Pol In Love [gxg]

4.3: alone with u

As Alice waited for the Senator to finish her bath, she tried to focus on the papers before her, but a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She rose quickly, opening the door to find Lady Susan standing there, arms full of gift bags she had left in the living room the night before.

The gifts she had almost forgotten about.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Mayor Alice." Lady Susan's voice was soft and apologetic.

"No need to apologize, Auntie Susan. "What do you need?" Alice replied, her tone warm as she stepped aside, inviting the old woman into the room.

"I was tidying up the living room and found these gifts," Lady Susan explained, gesturing to the carefully wrapped packages she had brought upstairs.

"Ah, yes. I completely forgot about those," Alice admitted, a gentle smile playing on her lips. Together, they placed the gift bags beside Alice's bed.

As Lady Susan prepared to leave, the sound of running water from the shower room caught her attention. Her brow furrowed with concern. "Did you forget the faucet, dear? Let me turn it off before I go—"

Before she could finish, Alice quickly stepped forward, her hand catching the door knob just in time. "Don't worry, Auntie Susan. I'll handle it," she assured her with a calm smile, though her movements were deliberate and purposeful.

She slipped into the shower room, still facing Lady Susan, her body subtly blocking any view inside. The door closed with a soft click, sealing off whatever secrets lay hidden within.

No one should see who's inside.

Lady Susan, sensing something amiss but choosing not to pry, simply nodded and quietly exited Alice's room. As the door clicked shut behind her, Alice was left alone with her thoughts, the sound of the running faucet growing louder in the silence.

Confusion gnawed at Alice. The water continued to flow, the sound of it echoing against the tiled walls, but something felt off. She didn't want to intrude, to violate the Senator's privacy, especially not at such a vulnerable moment. But the persistent sound compelled her to act.

With hesitant steps, Alice approached the shower room, her heart pounding in her chest. She turned slightly, keeping her eyes shut tight, her hand outstretched, covering her sight as if to shield herself from whatever she might see.

"I didn't mean to..."

The words barely escaped her lips, hanging in the air, as the water continued its relentless stream. There was no angry shout, no protest from within. The silence, apart from the water, was deafening.

Curiosity and concern outweighed her hesitation. Slowly, Alice opened her eyes, her vision adjusting to the dim light and the steam-filled room. She peered inside, her breath catching in her throat.

The shower was running, the water cascading down, but the room was empty. No one was inside.

But someone was in the bathtub. It was the Senator, her body reclined in the water, still fully clothed. Her head rested against the tub's edge, and half of her face was submerged, only her nose and mouth visible above the waterline.

Panic surged through Alice. Her eyes widened in shock as she rushed forward, her heart pounding in her chest. "Madam Senator?" Her voice quivered with fear, barely above a whisper. She repeated the call, louder this time, but the Senator remained unresponsive.

Without hesitation, Alice pulled the Senator out of the tub, laying her on the cold bathroom floor. Her mind raced as she prepared to administer CPR, her hands trembling as they hovered over the Senator's chest. Just as she was about to begin, the Senator's voice broke the tense silence.

"I was just resting," the Senator murmured, her eyes still closed.

Resting...

The word barely registered in Alice's mind, the whirlwind of worry and fear now morphing into a sharp wave of annoyance. She stared down at the Senator, her hand still resting on the older woman's jaw from the aborted CPR attempt. In a swift, frustrated motion, she pushed the Senator's face away, causing the older woman to open her eyes in surprise.

"Ow! That was uncalled for!" the Senator exclaimed, wincing.

"Get up. You'll catch a cold," Alice snapped, her voice icy. Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving the Senator lying on the cold tiles, bewildered by the abrupt shift in mood.