𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐦 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

" Lingering Echoes "

Two days had passed since Onika last saw Beyoncé, and the void left by her departure was palpable. Onika found herself aimlessly drifting through her days, plagued by a gnawing sense of frustration and emptiness. Tonight, the house seemed to echo with her solitude as she tried to distract herself with cooking.

The kitchen was filled with the rich aroma of a meal she was preparing, but the chopping of vegetables was harsher than intended. Onika's thoughts were a turbulent mess, constantly drifting back to Beyoncé's face, touch, and kisses. The knife slipped from her grip, slicing through her skin, and she hissed in pain. The blade flew from her hand, clattering across the room and landing perilously close to Michael's feet as he entered the kitchen.

"Are you all right?" Michael asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Onika snapped out of her reverie, her eyes narrowing. "Sure, why wouldn't I be?"

Michael gave her a questioning look but didn't press further. "I'm going to take a shower now," he said, turning towards the stairs.

Onika watched him go upstairs, her mind still fixated on Beyoncé. The memory of their last argument, their passionate moments, and the subsequent separation weighed heavily on her. As Michael disappeared up the stairs, Onika's phone buzzed with a call from security.

"Hello?"

"Madam President, we've been following Beyoncé as instructed. She's with a woman we don't yet have details on, but they seem to be quite close-flirty and touchy. We'll update you as soon as we have more information."

Onika's heart sank at the news. Her grip tightened on the phone. "What are they doing exactly?"

The security officer's voice was steady. "Engaging in conversation, appearing very close, and even touching. It seems like they're quite affectionate."

Onika's response was a mere murmur of acknowledgment as she ended the call. The pang of jealousy and frustration hit her hard. She had no right to feel this way, but the sight of Beyoncé moving on so quickly stung deeply.

She walked upstairs, her thoughts a chaotic swirl of emotions. The house felt too quiet, too empty. Onika entered her bedroom and found Michael, already in the shower, the sound of water cascading down. She stood there for a moment, her heart heavy with unresolved feelings.

The steamy shower offered a brief distraction from her turmoil. Onika's mind was still tangled with thoughts of Beyoncé, but she forced herself to focus on the present. As Michael emerged from the bathroom, a towel draped around his waist, Onika approached him.

"Hey," she said, her voice softer than intended.

Michael looked at her, his eyes tired but attentive. "What's on your mind?"

"Nothing," Onika replied, though her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil. She moved closer, her hand finding its way to his chest. "I just need a distraction."

Michael's expression softened, and he responded to her touch. They both knew it was an attempt to fill the void left by Beyoncé, a way to escape the gnawing emptiness. As their lips met, their embrace grew more intense, an attempt to drown out the lingering echoes of a love that now seemed so far out of reach.

Michael's hands were deft as he undid Onika's pants, his touch both urgent and gentle. Onika's breath quickened as their lips met in a fervent kiss. Their heads tilted to deepen the connection, the kiss growing more intense with each passing second. Michael's hands tangled in Onika's long, sleek black hair, a feature he had always admired.