Title: Pursuit of Something New
Author: Melina/ MelWil
Categorising: Ainsley Hayes / Ann Stark - The Wing Swing challenge
Rating: R (Innuendo, bad thoughts and a little bit of language)
Feedback: Utterly delightful: lina_wilson@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: I don't own them. I don't have any money. There's really not
much more to add.
Summary: "Everyone was lapping it up, everyone was a player."

~*~

Heat was hanging low over the city and Washington seemed to be deserted.
Congress was on recess, the distinguished men and women fleeing home to
persuade constituents to vote them in again, trying to prove they cared for
the people they served. The President had gone home for a few weeks, on the
First Lady's orders to allow his body to heal. The circus that surrounded
the President had followed him, anxious to leave the sweaty surroundings for
cooler climates. The only people left in Washington were tourists and
lobbyists with no one to lobby.

When there was a lack of people to lobby, the persuaders turned on each
other. Half a dozen newly graduated New Yorkers were brought in to scare at
one firm, while head hunters from another offered impossible benefits. A
rumour was spread that Washington was no longer the right place to lobby,
that distinction had been stolen by California or Texas or the antique ruins
of the European Union. Rumours seeped through the air conditioning units
like a fatal dose of Legionnaires disease, yet no one was able to pull
themselves away from them.

This was the summer of women, Ainsley decided as she sat in the Starbucks
watching several deals being sealed around her. Everywhere she looked
females were taking control as the politicians tried to snatch the elusive
women's vote. Soccer moms, wizened grandmas, sorority girls. Every
politician wanted to add them to their numbers. So they employed female
help.

Everyone was lapping it up, everyone was a player. Mandy Hampton had begun
the exodus to Europe, taking as many followers as her credibility allowed.
Amy Gardner had a firm grip on the Women's groups, making a lengthy list of
demands she wanted, and another lengthy list of people she wanted working
for her. On the other side of the ledger Ann Stark was the big name in the
business, rounding up a select group of allies and minions. There were a
million chances for women at the moment and Ainsley was anxious to grab one
of them.

She was happy with her job for the moment. The GOP had given her employment
at the request of her father, and there was always plenty of work to keep
her occupied. Occasionally, when they wished to soften their grumpy old men
persona, they'd let her write a scathing op ed or trundle her out to smile
at the cameras. It was a decent job, it just wasn't really the fast track to
political success that Ainsley was aiming at.

So she was in Starbucks, her Raspberry Mocha Frappaccino warming, as she
waited for her cell phone to ring. It had to ring, she'd spread her name and
credentials in a million different directions across the whole damn town.
There had to be someone who wanted to give her a new opportunity. Jaquiline,
her contact up on the Hill, had mentioned some people who'd come from New
York in search of new blood. But then, you could never really trust
Jaquiline to tell you the truth. She liked to say all sorts of pleasing
things she didn't really mean.

This was quite the heartbreak town. Jaquiline had been just one chapter in
the disaster story she was involved in. She'd been here for a year now and
had her heart crushed by a grand total of eleven people: seven men and four
women. The guys only wanted her to hang off their arms as if she were a
demented sex slave. The women wanted to feel the power they thought she had.
It seemed that she was destined to disappoint both groups.

She'd started dating boys in eighth grade with her father's blessing. The
girls had come in her Junior year of High School without any blessing
whatsoever. They had lived in a college town, and Ainsley often studied in
the college library that was vastly superior to their pathetic high school
version. She'd become friendly with some of the regulars in the library,
friendly enough to accompany one girl to a dusty corner where the lighting
had failed. The older girl had smoothed her hair and kissed her, and run her
fingertips between Ainsley's breasts. She taught Ainsley how to use her
fingers in new and inventive ways, and how good the breath of another woman
felt on her ears.

Ainsley had never officially 'come out'. Her parents had no idea, but that
wasn't all that surprising. Her mother hadn't paid attention since her
daughter was six years old, and no father wants to know what their
daughter's sex life is like. Very few of her friends knew, and those who had
found out had their own secrets to worry about. She admitted that there was
a certain risk in pursuing women now that her career had started, but she
was still small fishing. She wagered that there wasn't a person in D.C.
without mouldy skeletons in their closets, she wasn't the only one in this
town who was dating on both sides of the fence.

Her cell phone trilled. Ainsley didn't recognise the number as she answered.
"Ainsley Hayes."

"Hi Ainsley. I'm glad I caught you. This is Ann Stark."

"Hi Ann." This wasn't a call she'd been expecting. Ann Stark was shaping up
as the hottest thing to hit the Republican party. There was talk of a
bidding war already occurring between the major figures of the party, all of
them trying to buy her sharp mind and uneverving negotiation skills. They
all wanted to employ her in the new year when the campaign business was
wrapped up.

"I hear that you've been on the search for something new, Ainsley." Ann's
voice was a smooth as a good scotch and twice as dangerous. Ainsley wondered
what it would feel like to have that voice whispering in her ear.

"That would be a correct assessment of my current situation, yes." She held
her breath, hoping that this was a lead up to her dream job.

"Can we meet some time? I'd like to talk with you in person."

Ainsley felt her insides turn a little. "Sure. I'm free tonight, or tomorrow
if that would suit you better?"

"Tonight would be good. 8 o'clock at the Heresay Bar? Do you know where that
is?"

"Sure. I'll see you then."

"Good." Ann hung up the phone before Ainsley could say goodbye. She
disregarded this small rudeness, she was too happy about the chance of a new
job. One where she could be going places, doing real things with meaning.

- - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -

"Ainsley." The sound of a voice prompted her to turn around. Ann Stark was
standing behind her, immaculate in a crisp blue blouse and a grey skirt with
an impossibly high split. She was late, but Ainsley knew better than to
complain. There was always something that could make you late when you
worked in this business; it was easy to get caught on minute details.

"Ann, it's good to see you." She held out her hand to be shaken, hoping that
her skin wasn't as hot and clammy as she felt inside. "This is a nice
place."

Ann slipped into the seat across from Ainsley. "It is isn't it? Quiet and
dark, no prying eyes. The drinks are affordable, the conversation witty."
Her eyes examined Ainsley. "I reserve it for the best company."

Ainsley had half expected this flirting. No one did business in this town
without involving sexual tension. When they thinned the smoke filled rooms,
they had begun cracking on to each other. "Ann, are you offering me a job
or are you flirting with me?"

Her laugh was a rich chainsaw of a sound. "You are amusing, Ainsley Hayes,
very amusing. I'm not sure we can't work both in if that's what we want. But
right at this moment I'd like to talk about a job."

"When you are talking about a job, what exactly would it be that you are
referring to?" Ainsley winced at the way the words tumbled from her mouth.
Five years of elocution lessons worth less than a penny.

"I'm putting together a team to help us regain the White House." Ann put the
highest note of haughtiness into her speech and Ainsley was afraid she was
going to drown in it.

"How do you plan exactly, to do this? I mean, with all respect, you're
really nothing more than a lobbyist. Anyway, in case you haven't noticed,
we've got two and a half years until the next presidential election."

"I'll have an official position by the new year. It's a long term plan."
Ainsley wondered why she was allowing Ann to be so condescending. "It's
never too early to start defeating a President."

"But this particular President?" She could almost see drool running down
Ann's chin. "The President who, along with his loyal Deputy Chief of Staff,
was shot less than a month ago? Do you really think this is the best time to
attack?"

Ann widened her eyes, making Ainsley ask herself if this was some cheesy
drama piece they were acting out. "Why, I don't want to attack him now." A
smile crossed her face. "I want to wait until they falter, then I'm going to
be prepared to hit hard."

"And you want me on your team?"

"It's on my thoughts."

Ainsley was tiring of Ann's theatrics. "Do you really want me or do you want
my father's name and money?"

"You misunderstand me." Ann stretched her legs out under the table. "I want
young, attractive, steady women, who are able to represent the new breed of
Republicans. Someone who stands for smaller government and the underlying
morals of a modern time. Someone who believes we should keep more of the
money we earn, rather than wasting it on old fashioned welfare programs. The
New Deal is a good seventy years old. The Great Society is thirty-five years
old. It's time for the GOP to drag social programs into the 21st Century."

"But you wouldn't mind my father's money?"

Ann's smile showed too many teeth. "It would be a potential bonus, yes."

Ainsley nodded. "Can you let me think about it? I could get back to you in a
day or two?"

"Sure. Just remember that I want you Ainsley."

- - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - -

Ainsley paced back and forward across her kitchen. The phone hung on the
cream coloured wall, mocking her with choices and possibilities. She turned
her back on the offending unit and rehearsed what she should say.

"Ann. I'm flattered that you thought to offer me a position of this stature.
I would be honoured if I were able to take it, but I'm afraid that would be
entirely impossible. You see, I'm afraid I would spend all my time wanting
to see you naked. . ." Ainsley shook her head, trying to physically remove
the image.

"Ann. I'd love to join your team. But I have some conditions that will need
to be met first. So, will you sleep with me?" She grinned and fashioned
Ann's imaginary response. "I'd love to Ainsley. Why don't you come over to
my place now? Don't wear any panties."

Neither of these speeches would be appropriate, she concluded. It was
unfortunate, it had been almost forty-eight hours since Ann had made her
original phone call and she shouldn't be keeping Ann waiting. But it was
getting hard to concentrate on a legitimate response when all she could
think of was Ann's lips, and the way she moved her shoulders, and the split
in her skirt showing the long curves of her legs.

"Stop it Ainsley." She chided. "Just make a decision, yes or no, then
formulate an appropriate response. Stop this utter stupidity." She hoisted
herself up on the kitchen bench to compile her mental list. "I really want a
job that will give my career a forward push. But Ann could be old news by
January and I'd be forced to start all over again. The pay will probably be
crap, but the work should be exciting. I'd be more valued by my peers, but
I'd also be opening myself to the possibility of attacks." She sighed and
glared at the phone. "I suppose it really depends on how I feel about
working with Ann." Ainsley picked up the phone and dialled the number she
had already committed to memory.

"Ann. Hi it's Ainsley. Sorry about disturbing you on a Saturday. Look, I was
wondering if we could arrange another meeting, discuss this a little more? I
was thinking tonight, at the Heresay again? That would be great. I'll see
you then."

Ainsley hung up the phone and made a beeline for her wardrobe. There was no
way Ann was going to out-dress her tonight.

- - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -

The air was still heavy and Ainsley would have given anything for a cool
breeze as she paid the cab driver. She was five minutes late, hoping to
give a relaxed impression with her tardiness. She shivered at the sudden
cool change as the air conditioning hit her. Rubbing her arms, she skimmed
the small tables and intimate booths in a search for Ann.

"I see I'm right on time." Ainsley was startled by Ann's voice breathing
behind her. She turned, smoothing down her skirt.

"Good to see you Ann. I was just looking for you." Ainsley grimaced inside.
Why was she always so awkward?

"Well you've found me now." Ann hooked her arm through Ainsley's and led her
to a booth as if they were old friends. If it hadn't been for Ann's thumb
stroking Ainsley's arm, even Ainsley would have thought them to be just
friends.

"Are you getting a drink?" Ainsley asked. She didn't want to think about the
way Ann had piled her hair up on top of her head, with tendrils straining to
escape. She didn't want to think about Ann's long, milky white neck, or the
frail necklace with its tiny pendant resting between her fine collar bones.

Ann tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "They come to me here." Ainsley
heard the clatter of Ann's shoes as she kicked them off. "That's a cute
outfit you've got on there."

Ainsley felt terribly young as she compared her outfit with Ann's. She was
attired in a stormy blue skirt and white blouse and she felt as if she were
a little girl playing dress ups. Ann looked stunning in her biscuit coloured
suit, with the cream blouse underneath held by the bare minimum of buttons.

Ann attracted the young waiter with a raised eyebrow, smoothing his name
through her teeth as she gave her order. "Steven. I want a Cosmopolitan. And
my friend here would like . . .?"

"Just a ginger ale, thank you." Ainsley didn't trust herself to drink
alcohol when Ann looked like that.

"You're not going to get drunk with me?" Ann pouted a little, tapping
Ainsley's ankle with her bare toes in the darkness under the table.

Ainsley endeavoured to keep her breathing steady. "I prefer to keep my wits
about me."

"Are you sure you're not just a little afraid of me?" Ainsley wasn't sure
how Ann's smile could grow any wider, but it did.

"If you continue to talk in that manner, people are going to start confusing
you with me." Ainsley slipped her own shoes off, allowing the cool air to
tickle her feet.

"You're a lot of fun, Ainsley. Has anyone ever told you that?"

Ainsley ran her foot over Ann's leg, moving it up towards her knee. "Many,
many times."

Ann raised her well tended eyebrows. "You've done this before. Well, Ainsley
Hayes isn't the goody two shoes everyone thinks she is."

"You could infer that to be the case." Ainsley put her hand on the table,
her heart racing as Ann's hand fluttered on top. Ann's fingernails were
short and painted a vivid red, as if she was displaying the blood she had
extracted from her political enemies.

Ann leant her head forward as if she was sharing a secret, despite the fact
that there was no one sitting around them. "You find me attractive, don't
you?"

"Yes." There was no point being coy about this. Ann would swallow her whole
if she believed she had the upper hand. "And I assume that you too, happen
to find a certain attractiveness in me."

Ann ran her tongue over her top lip. "Do you always use such long
sentences?" She rubber her thumb down the side of Ainsley's hand. "You do
stop talking at some point, don't you?"

Throwing all caution to the wind, Ainsley moved her head in close to Ann.
"It depends on how skilful you are."

Ann shook her head. "What are we still doing here, Ainsley? Why don't you
come home with me so we can just fuck and get it over with?"

Ainsley got to her feet. "I was waiting for your invitation."

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