TRAITOROUS IN LOVE

The house was silent, not a single sound could be heard as her bare feet silently walked to where she had heard the scratching noise come from. A branch cast an erriely shadow through the windows, scratching the window as it swayed in the wind. She relaxed, the bundles of nerves coming apart when she realised that the tree was the cause of the weird noises. Yet still, she couldn't shake the unnerving feeling of something watching her, something lurking in the darkness of the open storage closet ahead of her.

Suddenly-



Olive jumped when the notification ringtone of her phone went off somewhere beside her, she set the book in her hands down on the bed, and dug around for the phone somewhere inside the sheets. She found it under the pillow, the backlight almost blinded her considering she had been reading in dim lighting for so long. Her doctor would surely have a heartattack. The contents of the screen reflected on her reading glasses, she used her index finger to push the glasses further up the bridge of her small nose.

Yay! Full lives candycrush.

Her finger hovered over the notification when she looked at the time, it was already one in the morning! If she didn't get some sleep, she was dooming myself for bags under her eyes and a lecture from Martha.

But she still couldn't sleep!

She kicked her feet in frustration, whenever she was nervous, sleep became distant. But... Martha's pills could definitely knock her out. She turned off her phone and slid out of bed, not even bothering with turning the lights on, considering she knew this museum of a house like the first paragraph of her favourite novel.

She skipped a couple of stairs on her way down, Martha's study was way, way further down the gigantic hallway. As she stood there looking at the walls that seemed to be closing in at the end, it kind of reminded her of her latest read. She braved herself to walk down the dimly lit hallway, the lamps were casting a creepy glow, giving sinister shadows to normal things such as the flower vases.

Olive's footsteps silently padded down the carpeted hallway, her short height and oversized hoodie made her look like a dwarf wearing a clock. Her shadow was even funnier, she looked at it as she waddled like a penguin further down.

At the end of the hall she turned right , intending to help herself to her mother's collection of pills which were hidden in one of the drawers in her office. Olive's footsteps slowed as she approached the door of her father's study when she thought she heard voices.

Who was her father talking to this late at night? Or morning rather.

She stopped walking and frowned at the partially open door, the windows must obviously be open too considering the draft chilling her legs. She relaxed when she realised he must obviously be on the phone. Olive reached for the door knob intending to remind him of the risks the cold air posed on his health. Plus the big day he had tomorrow, he needed to be well rested. Like she was one to talk. Her brain taunted.

A second voice froze her hand, she went closer so she could look through the open space. She expected to see her father in his chair but instead, he was standing by the door with his back to her. The curiosity to find the owner of the other voice made her change angles trying to look around the room. She bent down slightly and she could see glimpses of someone in her father's chair.

Since she couldn't see exactly who it was she pressed her ear against the door. The voice that was speaking was calm, and she couldn't place it to any of her father's known associates.

"...tomorrow Senator. I wouldn't want us to meet for this same discussion again."

Next her father's voice. "And what if things don't go as planned?"

His question was answered by the creaking of the chair as the other person stood up. Footsteps followed as he obviously came around the desk.

"I trust that it won't." He sounded confident, extremely.

Olive knew how much her father hated it when she interfered in his business so she continued down the hall. She took some sleeping pills from her mother's drawer and went back to bed.



"Olive?" A voice called in the far distance. "Olive!" It sounded closer the second time. "Olive!!"

Olive snapped upright. "I'm awake!" She blinked rapidly trying to clear the clouds in her vision.

"What are you still doing in bed?!" The voice asked beside her sounding horrified.

Olive looked at Maria, the back of her mind still dazed with sleep. Bit by bit her mind begun to recollect itself, and the more it did the wider her eyes grew. "Oh no!" She jumped out of bed, almost knocking Maria to the ground. Her pajamas lined up on the floor as she shed them off on her way to the bathroom.

After a very short bath, Olive tried her best to get dressed as quickly as she could. She tripped in the process of pulling on her tights, breaking the toothbrush that was sticking out of the corner of her mouth. How the hell had it not even hurt her? Olive thought, pulling the piece that was still in her mouth out. She wore the long sleeved, black, day dress and fixed the red collar.

Her hair was still mildly dump even as she combed it and tied it up into a neat ponytail, she spent a minute longer than she needed to looking at herself in the mirror. Her mother's voice echoing in the back of her mind.

"You should cut down on carbs, Olive.... Cover that cellulite on your legs...... We need to get some fat out of your arms...."

She wasn't vogue skinny, but she didn't consider herself overweight either. She was healthy, she maintained an acceptable weight, she exercised when the stars alligned. But somehow her mother thought she was extremely flawed, although Olive had stood her ground and denied the suggestions that she get numerous cosmetic surgeries, she still felt conscious enough about her body to cover it up. She never went out without jeans or tights if she was wearing a dress, they just changed thickness and colour to match the weather and occasion.

The green eyes in the mirror threatened to tear up, she blinked away the moisture, she smoothed the top of her red hair with her palms. Realising she had no time to waste pitying herself, she pulled on her red ankle boots and grabbed her bag. She hurried out the door and down to thek foyer.

The moment she stepped off the last step, her mother's disapproving look found her.

"What's wrong with you? Colour Olive, add some colour on that pale skin!" Her pumps barely made a sound as she walked to Olive, her hand fumbling around in her silver purse that complimented her red dress perfectly. Her hand produced a red shade of lipstick, she dabbed it on Olive's lips. "You didn't even brush your hair properly. If you couldn't get yourself ready this morning, you should have told me. I would have called Cris here to help you. Don't move your eyes."

Olive held still as her mother brushed a wand of mascara on her lashes.

"You're a lady, learn to dress and carry yourself with class. Why would I get you tons of makeup products if you don't use them?" She scolded inspecting the ponytail on her head.

"You know it irritates my skin." Olive mumbled quietly.

"Then try something else, just because one brand gave you a rash doesn't mean they all will."

"Ma'am, it's time to leave." Jennifer, her mother's PA said looking at the tablet she always had in her hands. At times, Olive felt tempted to ask if she took it to the bathroom with her.

As she went over the schedule on the tablet with Martha, Olive took the chance to get away from her mother. She went outside towards the car.

Her driver and bodyguard aknowledged her first. "Morning Olive," he opened the car door for her.

"Morning Edward." She greeted with a bright smile, getting into the car. "Hi Paul!" She greeted the driver cheerfully.

Olive smiled warmly receiving the invite. "I did what anyone else would have done, she has amazing talent." She did not receive gratitude well, it always felt like she wasn't deserving of it.

Her father was next to join her in the car a few moments later, her mother followed shortly after him and they pulled out of the compound.

At the convention, all Olive had to do was sit beside her mother, looking beautiful and sophisticated. As expected, her father won the most votes and got the party's nomination to run for president. After, a celebration party was held which lasted late into the evening.

"Such a horrid dress Susan was wearing." Her mother said in disgust as she walked up to the front door, her comment went ignored as everyone matched into the house quietly. The rest of the security team remained outside, except for her father's bodyguards. "Would it kill somebody to show some class!" She scoffed as her father helped her out of her coat.

"And would it kill you to look past what everyone else was wearing? You do this everytime!" Her father said exasperated, he helped Olive finish taking off her coat and hanged it.

Olive quietly followed behind them into the foyer, her mother going on about her debate as a self appointed fashion representative.

Martha put a defiant hand on a bony hip. "Oh, do not get started with me Edward, pictures of her as your vice president will be splashed all over the media tomorrow in that absurd dress."

Edward put his hands on her shoulders. "But you, will be splendid, as always."

Olive secretly rolled her eyes when as expected her mother melted at the barely heartfelt flattery.

"Well, I've always thought red was my colour." As always, not a single thank you. "But we should have a family toast to celebrate, I'm about to be a firstlady." She turned in the direction of the livingroom, leaving no choice but for everyone else to follow. Two of her father's bodyguard followed a few steps behind. "For goodness sake where is Maria?!"

"I'm afraid Maria is not available at the moment."

A voice that sounded familiar said ahead of them, she stopped behind her parents when they did, the security detail immediately drawing their weapons.

"Don't be stupid, do me a favour and put those down before someone gets hurt." He didn't feel threatened, sitting in that chair like a king on his throne.

His voice was very relaxed, how could he not anyway, when four other people joined them. They were wearing all black, with bulletproof vests, numerous weapons tucked into whatever holster was strapped to them, one was a woman and they all held guns.

"Give it here," The woman ordered grabbing the gun out of the outnumbered bodyguards' hands.

"You!" Her father snapped taking a few steps closer. "How the hell did you get in here?!"

He stood up from the chair, he seemed to be in his mid-thirties, nothing was amiss in his appearance. Hair, suit, and attitude. "The same way I got in last night." Three steps put him right infront of Edward. "It seems there was a misunderstanding last night, "

Before any of them could even blink, he whipped a weapon out so fast and before anyone could comprehend what was happening, Olive heard two loud bangs, then later on two thuds. When she turned her head, her hand quickly flew to her mouth and she let out a muffled scream of horror. Her father's security was on the floor, she could see a hole in the head of the one furthest from her, blood oozed like water from a faucet, a pool of blood growing bigger by the second.

"Now I have to repeat myself," His eyes held no emotion, not even the slightest remorse at what he had just done. He walked around Edward, heading in her and her mother's direction.

A scream tore past her lips when the gun turned to her mother's head.

Martha seemed scared but she was trying to not show it. "What is going on Edward?" The slight tremble in her voice betrayed her efforts.

"I told you yesterday that I was not going to give in to your demands!" Edward stated, his anger only visible in his eyes.

"Oh sorry, I forgot that you don't care if this one dies." He pushed her mother aside and grabbed Olive by the back of her neck, he dragged her to where her father could see her.

She felt something press to the back of her head, silencing the scream coming up her throat. She sobbed when her eyes found the body of Paul on the floor, his death had been so quick he hadn't even had a chance to close his eyes. His lifeless eyes stared into her terrified ones, taunting her with the reality that if she was unlucky that night, she would end up like him, soon.

"Take that filthy gun away from my daughter's head!" Her father finally broke his composure, his love for his daughter feeling like a rope around his neck.

"You leave me no choice, I gave you instructions and you disobeyed me. Actions have consequences Mr Newman." The gun pressed harder to her head.

"For God's sake Edward give them whatever hell they want!" Martha shouted.

"This gun goes off in three, "

"Edward!" Martha cried in horror.

"Two.." The countdown continued.

"Shut up Martha!" Edward snapped.

The blood covering the marble floor made Olive cry harder, the suspense of her life ending only a digit away making her hysterical.

"O-.."

"Fine goddamn it! I'll do whatever the hell you want!" Edward lost it, finally giving in.

Olive sobbed in relief when the pressure on the back of her head eased off.

"That wasn't so hard now was it?" He nudged Olive in the back indicating that it was okay for her to run to her father's waiting arms.

"You bastard!" He spat out, holding his traumatised daughter protectively.

"Spare me the obscenities Edward, you had one thing to do and you fucked that up. All you had to do was step down from running in the elections but you couldn't do that, could you?" He taunted walking closer, the gun in his hand indicating the still existent danger. "Now I have to clean up this mess," he sounded frustrated.

"Things are about to change around here, and I expect everyone to fully cooperate."