Delayed Apologies

Good afternoon, people!

As you may have noticed, there wasn't any activity here in the past couple of weeks. The partial fault of that has to do with my college load (honestly, I no longer have time to write, but I read a lot to keep me sane. That's a consolation), but the other part relies (sp?) in the fact that my laptop isn't allowing blogger to upload photos, hence it freezes! How annoying can THAT be?

But anyways, now from a computer at university, in between Design & Multimedia class, I uploaded until chapter Nº 8 of 'The Capital', and since it's a work in progress, as soon as the stock wears up, I'm evaluating which other story to upload until I find the time to continue writing this story.

And that's about it here. Off to upload the other blog...

Have a nice one :)

N.

(Mood: Focused / Now Playing: Lady Gaga - Paparazzi)

The Capital / Chapter 8

8

Sooner rather than later, Lauren could finally call it a done job. She couldn’t complain, since the spaces and decorations of apartment 23 were much more than what she expected. It was composed of a wide living/dining room area, a kitchen with all appliances included (included a bar-looking table and stool), a common-looking bathroom, a bedroom that had a walking closet, and even a small balcony with enough space to put up a chair and read. What she brought to the table wasn’t much. Some pictures, clothes and decorations. Werner had also left an envelope with money for groceries, since the cupboards were empty. Thankfully, she had brought part of the breakfast leftovers to survive until the next morning, because stores were closed, the weather conditions worsening by the second, and she was too lazy to make it earlier. But that wasn’t the only change around. She had traded the pants and sweater for a purple dress and a matching flower band. She didn’t know why, but ever since her encounter with Enrique, she was blushed and couldn’t wait any longer to see him. Thankfully for the two of them, around 9 PM the doorbell rang. She slowly walked up and peeped down through the keyhole. When she recognized who was on the other side, Lauren smiled and opened the door. Enrique stood calmly by the threshold, a box in one hand and a bottle of wine under the other arm. The tie was gone, and the few top buttons of his light green shirt were open, making it a perfect contrast against the light gray pant he wore.
“Hi” Lauren said, her voice sounding as if her breath had been taken away.
“Good evening, neighbor. Thought I’d drop by to see if everything was working. May I?” Santa Maria asks.
“Sure. Come in” Lauren replies, moving away from the door to allow entry. Enrique heads for the kitchen counter and leaves the two elements he had brought earlier there.
“I had a bottle of wine at my place, and that is chocolate cake leftovers in the box. From a colleague’s birthday party I held not so long ago” he explains. Casenave suddenly felt as blushed as a teenager.
“You didn’t have to, since you’ve already done more than enough for me today. I have some money to, uh…buy groceries”
“I think it’s a little late for that, so you’ll have to wait until morning. Plus, I think we agreed to order take-out”
“Right. I let that minor detail slip by”
“This place is nice” he points out while looking around at the simple decoration.
“Thanks. Do you want to sit down or…?” Lauren offers, making Enrique chuckle. With that, her cheeks reached a whole new shade of red.
“What’s so funny?”
“You’re not a very good host, Lauren. You’re acting a little stiff, so I would suggest we sit down in the living room and talk. Simply relax” he encourages her while leading Casenave by the waist. They both sit down across a red fabric futon.
“So…what can we talk about?” she starts, just to break the ice.
“Getting to know ourselves is a good starting point. Do you want to go first?”
“I’d much rather ask the questions for the time being”
“Okay, I’ll be your open book so you can be mine later. Go ahead. Ask” Enrique says in a confident tone. He couldn’t stop looking at her, as if this really was meant to happen. Even though they had met that same day, he felt like he had known her all his life, and it was implied in the air that by the end of the night they would start getting closer.
“You don’t look American” she points out.
“Well…I am. A legal one, just for the record. But I wasn’t born here”
“Where were you born?”
“Madrid, Spain. It’s a beautiful city, if you ever get the chance to visit it. When I was 18, I took my chances and played my luck by coming here to live and study by myself. I ended up liking it, so I followed all the steps to apply for a citizenship. So now I have a nice apartment, a good job and I pay my taxes like any other person. Can’t complain, since I already set roots here” he calmly explains.
“What did you study?”
“Journalism at GWU”
“There’s the first thing we have in common: Our profession. Where do you work at?”
“I really don’t want to brag about it. Don’t want you to think I’m arrogant or something”
“Enrique, you said you were an open book” Lauren playfully confronts him, like good reporters did. Santa Maria chuckled at her stubbornness.
“I like your style…Okay, but don’t tell me I didn’t warn you. I’m a White House Correspondent for The Post, and also correspondent and columnist for ‘El País’, a big newspaper back home” he said. She was surprised at the amount of experience he had being so young.
“Aren’t you a little…young?”
“I’m only 30, ma cherie”
“Well…young, smart AND handsome. I’m sure women are all over you”
“Not exactly. But for now, what do you say I bring you a glass of wine and order dinner? At least I’m getting hungry” Enrique says and stands up to find a phone, but not before giving a frowning Lauren a look.
“You’re trying to get away from my interrogation” she protests.
“No, ma cherie. We’re just taking a break. Then remember it’s my turn to ask the questions” Santa Maria says and smirks at her. He wanted to hold and kiss her so badly, but knew it was better to let some time pass.
“Fair enough”
“What would you like to eat tonight? Chinese, maybe?”
“Surprise me, Santa Maria” she playfully challenges him, feeling the same way he did, but still afraid to make a move. With her smile as incentive, Enrique went to another room where the phone was fixed to a wall and came back just in time to pour two glasses of white wine.
“Here you are, ma cherie. The surprise should be here in 30 minutes. Now…where were we?”
“Do you have a girlfriend? Since so many women are after you”
“Believe it or not, I don’t. And I’m not gay, either…as some have presumed. What happens is that I’ve had relationships, but I haven’t found what I’m looking for: the perfect companion” he tells Lauren, fully aware of the fact that the quest could be over.
“Wow, I didn’t expect that. To be honest, I thought you would be in a long, steady relationship with a gorgeous girl that was your match” Casenave comments.
“Sometimes things can be unexpected. More wine?”
“No, thanks. I’m a very responsible professional who has to work tomorrow” Lauren excuses herself.
“Good point. Is there anything else you would like to know about me?”
“Hmm…about your family and if you have any more talents. The rest will be a secret for you to find later on”
“My family is spread in different locations all over Spain. I’m the youngest of two brothers. My dad owns a financial business, and is constantly travelling across the country. My mother, Anna, lives in Barcelona. She’s a university professor. And my brother, who lives in Madrid, is more into the audiovisual arts”
“Now for the other part of my question”
“I’m a great chef. One of these days I shall invite you to my place and cook a nice paella. I also paint on my spare time and read a lot of books. Does that satisfy your inquires, lady reporter?” he asks. Before Lauren could muster her response, the doorbell rang.
“You’re lucky. Food’s here” Enrique announces.
“Here, let me go get money to pay half of it”
“Hush, darling. It’s on me” he says, but before Santa Maria could take out his wallet, Lauren was giving the delivery boy a few bills.
“You’re quick. I like it” he tells her while carrying the bags over to the kitchen counter.
“There’s so much you don’t know about me” Lauren says, her voice clearly inviting to mystery. Santa Maria left the bags and felt like a magnet drawn to her. And she didn’t seem to reject him, either.
“Well, I hope I do in the course of this dinner. Shall we? I DID order Chinese, after all”
“Sure. I’ll be at the living room, setting up the table” she says and takes a handful of cutlery to put on each side. As she did that, he takes all the boxes and leaves it on the middle of the table.
“I still don’t know you so well, so just attack whatever you like. Plus, with a full stomach I can have a better questioning” he says, kneeling down next to her and attacking the duck.
“I had asked you whether you had enough information about me”
“Does it for me. So that means…?”
“My turn to ask the questions. Oh, and just for the record…I really like how you look tonight”
“Thanks” she replies, taking over the spring rolls.
“Hey! I want those too. You’re owning them!”
“Sorry. Just ask, will you?”
“Okay…why don’t you start talking about your family?” he politely asks. Lauren was a little caught off-guard with a topic she didn’t like to discuss with strangers. But if he wanted an answer, she would give him an honest one.
“Enrique, to be sincere…I’d much rather discuss that subject when we get to know each other better. It’s not as perfect as yours, so I’ll tell you that family is for me my best friend, Colette, and my editor, Pete. I hope you respect this” she explains. Enrique immediately understood that he was walking on thin ice, asking something he shouldn’t.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have, I didn’t know. But I understand”
“It’s okay. After all, you had no way of knowing it. But I’d much rather handle another type of questions” she asks, trying some of the tangerine chicken with rice.
“Okay. Got a boyfriend?”
“No. The loner stand works better on me”
“I would’ve expected things to be the other way around”
“If that was the case, he would be here”
“Touché. So that makes us two single journalists. Where do you work at?”
“Oh, there he goes again. I feel like a spy on these situations” Lauren thought to herself. Earlier, when her alter-ego was a simple experiment, Pete had helped her to create a story that was credible and didn’t give room to the overwhelming amount of coincidences.
“Well, I work on the political section of the Beltway Gazette. You know…I’m young, so they hang me out to dry already. But I love what I do. And I’m also part of their investigative team”
“I know that paper. Lauren Caffrey writes there, right?”
“Yes. At work they call me ‘Lola’ to differentiate us. I’ve never seen her, though”
“I’ve heard that too. Nobody has”
“Hon, if only you knew that she’s right in front of you” Lauren wickedly thought to herself. That was part of the benefits: Everyone imagined the character to be very different.
“Well, I don’t ever miss her columns on Sundays. They’re quite entertaining!” Enrique comments, and she took the praise in silence.
“What else do you want to know about me?”
“Whether you like chocolate cake. It’s dessert time” he says, both cleaning the paper cups. He served the cake and she took out the trash.
“Wow…this looks really delicious. Thanks for bringing it”
“My pleasure. It’s much better than eating it solo…I would like to know what you like and dislike. Just a few basic notions, because looks like it’s gonna be a long work”
“It will be. Let’s see. I love music, but I never learnt to play an instrument. Unlike you, my cooking skills are non-existing. I’m not only a journalist, because I’m currently taking courses on political science and law. Always eager to learn and travel. And I love swimming and jogging as a way to relieve stress. Enough basic pointers for you?”
“And you have a nice style. But yes, that satisfies my curiosity…for now…Oh, it’s really late! And I take it we both have to work” Santa Maria points out, with a dash of worry. After adjusting her flower band, Lauren turned around to peek at the wall clock and realize her companion was right.
“I could’ve sworn it was earlier! But I guess that happens when you’re having fun”
“I know I did. And I’m sure as well would like to do it again. Why don’t you give me your number and we’ll arrange a lunch date in the middle of our schedules”
“Here you go” Lauren says, handing Enrique a slip of paper with her number on it. He, in turn, recorded it on his iPhone and then pointed it at her.
“Smile” he shouted just as he caught her by surprise by taking a picture. He seemed pleased with the result, so Enrique put it back in his pant pocket.
“Hey!”
“Don’t be like all women. I know some basics of photography, thanks to Emilio” he says, referring to his brother.
“It’s that…you should’ve told me, that’s all. And answering your previous question…I’d love to see you again” she says, standing up to escort Enrique to the entrance.
“You can keep the food. After all, you don’t have any until tomorrow” Santa Maria points out as they reach the door. Now there was more proximity between them: They held hands and little by little all barriers were destroyed as they look at each other deep into the eyes and moved closer. For a long moment they stayed there until Enrique Santa Maria decided to make the first move and gave her a peck on the lips first, then a kiss on the forehead.
“Good night, Lauren” he whispered in between giggles.
“Good night, Enrique. Thanks for coming” she replied and embraced him for a moment. With dreamy eyes she saw him walk back to his apartment. When he was out of her field of vision, she closed the door and went to clean the last remains of the dinner. When those traces were gone, she headed into the bedroom, traded the dress for her pajamas and fell asleep, that way wrapping up a special day.

The Capital / Chapter 7

7

The following morning, Lauren woke up in the hotel room, not completely used to being in such a circumstance. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t help but think of all of this was an actual gesture of kindness from Werner or if he was putting up a show for her to write what he wanted to hear. As promised, she tried some of the commodities the suite had to offer, starting with a nice soak in the tub. Then she called Room Service to ask for a simple breakfast. But she was bound to be surprised when the staff brought something more than a tray with what looked like a small banquet.
“With this I won’t eat for the rest of the day” she thought to herself since she was used to a simpler lifestyle, part of that courtesy of her family history. Just behind the trolley, the image of Werner and his Chief of Staff appeared in her field of vision.
“Good morning, Lauren. Enjoying the facilities so far?” the Senator asks at the same time he got close to her for a hug and a peck on the cheek. Just to not look rude, she accepted the courtesy.
“I haven’t had the chance so far, Senator” she replies, putting on a robe she had found earlier.
“Well, I hope you do. This hotel has an amazing customer service. I’ve had the pleasure of staying here in the past”
“Who is he?” she asks with her finger pointed at the other guy.
“Right! I haven’t made the proper introductions. Lauren, this is Richard Maguire, my chief of staff. Richard, I want you to meet Lauren Casenave. She’s an old friend of mine” Werner introduces, Maguire being the first to make a move by walking up to offer her a hand.
“Nice to meet you. Senator Werner has told me that you are a reporter” he said. Richard was near 35 years of age, and exuded enthusiasm in every single one of his actions. As many people she had seen before, he wore a flawless suit and couldn’t detach from the Blackberry that contained information on all the Senator’s activities.
“I’m getting started in this business. Your boss might be exaggerating a little. My pleasure” Lauren replies, accepting the offer of a handshake.
“Senator, not to be rude, but you have a meeting in like an hour or so. Shall we get going?”
“Richard, walk ahead and call to see if you can delay it. I need to have a word with Miss Casenave” Werner calmly explains.
“But, Senator...”
“Richard, please...It’ll just be a few minutes” Joshua insists. Maguire’s cheeks are blushed and decides to say nothing as he does what his boss ordered.
“I take it he doesn’t know anything” Lauren finally says behind closed doors.
“Promises are promises, Lauren. As I told you, not all politicians are liars” he explains in his usual tone. Sometimes she wondered if, with that charisma, Werner thought he was in an eternal campaign mode.
“What did you want to talk to me about?”
“About Philip Weiss”
“I will contact him as soon as I’m settled somewhere...that is, until I go back to my house”
“I insist that you should move into the apartment. It has a better location, and it’s safer than, well...”
“In that sense you might be right. I’ve been robbed several times”
“See what I’m talking about? Told you not to bother with the expenses. I’d much rather give it to you than hand it over to Richard”
“And why would he need it?”
“Sometimes he’s such a workaholic, that his wife kicked him out of their house” the Senator explains as he moves closer to a phone resting in the night table of the bedroom.
“Want me to order some room service while you take a shower?”
“I can take care of that myself, since I did that already. Why don’t you better wait downstairs? As far as I’m concerned, the ‘talking to you’ line was a bogus” Casenave said, walking away from him, the last sight seen is of her taking off the robe. The Senator just shook his head and smiled, as if he wanted to say how stubborn she could be. Then he picked up his phone and made two calls. One to order more room service for breakfast, and another to a moving company. Just as he hung up, the door knocked. A young girl pushed the trolley inside, amazed with the sight of the man she was serving.
“I know you. You’re that Senator! Werner, right?” she asked with anxiety.
“Yes, I am” he replied with a big smile, his charisma exuding from every pore.
“Are you going to be the next President?” . The remark made him giggle lightly, and also made her blush as she set up everything.
“Could be. But the new Administration just took office. You have to give them time”
“I would definitely vote for you” she humbly admits.
“Thanks. Here’s a little something for you” he said, taking out a generous tip from his wallet and depositing on the tray.
“Thank you. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Not for the time being. Have a nice day, sweetheart” he said. She just smiled again and left without saying a word. Just as the door closed, Lauren reemerged dressed in jeans and a dark blue sweater.
“Suit yourself” he offered Casenave as he sat across a coffee table.
“I told you I had ordered earlier”
“It wasn’t enough. Now, could you please leave your pride aside and sit down?” Werner replied. Lauren breathed a sigh and knelt on the other end of the table. Grabbing a fork and a knife, she attacked an omelette.
“Wow, this is delicious!” she commented while pouring coffee.
“Thank you. See? Waiting a little longer was worth it. I took the liberty of having your things packed and moved to the new apartment. I sent Richard to take a hike there. And don’t worry about the other’s costs. It’s all covered”
“Does that mean I have a new permanent residence?”
“You took the words off my mouth”
“Thanks” she replies, more focused on the meal than on him.
“I’ll pay for the room an extra day, just in case. But neither me nor Richard are going to be able to join you. I have a tight schedule to follow, although I would’ve liked to offer you a hand” he says, honestly. But Casenave tried to change the course of things quickly.
“Shall we get going? As you said, there’s a tight schedule to follow” she replied, her words with a dash of sarcasm.
“Quick and to the point. I like your style, kiddo”
“You can read me every Sunday”
“Just pack your bags. I’ll take a short trip to the bathroom” he says, standing up to head to the toilet. Walking to the bedroom, she packed her clothing (and other possessions) into a couple of bags, uncertain as to what surprises she would encounter during her stay.
“Okay, we’re ready. Go ahead” Joshua offers, letting Lauren exit the suite in front of him. He closed the door and together they called the elevator and headed across the main lobby and into a black car with driver that waited for them outside. Being the gentleman he was, he let her walk in first before closing the door and the vehicle speeding away from its hectic entrance.

After what felt like a couple of hours (due to an accident that deviated all traffic), the Senator’s driver announced that they had reached the desired destination. Behind them there was a small truck that contained the few belongings the journalist owned. For once (and much to her surprise), he stepped out of the vehicle and helped unload boxes out of the car and into towers by the entrance.
“Your now former landlord said furniture was part of the place, that’s why there’s so little” he explains, taking out a tower of three small boxes.
“I knew that. Same system here?” Lauren asks back as she takes out others to help out in something.
“Yes. But how many times have I told you to not worry about that? I think I did quite a good job in decorating it”
“I’ll take your word for it”
“Okay, I made my part of the deal by giving you all the facilities you could possibly need. Now it’s time to fulfill yours”
“I can’t promise anything, but if my informants do their job well, I may have enough data to set up a meeting with you by next Monday” she says, as if with that the journalist imprinted honesty to the statement.
“Sounds like something to hold on to. You sure you don’t need an extra pair of hands with that?” Joshua asks, looking at the pile of boxes.
“I can ask around to my new neighbors. Now, with all due respect...it looks like your workaholic chief of staff is really trying to catch your attention” Casenave points out at the car. Maguire was, indeed, making signals from the side of the black vehicle. With this scene, Werner just chuckled lightly.
“I believe your words are right. I’m off to get scolded. If there’s any new developments, just call me, okay?”
“Don’t tell me how to do my job, Senator. I already told you everything” Lauren says, signaling that their conversation was through. Each of them took a path, and she got a dose of free entertainment watching Richard scold his boss as if roles had reversed. Once they were gone, she took a glimpse at the address engraved in a plaque: 112 Embassy Row. The surroundings were nice and quiet, full of big houses and tight security.
“Can I help you?” she heard a male voice ask behind her. It made her jump off the scare. It wasn’t American, judging not only by the accent, but by this man’s looks. He was tall, thin and the color of his tie matched his light gray suit to perfection. His eyes and hair were both of a dark brown color, and looked like if he had decided to start growing a beard that same morning.
“Don’t worry, I got it covered. Thanks anyway”
“Doesn’t look like that to me. New neighbor?”
“Not exactly. A friend told me to use it while my old place is going through repairs” Lauren replies. The man chuckles lightly, since he was absolutely amused.
“Half-neighbor it is. Apartment?”
“23. Are you sure I’m not bothering you?”
“Nah. It’s a slow news day. Wait here, I’ll go get your keys at reception” he says and runs inside, like a knight in shiny armor that came to her rescue at the right moment.
“Number 23, correct? Follow me, ma cherie” he said with a smile to then grab part of those boxes in the first of multiple trips across the stairs. To not abuse of his generosity, Lauren helped in any way she could. And in a moment she found herself looking at him. His European air was attractive and mysterious.
“Okay. This is the last one. You’re all set” he says, looking at Casenave put down the keychain.
“I’m sorry I abused of your good will. But you came in just the right moment”
“Don’t be. I liked helping you move in”
“Is there any way I could thank you, helper?”
“I could come over in a couple of hours, order take-out and get to know my new neighbor in an intimate housewarming. Sounds good?”. With the proposal her face seemed to light up and nodded eagerly.
“Great! I’m in Apartment # 21, in case you need anything”
“I appreciate it, mister...?” she asks, wanting to know the identity of this gentleman with a clear Spanish influence.
“Enrique Santa Maria. My pleasure” he says, holding out Lauren’s hand to kiss it tenderly.
“Lauren Casenave. Same I say” she replies, shaking his hand.
“Okay, Lauren. I’ll leave you to your business. Remember I’m across the hall if I can be of more help”
“Thank you, but I have it covered. I’ll see you in a couple of hours” she says. Enrique heads back to his place, and once a wooden door divided them, the feeling was one and the same for both. She smiled as she started to count down minutes while unpacking boxes. And Enrique Santa Maria had just found the woman of his dreams thanks to destiny.

The Capital / Chapter 6

6

“I’m not pretending. I just want to ask you for a lunch. Is that too much to ask?” Werner keeps insisting. Everything in that moment looked like, even though she had pride to keep, she also had a stomach to fill and by this time of the month she was technically broke.
“With one condition” she finally spat, her laptop being her exclusive point of focus.
“Finally I hit some sense into this kid!” the senator thought to himself. Although what he really said was a whole different thing.
“What?”
“Ask my editor for permission. I don’t want to be fired for wasting a day’s work”
“Fair enough. Let me go get him” Werner says, standing up to go get the door and go get Pete, but Lauren got in the way.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asks, surprised at how childish her behavior was turning.
“You can’t go out just like that. Call him instead” Casenave replies with the device on her hand and dials Zanetti’s number.
“Alright, put him on the line” Werner says as the reporter’s hand was stretched, slowly handing him the device. She started to think that perhaps it wasn’t the best time to be dealing with this. Whatever good intentions he might’ve had wouldn’t make her stop. In a few minutes, Pete and a secretary came into the office...carrying a bag with props.
“Oh, I’M NOT DOING THAT!” she exclaims when seeing where this mess with the wigs and clothes were going to take her.
“Dear, it’s just to avoid that some photographers take a snap picture of the two of you eating lunch together”
“But...why?”
“Please understand that it’s not only because the man is a senator, but because you can’t be by yourself. Your secret could be out” Pete explains. There was an awkward silence between everybody until Lauren breathed a sigh and said she would do it. Between everybody, they put a disguise on both Lauren and Werner to get them to his car without being spotted.
“Damn it! Run!” Werner screams, trying to keep it as low as possible to not be heard.
“I can’t see anything. Help me!” Lauren whispers back. Her head was lowered, and that caused her to not knowing where they were. For her surprise, and bringing down the myth that the senator never cared for anybody but himself, he held her hand and helped her to get in the car as flashed had no intention to stop.
“You know where to go” was the single order given to the driver, who sped off to that special place the senator liked to go when he had to make business happen.

“You need to follow that lead. It’s of vital importance” Werner says, cryptically. The setting for both enemies was now a private table in one of the capital’s most fashionable restaurants, one of those in which power people could fix or destroy the world.
“Yeah, right...liar” she says, remembering what had happened the previous night and wanting more than to walk out and get back to work.
“Hey, watch what you say. I know we don’t get along, but you should show more respect. I’m a senator”
“Professionally speaking, I’m willing to do so. But otherwise...I don’t care. You can send in your goons, threaten me or actually attempt against me. But I’m not scared”
“What’s with the violent behavior?” the senator asks as a waitress comes with a couple of menus to take their order.
“Would you like to order now?”
“For me, the usual. And for the lady...?” Werner asks Lauren. Looking at the menu and its prices, her stomach growled but she knew she couldn’t afford the big majority of those.
“I’m not decided” she just lied, setting down the book. The waitress went away and Joshua retook the way of the conversation. He could see that Casenave was starting to crack and used that to his advantage.
“I had asked you a question”
“I’m sorry, I was distracted. What was it?” Lauren replies. The last person she needed to be showing her demons to was the man sitting across her.
“What’s up with your behavior? Looks like you took the defensive side”
“I don’t need you to meddle in what happens or stops happening to me”
“Would you please chill out? I’m not going to bite you or anything. You should start breaking down the same barriers you brought around yourself and open up a little more. Has it been like that always?” he asks. That same question was replied with silence.
“I’m trying to help you...in more than one front. Please work with me a little”
“That takes time” was her plain response.
“Then I’m more willing to spend that time. Look, Lauren...You and I might be enemies to the death, but I am confident...that underneath that image of the most poisonous pen in D.C...”
“Have they said that?”
“Believe me...there’s an equilibrium between the number of fans and haters you have in this city”
“Wow...I feel strangely flattered” she says just as the waitress comes with his food, then looks at the woman with him.
“Are you ready to order?”
“Nothing for me, thank you” she says, handing back the menu. This causes Werner to raise an eyebrow, as if he wasn’t pleased with this.
“It’s on me. Please don’t pay attention to her. She’ll have the grilled chicken with herbs risotto, three chocolates cake as desert for both of us, and water to drink for her”
“Right away, sir” the waitress says as she takes the menu, and with a smile she walks away. Lauren’s cheeks were now red.
“Senator, with all due respect...”
“Please, it’s Joshua now” he politely says, the smile mixed with the action of eating.
“Okay. Joshua, with all due respect, I cannot accept that. I can’t afford to eat here”
“As I said, it’s on me. And don’t think about giving that money back, because I will reject it”
“Well...thank you”
“As I was saying, there is something very valuable behind that. So I’m willing to put my differences aside and spend all the resources I need to discover that. And if it backfires on me...at least it will allow me to have some arguments for disliking you”
“I don’t trust you”
“I promise you that whatever you tell me won’t be of public knowledge...starting with your identity. I will even sign a legal document if that gives you more peace of mind”
“Sounds fair”
“So that means I broke the first wall?”
“You could say that. But I want to know something first”
“Shoot. From now on, I will try to be as open as possible with you. And I hope it’s the other way around”
“Are you being sincere, or all this show is just for you to have me drop the charges?”
“As ironic as you may find it...I am being an honest politician. And about the charges...I may be able to offer you a temporary solution”
“What are you talking about?”
“I have an apartment that I use every now and then. It’s furnished and everything, located near your workplace...”
“I said I can’t afford a lunch, let alone that”
“Relax, I don’t need you to pay me a rent or anything. The problem you have is that you think you’re supergirl. Well...you’re not”. Suddenly, Lauren started laughing. This reaction was received positively by him, even though he didn’t understand.
“What’s so funny?”
“In what part did our conversation drift away?”
“I have no idea!” he replied, laughing as well. Her food was brought, and they managed to at least eat dessert together. Slowly, both felt comfortable around each other. Some of her previous fears were left at the door, and something deep inside her was telling her, like a voice, to trust the guy and follow the damned lead.
“I should get going” Lauren has to excuse herself when looking at the hour. Even though she felt a lot more composed after the hangover, she wouldn’t be able to make it back to the paper. So the wisest thing to do was to head back to the apartment while there was still daylight.
“Wait” Werner says as she stands up.
“What is it?”
“I can’t let you, in all good faith, let you stay another night in that ‘box’ that is unsafe. I’ll get you a hotel room for tonight, and tomorrow I’ll make some time to show you the apartment personally”
“But...my things”
“Let’s make a deal: Now I have to head home to my wife and daughter. But afterwards my driver will take you to your place so you can pack whatever you think you will need. I also need you to give me your mobile number so I can contact you later with all the details. Is that okay with you?”
“Wait. This isn’t a bribe attempt, is it? Because that could be unethical...”. As she was talking, Werner silenced her with a finger over her lips.
“Hush, Lauren. This is not a bribe, and for this to work you’ll have to leave your nature aside and stop with the questions”
“Fine”
“For now, let’s get going. You can abuse of room service responsibly” Werner says, paying for their meal and enlisting the help of a group of employees to help them get out through the back door because photographers were waiting for their prey. Thankfully, this technique allowed them to hop in safely and stop a block away from the Werner residence. That was a precaution taken to avoid a bigger misunderstanding. In fact, Norah wasn’t home and Violet had sports practice. When that was confirmed, the car moved forward and left the senator outside the front door of the estate.
“Well, this is my stop. It was great having this day with you. And now I hope I can get to know you better” he says, politely kissing her hand. Lauren had left most of her doubts at the door long ago.
“I could say the same. We could stay as enemies in some fronts, and even get to be good friends in others someday”
“Don’t forget the name!” he calls after her from the doorway as he sees the car leave.
“I hope you tell them the truth” Werner mutters to himself, thinking that he wasn’t trying hard enough. But all he could do for now is to book the hotel reservation and wait for his family, knowing that whatever she published now could either wreck his career or help it. Taking out the napkin that had the journalist’s number on it, he just sent a text with the information she needed to know before calling it a day.

“Are you sure that this is the right place?” Lauren asks the senator’s personal driver as he stopped outside the capital’s most elegant hotel. Something completely opposite to what she was used to.
“Yes. These are the instructions sent by the senator. All expenses are on him” he briefly explains to only enhance her amazement.
“Make sure you thank him for me”
“There is someone named David who’s in charge of you” he explains as she takes out her belongings from the back seat.
“Thank you. Goodnight for now” Lauren says as the car drives away, her luggage in hand. She finds David with little difficulty, who, in turn, escorted her to the presidential suite. Casenave’s jaw drops at seeing the wide space, that was more than her office and apartment put together. Added to this was the luxury of the room. He rejected the tip because Werner had taken care of that already. But she decided to wait until tomorrow to try all that out, since she was starting to become sleepy. So she dropped the bag and changing into a more comfortable attire, she fell into a deep slumber the second her head touched the soft pillow.

The Capital / Chapter 5

5

As predictable, the following morning Lauren’s phone doubled as Collette’s alarm in the living room. She had decided to take it away from its owner just in case. Her hand moved blindly seeking the device since she hadn’t drank as much as her friend. Eventually, she found it on the coffee table, rubbed her eyes and picked it up.
“Hello?” Pete Zanetti’s voice said on the other end. He was the editor at the Beltway Gazette...and Lauren’s boss.
“Pete? Hi, this is Collette Shapiro, Lauren’s friend”
“Collette, hi. Where’s Lauren?”
“Well...she had a little too much to drink last night”
“That’s strange. She’s always so responsible” Pete asks, confused. But then one of the receptionists brought a paper with the police seal among a tower of newspapers.
“Did she just press charges for assault against Joshua Werner?!” Zanetti exclaimed, now locked inside his office.
“Do you understand why she’s wasted now?”
“And how do YOU know?”
“She told me” Collette replies. Pete had nothing more to do than breathe a sigh.
“Let me talk to her” he insists.
“One second” she says, moving silently towards the bedroom. Slightly opening the door, she saw Lauren sleeping like a child. She felt bad for doing it, but she started to shake Casenave until she woke up with a moan.
“Lauren? Good morning, it’s me. Pete is on the phone” she whispered as Lauren tried hard to open her eyes.
“Here” she continued and put the device to the reporter’s ear.
“Yeah?” Lauren said with a raspy voice.
“Sweetheart, it’s me. Your editor...Listen to me: I just got a memo from the police. When you feel better, and before you come here, you need to pass to make your statement”
“Statement? What have I done wrong?”. Casenave felt as if the last 24 hours had been wiped off her records.
“Why don’t you tell me?”
“Guess who broke into my apartment last night: That jackass of Werner”
“Oh my god! You’ve got your own story on this! What did he have to say to his favor?”
“Oh, the darts I’ll throw at him for this one...threatening freedom of the press!” she starts explaining. Zanetti couldn’t believe what his star was saying, confirming the claims.
“He WHAT? He should be arrested for that, and you should have the exclusive on that”
“I called the police after he left. The charge is assault” she says, some of that rum doing the talk for her as Shapiro collected the clean clothes from her overnight bag.
“How did he assault you?”
“He saw me nude, for starters”
“Did he hurt you?” he asks, concerned.
“Nothing that I know of”
“Okay, listen: Go down to the station for an interview with the cops and then straight to me. Okay? We need to have a talk about this”
“Fine” she says and hangs up. Collette had brought breakfast and some pills to cure the headache along with the clothes.
“Take two of these, you’ll feel brand new in a while. And into the shower to put on these”
“Thanks. You’ve already done more than enough for me” Lauren says, swallowing the capsules with orange juice.
“Okay, less talk and more action”. As Lauren was showering, Collette opened the curtains to let the sun in, and half an hour later, the reporter was aboard a cab and on her way to the station.

“Excuse me? Good morning, my name’s Lauren Casenave. I was called earlier” the reporter told an officer when she arrived. Lauren was trying to look as decent as possible. The jeans and sweater, even though they were her own, were uncomfortable and mixed with the same jacket and shoes from last night.
“Yes, ma’am. Good morning. Detective Harris is expecting you. This way, please” he briefly explained. She just nodded and followed the guy into a standard office where an older man with a suit and a friendly face awaited her.
“Please have a seat...And you, bring us some water” he says, dispatching the kid in uniform and offering her a seat.
“Detective Harris. Nice to meet you” he says, shaking her hand.
“Lauren Casenave”
“Ma’am. We needed to speak to you privately regarding the claims you filed against Senator Werner” he starts. After drinking all the water in one sip, Lauren took a more serious posture.
“I’m all ears, detective”
“Well, we’ve already spoken with him and his team this morning. He claims that the front door to your apartment was open” Harris explains to Lauren.
“The powerful think that they can get away with everything. He’s probably got them bribed” she thought to herself at a moment of flying low as Harris went on with his findings.
“Well...we did some background checking, and not only you, but other residents have had previous complaints listed about the faulty locks on your doors. Is that true?” Harris questions as he slides a report onto her end. Lauren took off the sunglasses (that was odd enough for a January day) and felt like she couldn’t read.
“I can’t speak about others, but yes. I have”
“Since it is not likely that he broke into your apartment, we can’t charge him with that. Nor we can charge him with assault, because, according to his statement, he did not physically touch you at any time”
“Alright...it’s my word against his” she thinks to herself again. Harris was right about the no physical contact between them, but about the break-in there were two different versions. It was then when her phone rang. The caller was Pete, and that meant she had to hurry things up and go to work. But for now, she chose not to answer.
“Then have him pair for my repair, detective”
“What exactly has he damaged, miss Caseneve?”. When Harris misspelled her last name, she didn’t seem to happy.
“The door. That he pays for it, and that it allows me to change the locks”
“Did he break your door, miss Caseneve?”
“There he goes again” she thinks again before having to correct Harris.
“First, the name is CASENAVE. You wrote it bad in your report”
“I’m sorry, ma’am”
“And about the door thing...I may look innocent, but I’m not stupid. HE DID!”
“Well, Mr. Werner claims it was unlocked, so are you still going to press charges?”
“I will drop them as long as he does that...”. In mid sentence, the phone didn’t stop ringing. For her editor to be calling so repeatedly it had to mean something important was going on, and she couldn’t ignore it.
“Detective, if I may...Can we finish this on some other occasion? I have a work emergency” she excuses herself.
“You know what? Here’s my card. Call me if you have any doubts or new developments” Harris offers, handing her a slip of paper that she keeps on her wallet.
“Thank you, and I’m so sorry” she says and walks out to grab another taxi and head to the paper as fast as she could.

“What on earth is going on?” Lauren asks Pete as she bumps into him as soon as she set foot at the paper.
“Guess who just happened to be ‘passing by’ the neighborhood”
“Where is he?”
“Your office. I’ve already set up everything so you can talk to him in private”
“Pete?”
“Yes, dear?”
“Stay close. Just in case he wants to use force. I’m a big girl, but...just to be on the safe side”
“Of course” he says and lets her go the rest of the way by herself. The door handle moved and she found the Senator sitting there as if it were his own...behind a bouquet of flowers.
“You!” she exclaims, closing the door behind her.
“Hi. I’m glad I caught you” he says, smiling and standing up to greet her with a kiss on the cheek.
“And I’m not interested. Let me pass”
“Look, Lauren...I’m here in the best intentions. I even brought you these flowers as a peace offering to hopefully, try to start salvaging our differences”
“Excuse me, but who said this truce was permanent?”
“I also wanted to talk to you about the lead I gave you yesterday”
“Let go of me”
“I haven’t touched you”
“Yeah, right...You can take back your flowers too. I have a lot of delayed work as well” she says, trying to move to her desk and leave her belongings there as well. Werner is starting to lose his patience, and is even considering extreme measures to slap some sense into her. But after her recent allegations with the police, he knows he has to keep his cool to avoid a bigger scandal.
“Did you follow it?”
“NO! I told you that I have a lot of work. I’m late, and my editor is, most likely, going to kill me. Plus, this isn’t the best place to talk about that kind of things” she insisted. Werner had moved to allow her a seat and the use of her laptop. It this wasn’t going to work, he’d have to work his charm on his public enemy.
“I bet you’re hungry. Why don’t we go grab a bite in a much better place than that box you call home?”
“Please quit your pretty boy ways. Part of the dirt I have is that you have violent behavior behind that perfect image” she says, not even looking at him. As that happened, outside the locked office, a wave of rumors started to spread around the building. People were asking Zanetti why Lauren was locked inside her office for such a long while. He tried hard to not hear those, but Casenave’s absence was felt. So the editor had to make up an excuse that she had summoned some people to her office for an emergency meeting. But he didn’t know for how long he could do that, because, in a few hours, it would be the time to call it a day’s work.

The Capital / Chapter 4

4

“How can somebody who is so young be such a bitch?” Werner thought to himself as he now was in the back of his vehicle, waiting for the driver to return from buying a bottle of water. He’s sitting back, wondering over and over if he has done the right thing by sending her to follow a lead that left his career hanging in the hands of a teenager.
“Sorry, sir. My girlfriend called me while I was on the shop” the driver apologizes as he dives straight into the front of the vehicle. But the senator seemed lost in another universe.
“Drive” he coolly instructs. Frightened, the kid just nodded and the car headed off back to Virginia. Suddenly, as Werner looked out at the capital’s monuments lit up with the night, he had an internal change of mind. He started to look at Lauren beyond the crystal of reporter. Instead through that of a woman behind a character. He thinks of how she looked, red-faced when he caught her in the tub, causing Werner to start thinking random thoughts. What if there was more to the woman than a poison pen? He would have to work hard to figure it out and be in good terms with his self-proclaimed #1 public enemy.
“JOSHUA WERNER! GET YOUR POWER ASS HERE!” he heard a familiar female voice shout. With his wandering imagination, the tracks of time and space were lost, and sooner rather than later he was home. The woman shouting from the window was his wife, Norah.
“Sir, we’ve arrived to your place”
“Yeah, I’ve seen that. I want you here first thing in the morning tomorrow” Joshua says as he opens the door by himself and leaves the vehicle.
“Good night, Mr. Senator” the driver replies to nobody before driving away. Werner straightened out his tie and took a deep breath before entering his home late at night.
“Where the hell have you been?” Norah complains. The woman worked in the board of several charity organizations, had just turned 40, and judging by her blonde hair and fine features, one could tell she’d probably age nicely. She and Joshua (both coming from wealthy families) had met almost a decade ago in the country club, had fallen in love instantly and were considered among one of the capital’s most stable couples.
“Norah, keep it down! Violet could be sleeping upstairs”
“Don’t yell at me!”
“I haven’t raised my voice. But you didn’t have to shout from our window”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t even think that you’d be that upset...I was just worried with you out there so late, being a senator. I couldn’t sleep, that’s all”
“I had some last-minute work, and then I met up with a close colleague for a drink. I’m sorry if I worried you”
“Phew! I was thinking the worst...since Richard has called me countless times” Norah says, referring to the senator’s chief of staff.
“Really? Something happened?”
“I told him to call you on your mobile, since he wouldn’t tell me...What, didn’t you hear it?” she questions.
“No...Whoa, something really big has happened!” the senator says, taking out his phone from his pocket. In fact, there were around ten calls from the same number.
“Can it wait until tomorrow? In case you haven’t noticed, it’s late”
“I’ll be right with you, darling. I will call Richard from my studio first, okay?” Joshua says, kissing his wife on the forehead. Norah smiles at her husband.
“You will owe me and Violet a big one”
“I give you my word that I will make it up to you both this weekend. Just the three of us as a family”
“I’ll take your word for it, but for now try not to take too long”
“I won’t. I love you”
“I love you too, Joshua” she says and walks as quietly as possible to their bedroom on the second floor. Once she was gone from his sight, Werner headed the opposite way to his spacious den. Silently, to not awake his daughter, he closed the door and fixed himself a drink after a long day’s work. Removing his tie, he sat on a comfortable leather chair and called Richard Maguire.
“Hello?” a sleepy male voice answered from the other end. Maguire was at a hotel room for a week now, since his wife had kicked him out of their home.
“Richard, it’s Joshua Werner...I’m sorry to disturb you at such a late hour”
“No, senator. It’s okay. I tried calling you several times. Something wrong?” Maguire now asks, turning on a bedside lamp and rubbing his eyes to be more awake.
“I had to pay someone a visit”
“By any chance, does that visit have the name of a woman?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I just got word from Metro Police that a woman named Lauren Casenave has charged you with assault” Richard says, grabbing a few loose notes he scribbled.
“Never heard of her. Or seen her in that matter. I guess that didn’t make the press yet”
“No, but if I may advice....the wisest thing to do would be to release a statement to them denying whatever claims this person made against you”
“Take care of that for me, and tomorrow we’ll meet in the cafe to discuss it. They would probably call the woman. It’ll be fixed in a heartbeat, sir”
“Thanks, Richard. I’ll see you tomorrow” Werner says and hangs up. Collecting all of his bits, he goes upstairs to change into his pajamas, brush his teeth and get into the empty side of the bed in peace, where Norah slept soundly already.
Lauren had just hung up the phone after collecting the authorities. Werner’s visit had left her quite mad, because not only he knew the person behind the columns, but where she lived, and had caught her in the core of intimacy. But salvation came quite quickly when the door knocked, and she was greeted with the vision of the blonde woman with rock star looks.
“Hey...what was all that mess about?” Collette asks while standing in the doorway. Casenave had just finished talking to Metro police to press charges and had pushed it with anger.
“Believe it or not...I can’t say it in a sober state. Let’s just hit the town” Lauren says, grabbing her purse and jacket.
“O...kay. Must be a big something, since you’re so upset. Wouldn’t you rather stay here?”
“NO! Being here makes me sick”
“Pack an overnight bag if you wanna crash. Got paper tomorrow?”
“When I don’t?” Lauren comments, causing Shapiro to laugh out loud. From the closet, she grabbed pants and a sweater and other things stashed as they were in a backpack.
“Alright, I’m ready. Let’s get going. Any place in particular you’d thought of?”
“Oh, god. Please don’t tell me it has to do with THAT person” Collette assumes, based on the journalist’s mood.
“Sadly, it does. I just had called the police, because he was here”
“Did you open the door?”
“I was taking a bath”
“How in the hell...?”
“I don’t have the answer. But, Collie...”
“Okay, Casenave. I got the point. You are in desperate need of booze”
“And just by the sole mention of it, I lost all interest in a bar”
“C’mon, tonight could be the night in which we could meet some hot guys”
“I need to get that unwanted moron out of my system. Another night, I promise”
“I REALLY think you need a boyfriend and a makeover”
“Can we get going?”
“As you wish” Collette says, taking the backpack and letting Lauren walk ahead downstairs, where a small red car was waiting for them. Sooner rather than later, they were entering through a back door of an industrial complex in the Adams-Morgan neighborhood. The first floor doubled as a spacious record store where you could find both new and used things, as the second story was Collette’s place. She turned on the lights as Lauren went straight for the bottle cabinet.
“I’m too obvious to figure out” Casenave mutters out of earshot as a bottle of rum became her intoxication of choice.
“That’s supposed to mean...?”
“The way I dress, I act and that kind of stuff”
“No, not really. It’s the surroundings that give you away...If you were, for example, at a parade or an art gallery, I’d have no idea what you do...Yes, you could be a journalist or a lawyer, a business person, a teacher, work at a funeral place, a secretary...an accountant or a housewife...okay, maybe not a housewife” Collette jokes.
“That’s not funny. But...not all people profit from information”
“Most do. But are you going to tell me what happened or not?”
“One second. Shall we toast?”
“Let me find a disc, and I’ll be right with you” Collette says from the stereo. It didn’t take her long to find the appropriate soundtrack and Shapiro sat down next to her friend.
“Cheers to...?” she asks, raising her glass.
“To finish sour days on a sweet note” Lauren proclaims and soon the glasses collided.
“Okay, spill the beans. The anxiety is killing me”
“Fine. I hate it when you start pushing me” Casenave complains, taking a strong sip that was almost spit out before starting to speak.
“Unfortunately, as I said, it has to do with this person whose name shall not be mentioned”
“Fair enough”
“This person shows up at my house without having the slightest idea how he managed to get that”
“You should know better. The powerful can get away with everything. All it takes is money and some influence”
“Anyways, he comes inside, and is such a bastard that he comes into the bathroom without even knocking!”
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“No. As I told you back at my place, I was taking a bath”
“So what happened later?”
“Take an educated guess...I told him to get the hell out of there, because it was disrespectful”
“Of course. Don’t you forget that, beyond a senator, he is a MAN!” Collette points out, causing Lauren to laugh and make a toast to such an intelligent remark.
“So what next?”
“I got dressed and everything to wait for you...but he was still there, sadly. Said he wanted to talk to me”
“What could he possibly want from you?”
“Uh...I am his proclaimed public enemy. That should give you an idea”
“Lauren, I’m not a journalist. Elaborate before you end up wasted” Shapiro points out, based on how fast the rum bottle had vanished.
“What I’m about to tell you, you have to keep it a secret. Only Pete knows about this” Casenave started, clearly intoxicated, but trying to stay serious.
“Okay, I’m not liking this. Please tell me”
“What happens is that...my beloved informants brought to my attention about a month ago a lead about this character being involved in...” Lauren said and stopped to take a deep breath.
“Are you okay? Do you want me to take you to the bathroom?”
“I’m fine...I just need a moment to stabilize”
“Sure? If you want, give me your phone and I’ll call Pete”
“No...But if you had a bed or something nearby, I’d appreciate it” Casenave whispers.
“Alright, big girl...Give me your hand and let’s get going” Shapiro says, trying to balance Lauren as best as she could. Her friend didn’t drink much, so for her to end up in these conditions, something big must’ve happened. Eventually, Casenave’s head rested on a tower of pillows and the body covered with a blanket.
“Where were we?”
“The character and your beloved informants”
“Right...”
“Stay up! Just a little while?”
“Trying! Werner might be involved with the mafia, and I have all the evidence to support and publish it”
“Wow! This proves my theory that all politicians are no angels! You got a bomb in your hands!”
“And it really burns. Pete wants to go ahead, and I do too...But I could end up in prison for its contents. I might hate the guy, but it can certainly destroy a few”
“So the reason he went there was because...”
“He swears he’s being framed, and that I should talk to, uh...can’t remember his name now”
“A man”
“So I get the real facts. We’ve called it a truce for now...Collie, he knows my secret”
“WHAT?!” Collette explains, shocked because Werner had just blackmailed her friend.
“Yeah, he’ll keep his mouth shut for now if I held off the story....and that I answered some questions over a lunch”
“Well...I now understand why you needed the bottle. BUT you should get some sleep now. You got work tomorrow and Pete will be enraged” Shapiro insists, accommodating all the elements that, as desired, induced sleep on the young reporter. After cleaning up some of the mess in the living room, Collette armed a makeshift bed until the next morning.

The Capital / Chapter 3

3

Werner was still in the back of his vehicle as it took him back home with his wife and daughter in Virginia. He seemed impatient with something, since he fussed with his tie and phone, as if he waited for the solution to all his problems. The visit to the Beltway Gazette had been a little too fishy for him, and his intuition screamed that they were hiding something as soon as he said Caffrey’s name. As they crossed a bridge that connected DC with Arlington, his phone vibrated, and that action made him jump of the scare. His driver offered a glance as well through the rearview mirror, but didn’t dare say a word.
“Norah?” Joshua asks to the caller, believing it was his wife.
“No, Senator. I’m not your wife bitching. It’s me” he replied. The caller was, in fact, the P.I. he had asked help to earlier.
“What do you have for me?” the Senator asks with growing anxiety.
“I’ve pulled up information regarding this woman you told me about...Lauren Casenave. Thought you’d be interested to hear”
“Tell me all you have on her” Werner demands.
“According to my findings, her father died serving the nation and the mother abandoned her. Twin sis died at birth...Uh...Cornell grad in journalism, living at Cherry Tree apartments near GWU for the past 20 months. A few hours ago, she was spotted returning home”
“A loner? That’s sad” he mocks.
“That’s all I could collect for the time being. If there’s anything more relevant, we’ll be in contact”
“Thank you, that’ll be all” Werner says and hangs up, leaving the mobile on the seat. With the information on his end of the field, and assuming Norah could take a little too long in picking up Violet, he came up with a plan.
“I need to make another stop” Joshua decides as night fell over the capital.
“Where are we headed to, sir?” the driver asks, not really happy with this, since all he wanted was to call it a day and go home.
“Cherry Tree Lane. Near GWU”
“Is there any reason why we’re headed there, sir? It’s too far from your usual route”
“I just want to pay an acquaintance a visit” he replies. The driver doesn’t dare asking more questions. If his boss wants to tell him something else, he would say it in good time. Without another word, the car finds a place to turn around, and heads in the opposite direction.
“God, this isn’t what it looks like” Werner tells himself as he looks out the window. The apartment building that was Cherry Tree Lane is nothing like he’d seen pictured in magazines.
“Where would you like me to stop?” the driver asks, bringing Joshua back to reality from the rants and initial shock.
“Just over there, by the entrance” the Senator replies. A minute later, the engine has stopped.
“I’ll wait for you here, sir”
“Okay, thank you!” the Senator hollers and gets off, quickly walking towards the entrance. The buzzer downstairs doesn’t work, but, as a take-out kid was leaving, it gave him the chance to walk inside as fast as he can. As he takes out the sheet with the P.I. information, he is absolutely disgusted with the environment of his surroundings. Eventually, he reaches apartment 717 and knocks on the door, only to see it slightly open.
“Why don’t residents invest in better quality things?” he asks himself as he carefully steps in. His senses are on full alert, because he’s worried with two things: The first, not being spotted because that would make him look awful, and two, that someone else might’ve broken in. Settled in, Werner looks around. The apartment is small, and with simple decoration that is cheap under his standards. This surprises him for the following fact: Why someone who would make a good amount of money could live like this? Walking further, he starts to hear bossa music coming from one of the rooms, causing a mental ‘wow’.
“What in the name?” he asks, now more than confused. He now feels warm air and the smell of lavender coming from the room: The perfect incentive to walk in further and investigate. Now Werner sees light through the crack and a female shadow in the tub. Thinking of the worst-case scenario, he goes in and shrieks loudly: The shadow wasn’t a corpse, but a lady soaking after a hard day’s work. Lauren screams loudly and sinks in fully, hoping it would go away.
“I’m...so sorry. I didn’t realize...I mean, I didn’t think...I mean, the door was open, and...” Joshua blurts out, not being able to form one coherent sentence because of the shock and embarrassment.
“Thief! I’m going to call the police!” Lauren says once she has emerged to the surface and goes for the phone that is near the towels.
“I’m not here to steal...I was just here to speak to you, miss”
“I don’t know you” she mechanically replies, not even wanting to look at this person.
“You should, you write enough about me” he says, now taking great pleasure with the facts: He has just put a face to the enemy.
“I said I don’t know you. Why should I write about you, then?”
“Then let me introduce myself: I’m Senator Joshua Werner”
“Yeah, and I’m the Queen of England” Lauren says with clear sarcasm before sinking back underwater.
“Look, Lauren...I came here to discuss what you think you have on me. Would you mind if I waited for you in your living room?” he says, doing his best to avert his eyes. He was a family man with a reputation to keep, so he had to behave for both Norah’s and his career’s sakes.
“Go away” she shouts. Scared, he quietly leaves the room and closes the door. Werner is red with shame because of what just took place in the bathroom. So he sits in the living room and starts to look at the photos on the walls. In between, he hears the sound of zippers and the hair dryer until he sees her walk back into the living room/kitchen, dressed in a navy blue pencil skirt and an unbuttoned white shirt. Casenave thought that the uninvited guest had left, but her smile vanished as soon as her gaze finds him sat there.
“Sir, I thought you had already left” she politely comments while buttoning up the blouse.
“I REALLY do need to talk to you”
“About what? If I’d never seen you before”
‘Time to play my card’ he thinks to himself before moving forward.
“In the Beltway Gazette, you publish under the name of Lauren Caffrey. Correct, Miss Casenave?” he asks, using her real identity to spook her. He knows she’s hiding, and the first step of negotiation is to acknowledge the parts.
“How do you know that?”
“So you admit it?”
“Admit what?”
“If you carry on, miss Casenave...I will be forced to take a picture with my phone and publish your secret” he says, toying with the mobile device.
“Then I’d like to see you try” she threatens, the two being the complete opposite of the other.
“You never stop, do you?”
“With all due respect, Senator...I have plans for tonight, so I’ll have to ask you to leave” she says, putting on some heels.
“I just want to talk. Calm down...it’s only until your guest arrives” he says, politely. Lauren breathes a sigh and has no choice, praying Colette would get there soon.
“Fine. Let’s talk like two grown people. Can I offer you anything?”
“Whatever you have is fine by me” he says, still not understanding how she can live there. Lauren finds some coffee and puts water to boil.
“Talk. You’ve embarrassed me a lot tonight” she replies, setting down the tray on the table.
“I know you’re about to leak a big story. An exclusive about my dealings with members of the mafia”
“You should go figure it out somewhere else, then”
“Lauren, you’ve got the wrong information. The story you were given was planted so as to point a finger at me. The people behind this want you to look the other way” he starts explaining, drinking the sour coffee in between.
“So...?”
“You’re being distracted. If you don’t pay attention, you may never get the real story, and both your short career and reputation will go down the drain” he says, the first part being serious while the other was just to mock her.
“Mr. Senator. I am the wrong person here”
“No, you’re JUST the one I need. Listen...hold off on the story for a while, or at least let me have a look on what you have...Miss Casenave, there’s a whole lot of people you should be writing about” Werner pleads. To get him off her back, she negotiates to be left alone.
“Mr. Werner, if you let me proceed with my evening, I will not print anything on you for a while. Some sort of truce. Take it or leave it” Casenave proposes.
“That’s all?”
“Oh, and the answer to some questions”
“I want those as well, but that’ll have to be in some other occasion. Dinner or a lunch, perhaps?”
“I’m not in the mood to be the ‘other woman’”. The comment makes him angry and now Werner is ready to head towards her door.
“I’ll give you one last warning, Casenave: The guy you want to be talking to is Philip Weiss. He’ll give you the real story. Think about it, or I will reveal your secret. Good night”. With that, Werner gets up and leaves.
“Wait!” Lauren shouts out, having a million questions to ask. But as she calls him back, she sees him head towards the black car through her window. With him out of sight, she gets to the task of cleaning up her small space and do her hair and make-up in her small bathroom. As she was on that, the Intercom in the kitchen buzzed.
“Hello?”
“Miss Casenave, miss Shapiro is here downstairs” a young Latin voice informed her.
“Send her in, please” Lauren says and cuts the call, grabbing her coat and purse for a night out on the town.







A/N: Advanced update just because it helps to vent out frustrations for my lack of understanding at using a Mac in Design & Multimedia class, okay?

.N

(Mood: Frustrated / Now Playing: Duffy - Rain on Your Parade)

The Capital / Chapter 2

2

“Where do we go now?” Werner’s personal driver asks him as the Inauguration ceremony came to an end. Thankfully for him, there was no attention over him, since everyone was hunting for statements of the new President, and if they were lucky enough, have the exclusive first interview. A lot of his politician friends had started to spread the rumor that his party would start pushing him during the next few weeks as their card for next election’s candidate. Joshua Werner had it all on his favor, so it was clear he would be the next President.
“To St. Martina’s. I will go get Violet” he proudly says while comfortable adjusting in the back seat. The door closed and the driver went around to start the vehicle, and hopefully avoid getting caught in the downtown traffic.
“Okay, sir” the driver replies. Violet was the Senator’s daughter and attended a private school. Just like everything in his life she was perfect: Smart, sociable, athletic and pretty. And Violet wanted to go to law school and follow her father’s (her role model) footsteps. That was the end of a long day, and he was starting to feel worn out from the pressure. But it was something he would have to start getting used to if he went ahead with a campaign.
“Nobody said this was easy” he thought to himself and breathed a sigh of relief. There was a newspaper at a side, just as he had left it before the ceremony. Wide open, on that column. He wanted nothing more than to tear it to pieces, but it would do nothing more to pollute the space. There was something about the person behind those words, even though he had never seen who was behind that column. For all he knew, it could be a man posing as a woman, or one of those resented old ladies. He had to find out who was this Lauren Caffrey person, and for that purpose he would have to call in some favors, the usual DC practice. Taking his phone from the inner pocket of his tailor-cut dark suit, he called one of his interns to have him do some research.
“Senator Werner’s office” a young man’s voice replied from a desk full of piles of paper.
“Gus, it’s me”
“Oh, hello. Sir, how can I help you?”
“I need you to find something for me...Relax, it’s nothing bad. Just some minor things” he says, trying not to get nervous with what he was about to ask. Maybe it was the dumbest thing he could be doing, and easily misinterpretated.
“I’ll see what I can do” the aide assures him in a discreet voice. It was hard to hear with the office buzzing with activity.
“I need you to collect information on Lauren Caffrey, the reporter”
“Your number one public enemy?” the staffer asks, trying hard not to giggle.
“Yes, that one. I just need to know who is really hiding behind that poisonous pen” Werner jokingly replies and is interrupted by the tapping on his window. They had reached the school.
“Senator, we are here” the driver informs him while opening the door.
“Already? That was fast” he says, storing the device to where it was. Josh Werner was going to turn 40 in a few months. His hair was dark brown with matching eyes. There were no traces of any facial hair, and everything about him exuded power and confidence. Coming from a traditional family with history in the public service, of course he had to follow that path with successful results.
“Daddy, daddy!” an 8-year-old girl shouted from the distance as she ran to him. Violet had her dad’s eyes and her mother’s blonde hair. Her uniform was immaculate and a pink backpack hung behind her.
“Hey, Violet! How’s my little princess?” Joshua asks, swinging her around. Even though he had a commitment with the country, his fatherhood duties always came first. And he was always moving his schedule to make time for her.
“Daddy, can I go to Camelia’s house?”
“Did you tell your mom?”
“Yes. She will pick me up as soon as she is done with her things. Can I? Please, please?” she asks.
“My pride can do whatever she wants to. Just be good, okay?”
“Yes, dad. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before” Violet was blushed and felt slightly guilty of having her father go all that way for nothing.
“Don’t be sorry. There will be a lot more days for picking you up and go for ice cream. Just have fun, and I’ll see you later at home. Okay?”
“Okay, daddy. I love you”
“I love you too, Violet” he says and kisses her cheek before letting her hand go and seeing her walk off with her friend and her mother helping them into a van.
“So what now, sir?” his escorts asks him as he goes back inside the car and the door shuts behind him.
“Just take us around a few blocks, really easy”
“As you wish, sir” the driver says and heads in another direction away from the school. He decides not to wait for the report and dares with his instinct that was part of his charisma.
“Brian, can I ask you something?”
“Yes, you can sir”
“Do you happen to know in which newspaper Lauren Caffrey works at?”
“It’s published at The Beltway Gazette” the driver replies.
“Could you head over there, please?”
“Okay, sir. Can I tell YOU something?”
“Please. I appreciate honesty”
“I think you could be a great President”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence. I’m glad I can count on someone like you” he says as he pulls away from the curb and speeds up.
“You sure as hell have my vote” he replies, proudly. The drive has become smooth, so when his phone starts vibrating he jumps.
“Gus, what do you have for me?” Werner asks, and the young man in the other end seemed stress and scared of losing his job.
“Nothing, sir. Uh...either that name is an alias or the woman is really clean”
“I don’t understand. That is the name in those columns”
“Well...nothing comes up” the staffer says, apologizing for this.
“Don’t worry, thanks for trying” Werner says and hangs up.
“Sir, we’ve arrived” the driver announces as they are outside DC’s most prestigious newspaper, the one most graduates would kill for to do their internship.
“Just wait for me here, it’ll be a quick stop” Werner says, getting off the car himself and heading straight to the reception desk.
“Good afternoon” a young girl said from behind a desk and the paper’s logo on the wall. She had an earpiece in her ear and didn’t seem to recognize him. He thanked for that because this ‘friendly visit’ would go unnoticed, and it wouldn’t harm the incoming presidency.
“Hello, I’m looking for one of your columnists” Werner starts, working his natural charm.
“Who would that be?”
“Lauren Caffrey” he says, but the receptionist looks puzzled.
“I’m afraid there’s no one here by that name” she says, smiling. She knows full well that it’s a lie, but the editor had paid not only her but everyone else to keep Lauren’s real name and penname separate. The public opinion couldn’t know this, so they hid their star’s identity.
“Are you sure? She writes for you every Friday”
“Yes, I am sure. The only Lauren we have working here for us is a Lauren Casenave”
“And is she here, just for curiosity?”
“Unfortunately, she went home for the day. And I’m not allowed to give out more information. Can I take a message?”
“No, no thanks. Have a good day” he says and walks away from there. But for a second, something clicked in his head and heads back to the desk.
“Just one thing: Just tell her a friend called in for her, someone she knows all too well, but knows nothing about. Make sure you give her that message like I told you” Werner instructs, not sure how it would work out.
“Okay, sir. Have a great day” the receptionist says and sees him walk out of the building back to his car as the editor passed by.
“What was that about?” Pete McKay asks.
“Somebody...a gentleman was just here asking for Lauren...And I think he knows that Lauren Casenave is behind Lauren Caffrey”
Back into Joshua’s car, he decided not to use official sources and go straight to a P.I. to figure out who was this person and pay her a visit. Maybe this could be the key to finding out who really was his ‘number one public enemy’.
“Where to now, Senator?”
“Home, please” he asks as it drove away. It was time to go see his wife, Norah. But first, he made a quick call to somebody who owed him. A deep voice answers from the other end of the line.
“Who is this and what the hell do you want?”
“It’s me, and you owe me one. I need you to check everything, and I mean EVERYTHING there is to know on a woman named Lauren Casenave. And I need it now, it’s important” the Senator says, officially becoming obsessed with her, one that would hurt both...

Meanwhile, Lauren entered her small apartment and dropped her work materials and shoes on a sofa. The place that housed her was small, but she could afford it and was her ideal home deep down. Born as Lauren Casenave, she had adapted the Caffrey last name from a novel to be her penname ever since the first column had been published and it had become an instant success. She would turn 25 in three weeks, but behind her brown hair, deep blue eyes and innocent air, there was a lot more than it met the eye. Her father, Theodore, had fought in two wars and had died protecting the country. And her mother, April, had abandoned her when she couldn’t even take care of herself, let alone a daughter. She would’ve had a twin sister, Leanne, but the pregnancy had been complicated and she had died a couple of days after birth. Lauren had been a loner, and really silent all her life, so she was used to be alone and speak when it was strictly necessary. But on the brighter side of things, she had been born to be a journalist. At college, she stayed true to her nature, but she always made smart questions that initiated debates where she stood up for her beliefs and her purpose was always the truth and ethical, investigative work. Her thesis had been brilliant, and she ended up working on the Political section and as part of the Investigative staff of The Beltway Gazette after her summer internship. And then came the column that made you either love or hate her. As she brew some coffee and found something more comfortable to put on, her cell phone rang. Scrambling through her purse, she found it and smiled at the screen.
“Hey there!” she told the person on the other end.
“About damn time, bitch!” the other woman jokingly says back as she turns down the volume of a stereo.
“Come on, Colette. I had a long one today” Lauren apologizes to Colette Shapiro, her best friend and owner of a music store. Shapiro and Casenave were physically the opposite: Colette had blond hair and a rock n’ roll style.
“I saw it. Politics is boring. Why didn’t you choose some other field like sports or entertainment?”
“Politics aren’t boring. And as long as you make an honest, ethical, hard work...”
“You’re my hero, Casenave! I salute you! When is your next column due?”
“Friday. And that is because there’s no big investigation...although Pete wants to offer me a second one for Sundays”
“Like ‘Week in Review’? If you do, you’ll still owe me BIG time! Quit and come work with me!”
“I told you I would consider the weekend job as salesperson”
“Okay, for now...Let’s go out tonight, since you’re free. Club?”
“I don’t feel like dancing”
“Bar?”
“Deal. Pick me up after you close”
“Alright, that’s the spirit! ...I really think you should let go of that naive, clean, good girl look. I’ll give you a TOTAL makeover for your birthday!”
“What?”
“Shh, surprise...I gotta go, a customer’s here!”
“Go get ‘em”
“Shut up and write, Lauren...I’ll see you tonight” Colette says and hangs up. Lauren leaves it in a pocket and grabs the coffee and with one hand moves everything to the biggest room in that space: her bedroom/writing area, dropping it all in the bed. She would give writing a break until the next day, she thought to herself while holding her good luck charm: One of her father’s medals. Instead, she started to do whatever the small bathroom allowed to create a relaxing atmosphere for a bath. When she was satisfied, she took off her clothes, methodically folded them and got in the hot water that made her forget everything around her for a while.

Introducing...my story archive

I suck at introductions, so...

...Hi, I'm known as Nicodrina. Your not-so-average journalism student, and amateur writer. I've decided to share a part of the work I've done in the past 6 years (a few fanfics, the rest is original). I'll try to upload on tuesdays, an update a week. But since I started late, today's an exception.

Well, the story "The Capital" is the re-edit of an experiment I started (and dumped) in 2005, named "Inauguration". Among my archives I found it, changed a couple names and re-started it. Don't wanna get too deep in the plot, I'd rather have the story explain itself.

Feedback is welcome, as long as it's constructive and NO ANONYMOUS! With that out of the way, enjoy. I'm off to lunch and explore this blog.

.N.


Ps. When I learn how to make decent covers, I'll share some.

[Mood: Hungry / Now Playing: Daria 1x10]

The Capital / Chapter 1

1

It’s a freezing January morning in Washington DC. Snow was covering the city, and transforms it into an image worthy of a postcard. Downtown, security measures were extreme, and of course, that detail killed the entire scenery. But today was no ordinary day, because it was the day a new President would be sworn in. The nation would have a new leader for the next four years. That had been a very close election on November. Too close to call, as experts quoted. People had split opinions, but as always, they were the ones with the choice.
Senator Josh Werner stood in front of a mirror, fixing his tie. He was very excited over today, thanks to the fact that after his term with the previous President, the soon-to-be appointed one had chosen him to serve in his administration. And who knows? Maybe he would run for President in the next election. After all he was young, handsome and had pouring charisma with people and the press. Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door. Werner tells that person to step in. Liz, the Senator’s personal assistant comes in. She is bringing a coat with her.
“Thank you, Liz” he said with a half-smile.
“You’re welcome, sir”
“Anything else?”
“No, sir. I’ll let you know when the car is here” Liz turned her back and closed the doors, walking out. Werner sat down and poured himself a cup of coffee. He then grabbed the newspaper. While he browses through the political section, he stops at a column named ‘Capital Beat’, written by Lauren Caffrey. This column had become a real pain in the ass for him when it obviously talked about him. Last year, he had declared Caffrey his ‘number one enemy’ in public…even though she was a mystery, and no one knew if Lauren even existed…but she didn’t care! The door opens and Liz appears. She tells him that the car would take him to Capitol Hill was here. Both leave.
“Liz?” he asks.
“Yes, sir?”
“If I ever run for President, would you vote for me?” he asks. Liz laughs.
“Dream on, Senator”
“Answer me”
“Yes, sir. I’d vote for you” she replied. When they get to the car, the driver attends them and drives off.

Meanwhile, Lauren Caffrey was already wandering through the halls of Capitol Hill, accompanied by a friend. She was there because she had to cover the inauguration ceremony and express her opinion about it on her column. Caffrey wasn’t exactly a supporter of the new President, but what could she do? She got paid to give her opinion in objective matters, not to discharge her emotions on a certain somebody. Lauren was also an urban legend in the political scene, and everybody feared her, even though she liked to hide in the shadows. She and her informant (Jack Burke) sit on an outside bench.
“Lauren?” Burke asks. When she doesn’t give an answer, he puts his hand in front of her face.
“Earth to Lauren Caffrey…Hello!” he yelled. Lauren turned around to face Burke.
“What?” she asks, scared.
“What’s wrong? You look strange today”
“Nothing. I was just a little distracted”
“You’re a bad liar, Caffrey. You knew that?”
“If you EVER repeat a word of what I’m about to say, I’ll deny it to the grave” Lauren said, defensively.
“Okay, tell me”
“I’m feeling under HUGE pressure. Pete has me at the edge of my sanity because of the columns. And let’s not talk about my family! I’ve been in a fucking downward spiral since the election! Thank whatever I’m a loner”
“Oh, Lauren. Don’t worry about all that. Everything will be okay” Burke says, trying to hug her. But she immediately recovered her composure and dignity. Always a lady.
“We better head in. Ceremony’s about to start” she says. They both stand up and head to where the event would be held and mixed with the crowd.

When Werner got out of his car, he saw the big number of reporters and photographers that expected his arrival. Everybody knew he could be the next President, so with his trademark charisma he answered a few questions and headed in, escorted by his security people. Upon arrival, Werner recognized many familiar faces and greeted half of DC that was there as photographers took snapshots of him. Looking up, he spotted his pubic foe, Lauren Caffrey, by the stairs in the press area. He wanted to approach her, but in that moment the elected President had stepped up with his family and the Chairman of Congress, ready to be sworn in. The eyes of the world were fixed on that as a hand was on a bible and the other raised.
“I do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States” the now-President Stevenson said as oath and the chairman congratulated him to make it official. Everybody was cheering, but when Werner turned around, Caffrey had vanished…

“Guess who was checking you out during Inauguration” Jack Burke said with just the right touch of sarcasm as he drove Lauren back to ‘The Beltway Gazette’, where she worked. They were hearing the rest of the ceremony on the radio and she drank coffee to cope with the frozen outside.
“That idiot of Josh Werner?”
“Yeah. He wanted to get close to you, but those gorillas he has as escorts didn’t let him. What could he possibly want with you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe threaten me so that I stop writing about him?”
“What are you talking about? Mr. Perfect has dirty laundry?”
“Hell yes. I handle a lot of dirt on him that I will be forced to publish one day. I mean…it could destroy his career. He knows that, so he named me his enemy. And you know the funniest thing? He has never seen me in person! Today doesn’t count”
“Wow!”
“Keep your mouth shut and take me home instead” Lauren orders. She was known to have a really strong temper sometimes, so Burke turned submissive and did as he was told.
“This was fun. We should hang out in these things more often” she says while stepping out of the car.
“See you tomorrow, my pretty?” he asks. Everyone who knew Lauren called her that.
“Yeah, right” she replies. And Jack Burke was left perplexed when the door was slammed in his face…