My Love; My Life: Slipping Through My Fingers

MATCHMAKER I: The Other Interest

Setting: Washington DC; White House, private library...

"Madam President-"

"Holy Shit...holy shit...holy shit."

"..." they both just stare at each other for a moment

"I'm sure yer lil underground organization told ya all bout my visits," Bay speaks first

"..." Hyla does nothing but nod her head with a shocked look on her face

"Y'all weren't expectin me ta show up ere ta check in on ya-did ya?" Bay asks her

"..." she shakes her head again

"Gotta thing fer yer bodyguard there..." Bay notes with a teasing grin

"Wha-what?" Hyla replies flabbergasted, "n-no, of course not. That would be highly inappropriate behavior for a work place...disorderly conduct and scandalous if any reports gotta hold of such-such-"

"Alright, alright already," Bay says laughing at her niece, "Saint Hyla."

"..." Hyla remains quiet

"I need a favor," Bay tells her after calming down, "I need ya ta pull some strings and find me a Veronica Bentsen and a Paige Parr-"

"What fer?" Hyla asks crossing her arms

"Excuse y'all?" Bay says to her with a certain look, "I know y'all didn't just take a tone with me; I know yer parents taught ya ta respect yer elders. My business is my business-"

"What exactly am I supposed ta tell people bout why I need this information?" Hyla asks as her arms fall slack

"Y'all tell em that it's a confidential matter that's on a need ta know basis and that they ain't need ta know," Bay tells her in a serious manner

"Secrets and lies won't get me nowheres but inta deeper shit," Hyla tells her, "and could be then end of my presidency if discovered and leaked ta the press."

"Even the presidents of the past had their secrets tadpole," Bay tells her with a dark look to her face, "and whether they be personal and private, or to do with the country-all secrets, big or small-surface eventually...whether wanted ta or not."

"Yer askin too much of me aunt Bay," Hyla tells her now in a shaking tone, "Yer askin me ta take advantage of my position-"

"Ain't nothin wrong with that lil froggy," Bay tells her, "one must take advantage of every opportunity that is put in their path-"

"But not fer selfish gain!" Hyla snaps at her

"Y'all think ya'll'd even be president right now if it weren't fer the fact that yer the smartest woman in the world?!" Bay snaps back at her, "y'all may not ave purposely riddin on em tailcoats, but knowin of not ya took that advantage that was in yer corner-when yer campaign fer presidency was all over the news," she starts explaining, "Yer runnin wasn't the only thing publicized-so was yer uncle's Nobel achievement, mine and yer mamma p's singin careers...yer daddy's empire...my word record...and my death-all tailcoats y'all unknowingly rode on..."

"..." Hyla falls silent at these words

"Y'all will do as I ask," Bay tells her, "with no ifs, ands, or buts bout it-y'all'll understand later in life as ta why."

"Please don't-" Hyla starts

The secret passageway soon opens, Bay disappears from sight as Hyla's personal bodyguard enters with the hot chocolate she asked for and sets it down on the desk...