Page 105 of State of Suspense

“I guess so. Never heard of it before, but I’m glad it’s not something more serious.”

“Me, too.”

She had two hours before she had to head home for tea. That word rankled her. Tea. What a stupid word to describe a stupid event. Why did the women have tea while the men had high-level meetings? It made her feel like a fifties-era housewife. Next, she’d be vacuuming in a plaid suit and pearls.

She planned to take up that question with Nick as soon as she got the chance.

In the meantime, she needed to prepare for tea with the other guy’s wife.

Ugh.

Since she still had some time in the car, she called Lilia.

“Hi there,” her chief of staff said. “How’re you today?”

“Just ducky.”

“Uh-oh, what’s wrong?”

“I forgot everything you told me about the prime minister’s wife, and now I’m meeting her in a few hours, and I’m unprepared. I was hoping you might have a minute to review the info with me.”

“Of course.”

“I’m sorry I’m like this.”

“Like what?”

“Unprepared despite your efforts to give me what I needed for this.”

“You’re the busiest person any of us knows, and we’re happy to do this however it works for you.”

“I don’t deserve you.”

“Oh stop. Of course you do. I’m so delighted to work with you as you make history.”

“You’re too kind. Thank you for all you do. I’ll never be able to say it enough.”

“It’s my enormous pleasure. Now, about Mrs. Hutchinson… She’s an accountant by trade and the mother of four. Her youngest daughter has cystic fibrosis. She’s been very active in that community, advocating for funding, etc. She’s also a fierce advocate of early childhood education and vaccinations for childhood diseases.”

“Wow, that’s a full plate.”

“Indeed. By all accounts, she’s a lovely person. I think you’ll like her.”

“Will she like me?”

Lilia, that bitch, laughed. “Yes, Sam, she’ll like you. Most people do.”

“I’m not sure that’s true.”

“Well, the people I know adore you, so I assume she will as well.”

“Tell me her first name again?”

“Courtney.”

“Okay. Got it. Thank you for going over it with me after you already put it in writing weeks ago and gave me a copy—again—yesterday.” If the shoe were on the other foot, she’d never be as patient with Lilia as Lilia was with her.

“Whatever you need, whenever you need it.”

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