversation fading into nothing.

  It wasn’t until a subtle prickling sensation ran down her spine that she paused. Something felt off. Lifting her gaze, her eyes locked with the president’s across the room.

  Adeline was reclined in her chair, her head propped zily in her palm. Her lips curved into a soft smile as she caught Tess’s startled expression. With a graceful motion, she pointed to the seat across from her.

  Tess swallowed hard, her heart racing. Hastily, she picked up her pte and made her way over to the president’s table, trying to steady her nerves. Sitting down opposite Adeline, she offered a weak smile.

  “Did you forget about me?” She asked, her voice carrying a light, teasing tone.

  Tess’s face burned as she nodded sheepishly. “Sorry.”

  Adeline straightened in her seat, her pyful smile turning into something more serious. “Have you thought about it?” she asked.

  Tess blinked, confused. “About?”

  Adeline leaned forward slightly, her piercing gaze locking onto Tess’s. “About being my woman.”

  The words hung in the air, bold and unapologetic. Tess’s breath caught, her heart pounding as her fork froze halfway to her mouth. She stared at the president, her mind spinning, unsure how to respond to such a question by the most powerful woman in the country.

  Martin approached the table, but was slightly hesitant. “Madam President, it’s time,” he said softly.

  Adeline sighed, standing up with reluctance. Before stepping away, she gnced down at Tess, her expression softening. “I want a picture with her,” she decred.

  Tess blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the sudden request. Adeline turned her attention to her and asked, “Can I take a picture of you? Do you have somewhere private?”

  Tess stared at Adeline, her thoughts racing. Moments ago, Adeline had asked her an intimate, life-altering question, and now she was shifting gears like nothing had happened. Tess pushed her confusion aside and nodded slowly, standing up. “This way,” she said, leading them toward the back of the café.

  Adeline followed closely, her sharp gaze fixed on Tess’s figure. The way Tess’s pink bodysuit hugged her curves was driving Adeline to the brink of distraction, but she forced herself to maintain composure. Tess, oblivious to the president’s wandering eyes, pushed open the door to her office.

  The small space was tidy but rarely used, with a simple desk, a chair, and a few shelves. Tess turned to face Adeline. “Is this fine?” she asked hesitantly.

  Adeline nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. She reached for the phone Martin handed her and motioned toward the desk. “Stand in front of it,” she instructed.

  Tess complied, moving to the desk. She stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do. The fsh of the camera startled her, and she looked up, confused. Adeline handed the phone back to Martin without a gnce and approached her.

  Before Tess could ask what was happening, Adeline closed the distance between them. Her gaze was intense as she pced her hands gently on Tess’s hips. Tess froze, her breath catching at the unexpected intimacy.

  Adeline’s voice was low and smooth, her words a caress. “You’re a natural beauty, Ilya.”

  The warmth of Adeline’s hands seeped through the fabric of her bodysuit, and Tess could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She was at a complete loss for words, her mind a flurry of confusion and exhiration as she stared into the president’s piercing eyes.

  Adeline’s eyes widened, and she quickly pulled her hands back, stepping away as though she’d been burned. Tess stared at her, confused by the sudden retreat. “What happened?” She asked softly, her brow furrowed in concern.

  Adeline swallowed hard, her expression shifting from confidence to vulnerability. “I didn’t ask for your permission to touch you. Please forgive me,” she said, her voice tinged with genuine remorse.

  Tess blinked, taken aback by the unexpected apology. After a moment, she nodded. “You’re forgiven,” she said, her tone reassuring.

  Adeline hesitated before asking, “May I... may I have your permission to touch you now?” Her voice was soft, almost pleading.

  Tess felt a blush creeping up her neck, but nodded again. “Yes, you may.”

  Adeline stepped closer, her movements deliberate. She raised her left hand and pced it gently on the small of Tess’s back, her touch warm and steady. Tess felt her pulse quicken as their eyes met, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife.

  Martin, still standing in the room, cleared his throat lightly to remind them of his presence. Adeline and Tess both gnced at him, and the camera fshed, capturing the moment. He nodded approvingly and stepped out of the room, leaving the two women alone.

  Adeline turned back to Tess, their gazes locking. Her expression softened, her voice low and heartfelt. “When I started my campaign, I didn’t think I’d meet someone like you,” she admitted. “You were the st person on my mind st night and the first one I thought about this morning.”

  Tess’s breath hitched, her heart pounding as she tried to process Adeline’s words.

  Adeline sighed, her vulnerability on full dispy. “I’m the president of this damn country. I have responsibilities—things I can’t just walk away from. But all I want to do right now is drop everything and watch you all day.” Her voice dropped to a whisper as she added, “I want to kiss you, Miss Tess. But why do I feel like you’re something dangerous?”

  Tess couldn’t respond. The words caught in her throat, disbelief and a storm of emotions swirling inside her. All she could do was stare, her silence speaking volumes.

  Adeline took a deep, steadying breath, her gaze never leaving Tess’s. “I’ll be back tonight,” she said softly, her tone almost a plea. “Can I have my answer, then?”

  Before Tess could gather herself enough to respond, Adeline stepped back, giving her space. She turned and left the room, leaving Tess standing there, her heart racing and her thoughts spinning in confession.