Page 7 of An Impossible Love
Chapter Three
Orin would soon discover that as leader of the free world, that there was plenty to distract him from the fantasy of bedding Emerson Sati. The matter of the former president’s pardon was the first question lobbed from the gaggle of journalists at his first press briefing as president.
“Obviously, it’s something I’m going to have to consider if—and that’s abigif—the investigation finds no wrongdoing on President Ellis’s part. But, folks, I want to caution you against playing judge, jury, and executioner. I think we all feel that the former president’s resignation speaks volumes, so let’s all wait for the investigation to come to a conclusion. Yes, Kathy?”
Kathy Mills, The Washington Post’s veteran journo, stood. She smiled at Orin. “Sir, can we ask what your personal feelings on this matter are?”
Orin smiled. “I’m waiting for the investigation’s findings, Kathy. Do I think there was some—how should I put this—lack of integrity on the former administration’s part? Yes. Again though, people make mistakes, and whether there were any nefarious reasons for it, we shall see. Until then, I won’t be making any decisions. Thanks, Kathy. Mark?”
Mark Woolley from The Wall Street Journal stood. He looked a little uncomfortable. “Mr. President, as you well know, you are the first president to take office while unmarried. There’s obvious speculation. Could you confirm whether you are actively seeking a, um, romantic partner?”
“Mark, you look embarrassed to be asking that question.”
The press corps laughed, and Woolley nodded sheepishly. “I am, sir, yes.”
Orin grinned and shook his head. “Nothing to tell. I’m concentrating on the country, and the first one hundred days.”
After the press briefing, Moxie met Orin as he walked back to the Oval. “That went well.”
“They were throwing me softballs,” he said, “I know these people. Next time, it’ll be like having open heart surgery without the anesthetic. What’s next?”
“Charlie and his frat bros.”
“Mox, is that any way to talk about the joint chiefs?” Orin chuckled. “Hey, Jessie.”
His secretary smiled at him. “Commander Hope and his colleagues are waiting, sir.”
“Thanks, Jess.” He saw his security detail change over, and Emerson Sati followed him and Moxie into the Oval Office. He nodded hello at her and was rewarded by her quiet “Good morning, sir.”Christ.She was so beautiful. He dragged his focus back to the meeting at hand and asked Charlie to brief him.
Emmy spent the next few days focusing solely on the job of protecting the president. She had to think of him almost as a god, not as a man, or she’d think about Orin the man, and the fact that he was devastatingly charming. She even laughed at her little crush. It wasnevergoing to happen.
Three weeks into Bennett’s tenure in the White House, and Lucas called the detail into a meeting with the FBI.
“We have the first real credible threat against the president,” he told them. “We had the usual bunch before and after inauguration—crazies typing crap on message boards and hiding behind their keyboards. Today, however, we received intel that a small group of Brookes Ellis’s supporters have gone rogue.”
“We’re taking his fans seriously?” Duke sounded incredulous, and Emmy understood why. The former president’s fanbase was furious that he’d been forced to resign, but their anger was impotent at best. With President Bennett an Independent, there wasn’t the usual partisan furor, and their legs had been taken out from under them with his election.
“We are. We’re talking far-right fanatics here. They don’t want a progressive candidate behind the ‘Resolute desk’.” Lucas flicked some images up onto the screen. “Meet Max Neal, leader of theJustice for Brookes Elliscampaign.”
There was a murmur of derision.
“Justice?” Emmy’s voice was dry and sarcastic, and Lucas smiled.
“Well, exactly. Anyway, this young man is from old money—Connecticut money—Ellis’s home state and I’ll give you one guess who his college roommate was.”
Emmy raised her hand. “Looking at his age, it’s got to be Martin Karlsson.”
“Bingo.” A picture of Ellis’s former advisor filled the screen. “And as you all know, Mr. Karlsson is due to visit the Oval Office later today, so I’m assigning three extra agents. Emmy, Duke, you’ll be in the Oval. Jake, Mike, in the outer office. I need you to listen to his language, watch his attitude, pick up on anything you find strange. When he arrives, Duke, I want you to escort from the front gate, and when he leaves, Emmy, you escort him back. He doesn’t spend onesecondinside the White House without an escort, understand? Even if that means following him into the restrooms. He won’t like it but screw him.”
“Sir?”
“Yes, Em?”
“Is the President aware of our concerns?”
“I’m briefing him after the meeting.”
“Do we really think he would attack the president in the Oval?” Mike, one of the other agents spoke up.
