Love and War

As the generals took their seats, she stifled a frown because she could never get away with playing footsie underneath this football field of a table. On either side of her, her advisors puffed out their chest, so she pinched her leg to keep herself from rolling her eyes. Once she saw him across from her, the game changed. He wore the cuff links she sent him and grew out his beard like she recommended. Clearing her throat served two purposes: to slow down her libido and to commence their treaty negotiations.

“Good day, gentlemen,” she addressed the room. As she continued her welcoming remarks, he smoldered at her. Any bystander would assume he was simply mad because she waged war on his country. However, with the addition of a lick or bite of the lips, any sexual being would begin to speculate. His sly attitude was what got her hooked when they first met. The President’s Ball in Greenroe. Five years ago. Sipping champagne and discussing drug busts. 

“Chancellor Barns,” she addressed him.

“You can call me Harold.”

She was one cheeky grin away from jumping across this table and pouncing on him, and he knew that too. “Chancellor Barnes.” She wasn’t about to start following his orders. “For us to consider any agreement, you need to reinstate our previous trade deals and lift your travel restrictions.”

“We can’t do that.”

“Then, we will nuke your capital.”

His mother wouldn’t say he was a bad person, but the thought of President Avdic -- Carla -- blowing up his capital made him want her even more. This was a young war for a young and secret romance. It was hot and explosive.

“President Avdic, would you be against a private conversation?” He asked, despite knowing the answer. He was putting on a show.

She sat up and gulped. “No, Chancellor Barnes. Whatever it takes for us to swiftly reach a deal.” They waited as their guests grunted and rose from their seats. While they waddled out, she fixed her hair. When the door closed behind them, she said, “Harold, what is your plan to end the war?”

“Come on. They’re gone. Let’s have some more fun.” He smirked, and she exercised all the restraint she had by fiddling with her papers.

“This war has been fun, but we need to end it now. We’ve passed 3,000 casualties. Also, people may find out about…” Her voice trailed off, as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

“But why stop the fun now? You find this just as sexy as I do.”

She scoffed, crossed her arms, and asked, “Why did you ever stop trading in the first place?”

“That jag bag from Cota.”

“President Russo? What did he do?”

“I saw him flirting with you at the international summit.”

“So you’re a jealous man?” She raised an eyebrow. “What would you do if I asked Russo to be an ally?”

“You wouldn’t.” His jaw jutted out.

  “You can’t stop me.” She almost flipped her hair but refrained. She wasn’t a hair-flipping kind of woman.

“I want you so bad,” he said. If the lighting wasn’t so dim, she would’ve seen his pupils dilate.

“That’s where we differ,” she started. “I only want a deal,” she lied. It was her turn to jut out her jaw.

“But if we stop this war, what will we have left?” He spoke her thoughts. With this question, the steam settled, and the two world leaders couldn’t make eye contact. Either they wasted more resources and killed more people, or they said goodbye to the hottest romance they ever had. Yes, it was dramatic, starting a war with your secret lover. But they had to up the ante. Private meetings weren’t enough for these thrill seekers.

He looked at her again. “Carla,” he started. “What if we got married?”

“You know we can’t,” she responded without flinching. Other men might’ve been put off by her rejection, but he loved her even more. She was ruthless yet practical. Plus, he always loved a challenge.

“What if we both resigned, bought a private island, and lived there forever?” He imagined a simple beach house with all the windows open. The two of them brewing coffee and taking their time.

“We would get bored.” She got up from her seat and walked along the wall. The clicking of her stilettos rang in his ears. He looked over at her. She never wore that high of a heel before.

“Do you suspect anyone knows?” He asked.

“No. My assistant -- the person who knows me best and is the smartest one besides me -- knows nothing. The only spill would be on your end.”

He rose from his seat and sat on the table’s edge, facing her. Despite the heart strings pulling her to him, she didn’t turn around. Despite how much it saddened her, she impressed herself. She said, “We should probably get the rest of the party back in here.”

“Why? They haven’t been out there for long. We haven’t had our fun yet.”

With this, she turned around, walked to him and sighed while smoothing out his jacket’s lapels. “They are hot-blooded men who actually think we’re enemies. It pains me to say this, but we should end this charade tonight.”

“Carla,” he said, holding her hands. “Tonight’s too soon.”

“No, tonight is just on time,” she replied, ripping her hands from his and taking her seat again. “Will you reinstate our previous trade deals and lift your travel restrictions?”

He sighed, before rising from the table and dusting himself off. “Anything for you, darling.”

With this pet name, the steel woman melted for a nanosecond. This misstep couldn’t be seen by the human eye. Only she felt it, before clearing her throat and straightening her posture. “Chancellor Barnes, would you mind bringing the others back in?”

“Of course, President Avdic.” He followed orders. With his back toward her and no one else around, she dabbed a tear welling in the corner of her eye and patted it on her skirt. She never started another war for the rest of her reign.