"I know this looks bad but let me explain", Aaron said.

Lucille pushed him away. "Aaron what did you do? What did she make you do?"

"Just sit down so", he was cut off.

"I don't want to sit Aaron, I want you tell me what the hell is going on."

"Baby, I was just doing what I had to do to take care of us."

Lucille shook her head, fighting away tears.

"Anne-Katherine knows some people in some high up places. She made it clear that if I helped her, she would help me. I just did what she asked me to do."

"I can't even look at you right now", she said. "You lied to me."

Lucille stormed into their bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her. He knew better than to try and go in after her. After a few minutes she came out with a suitcase, walking towards the door.

"Lucille wait", he tried to grab her shoulder.

"Don't you touch me", she said through clenched teeth.

"I made a mistake", he pleaded. "Can we just talk about this?"

The front door slammed in his face. Lucille threw her suitcase into her car and drove off.

Oliver was relaxing in his office, enjoying a glass of whiskey when Lucille stormed in.

"We need to talk", she said shutting the door behind her. "Anne-Katherine did this."

"Anne-Katherine did what, exactly?", he asked.

"Anne-Katherine leaked the information", Lucille revealed.

She was waiting to see if Oliver would be sad or angry or anything upon hearing this. But nothing.

He took a sip of his whiskey.

Lucille narrowed her eyes. "But you already knew that didn't you?"

He didn't answer. Lucille bit the inside of her cheek out of frustration.

"Why would you let her get away with this? This could've cost you the election, Oliver."

She walked over to his desk. "Aren't you going to say anything?"

He looked up at her, studying her features.

"You look exhausted", he stated.

Lucille backed away from the desk. "I'm not. I'm just upset."

"Don't be upset on my account. I knew the type of woman my wife was when I married her."

Lucille folded her arms and shook her head. "It's not that."

Oliver left his desk and joined Lucille. He embraced her.

"She manipulated him", he assured her. "It's not Aaron's fault."

"Maybe I want it to be", she said looking up at him. "Just for a little while."

She pulled his face down to hers and kissed him. He put his hands on her waist, pulling her closer to him. It was only a few seconds before the taste of whiskey settled into her tongue. She pushed him away.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that", she said.

She moved closer to the door. "I should go. I have to find a hotel for the night and I have work to do."

"A hotel? Why are you staying at a hotel?"

"I can't go home", she said shaking her head. "I can't face him. You may think he was manipulated but what Aaron did was wrong. He betrayed me."

Oliver walked over to the door. "I'll walk you to your car."

He opened the door, ushering her out. They walked down to the parking garage in silence. The wind was blowing fiercely. If Lucille hadn't caught her dress in time, it would've flown up.

Oliver opened the car door for her and closed it when she was in safely. She turned the key to start the car. Nothing happened. It just made an annoying clicking sound. She tried again. But the same thing happened.

Oliver approached the car again. She opened the door.

"I'm not sure what's wrong", she said sounding puzzled.

"Pop the hood open and I'll take a look, okay?"

When he opened the hood, Oliver knew immediately what the problem was. He turned to Lucille who was now standing near him.

"When's the last time you got your oil changed?"

"Oh god", she mumbled. "I've been putting it off for a while. Damn it."

Oliver closed the hood of the car. "It needs to be taken to a repair shop. I'll call a tow truck first thing tomorrow morning."

Lucille sighed.

"I guess you don't want to call Aaron to come and get you."

Lucille shook her head. "I'll just call a cab."

"Nonsense", Oliver said taking his phone out of his jacket pocket. "I'll call my driver."

"That's not necessary", she replied.

"It's no problem. Antonio would've had to come and get me in a little while anyway."

Lucille nodded, accepting the offer.

Fifteen minutes later Antonio was driving into the parking garage. Oliver pulled Lucille's suitcase out of the backseat of her car and placed it in the truck of the Lincoln town car.

"How are you this evening Antonio?", Oliver greeted as he car took off.

"I am fine sir", the man replied in a strong Hispanic accent.

"This is Lucille, my campaign manager."

"Nice to meet you ma'am", he said looking at her in the rear view mirror. Lucille smiled.

"Make a stop at Backstreet Cafe."

Antonio nodded. Lucille wasn't too thrilled.

"Oliver I'm ready to get settled into a room and get in bed."

"Have you eaten?"

Lucille glared at him. "That's not the point. You can't just take me somewhere unwillingly."

"I will take you wherever you want to go then."

"Okay", she answered.

"After you eat", he added.

Lucille crossed her arms and looked out of the window to avoid cursing Oliver out.

"You're acting like my grandmother", she whispered.

"How?", he asked. He stared at her reflection in the window. She was truly annoyed with him.

"Pestering me to eat", she answered furiously. "I'm not hungry, okay!", she yelled.

Antonio glanced at the two of them in the rearview mirror before concentrating back on the road.

"So you're insulting me because I care about you?", he asked.

Oliver was still looking at her reflection in the window. Her expression softened and the corners of her lips curved upward.

----------

"So what's good here?", Lucille asked as she flipped through the menu.

"Burgers and beer", Oliver answered.

Lucille chuckled. "Right about now I need something way stronger than beer."

Oliver smirked before flagging over the waitress.

"Bring us a few rounds of crown royal, please."

She nodded and walked off.

"Are you trying to get me drunk?", Lucille asked laughing.

"Of course not", he replied with a sly grin. "I just want you to loosen up. You're always so tense and serious."

"Well working for you is a little stressful", she answered with an eye roll.

"I think we have fun sometimes", he replied placing his hand over hers on the table.

Lucille snatched her hand away as the waitress neared their table.

She placed the glasses down in front of them.

"Y'all ready to order?"

Lucille shook her head.

"Maybe in a bit", Oliver replied.

The waitress nodded and walked away.

"Shall you do the honors", Oliver proposed.

Lucille lifted a shot glass off the table. Oliver did the same.

"To lies, scandal, and betrayal", she said before taking the shot.

Oliver looked at her questionably.

"Go ahead", she insisted.

He took the shot and flipped the glass on the table.

"Why do you feel so betrayed?", Oliver asked. "This thing happened to me. Or it was going to."

"What happens to you happens to me. You are my work. You are my job. Aaron was selfish and couldn't stand having to depend on me."

She took another shot.

"They betrayed us not just you", she added flipping the shot glass over.

Oliver followed and took another shot as well.

"One more", he said picking up the last of their shots. Lucille did the same.

Oliver looked her in the eyes. "What's meant to be, will be."

Their eyes were locked on each other's as they both took their shots to the head.

Their waitress returned and they both ordered cheeseburgers with fries.

"I can feel it in my chest", Lucille stated. "I'm such a lightweight."

"Do you need a water or something?", Oliver asked, ready to flag down the waitress.

"No, I'll be fine", she said leaning back in her seat.

Oliver grinned.

"I didn't think this was what you meant by loosening up."

"Then what did you think I meant", Oliver asked.

"Nothing, nothing", she mumbled slowly, smiling at him.

Although it was unintentional, she had a seductive demeanor.

"Mm, yes", she moaned out. "Food."

Oliver turned to see their waitress approaching with their orders. She placed them on the table and told them to enjoy. Lucille stopped her before she could walk away.

"Can you bring out three more shots of Crown Royal?", she proposed.

The waitress nodded and walked off.

"Don't you think you've had enough?", Oliver asked with a smirk set on his lips.

Lucille stuffed a few french fries into her mouth. "Those aren't for me, they're for you."

He looked at her questionably.

"If I'm buzzed you have to be buzzed too", she stated plainly.

"Fair enough. I'll take the extra shots", he answered.

The corners of Lucille's mouth curved upward.

"Oliver what are we doing?", she asked suddenly.

"What do you mean?"

"Why are we pretending like this is okay?", she asked.

"I'm not pretending like anything", he stated. "I know it's wrong."

Lucille shook her head as she scooted out of her seat. "I'm ready to go."

Antonio greeted her as she got into the car but she didn't respond. After taking care of the bill, Oliver also got into the car.

"Where to sir", Antonio asked.

"The Sam Houston hotel."

"Are you joking? I can't afford that", Lucille intervened.

"Antonio, the partition please."

He obeyed and rolled the partition up.

Lucille was sitting at the very end of the seat with her arms crossed. Her buzz was gone and she was clearly upset.

"Did I do something wrong?", he asked pleading with her.

"I don't know what's going on right now", she said. "This isn't me."

Oliver inched toward her. He rubbed her back in circular motions, trying to calm her. He then wrapped his arms around her body, pulling her closer to him. She rested her head on his chest while he fingered through her thick curls.

"Why do you want me so badly?", she asked him.

She spoke again. "I mean, if it was just because I'm younger and I work for you, you would have many other choices."

She sat up to look at him. "Why me?", she asked.

"I don't just want you to have sex with me and then toss you away. I have this deep appreciation for you, your values, your intelligence. It's sexy. When I'm around you I feel like I have to be better to keep up. It motivates me. It makes me wish I had waited."

By the look that crossed his face, it was obvious that last part came out unexpectedly. Lucille's heart was beating so rapidly, she thought it would beat out of her chest.

He pushed her hair behind her ear and looked directly into her eyes.

"Being desired and being appreciated are not the same. A person can want to have you and still not recognize your value", he said.

"Don't get me wrong, I want you badly, but don't think my high libido just means I want you for one reason only."

Lucille's heart and brain were doing somersaults. Without so much as a second thought, she leaned in, tilted her head, and kissed him.

He lowered his hand down her body, sliding his hand under her dress. He squeezed her ass making her whimper. He was about to pull her panties aside before the car came to a stop.

He quickly pulled away from her. "I'm sorry", he said lowly before clearing his throat.

She adjusted her dress and ran her fingers through her hair.

Antonio opened the door for Lucille to get out. Oliver got out and retrieved her suitcase from the trunk.

Lucille followed him inside the hotel.

"I have an open tab here. I'll get you a room."

Lucille took a seat on one of the sofas and waited.

After Oliver checked in at the front desk, he met Lucille and gave her the room key.

"I'll have your car taken to the shop first thing tomorrow. I'll send Antonio to get you in the morning whenever you're ready."

"Don't you wanna come up?", she asked reaching out to rub his arm.

"If I come up there with you, I won't want to leave."

"You don't have to", she answered.