Page 8 of An Impossible Love
Lucas shook his head. “No, of course not. This assignment is about watching and listening. I want to know everything Karlsson says and everything he hears while he’s in the White House.”
After he dismissed them, he called Emmy back. “Hey, kiddo, come walk with me.”
Outside, he smiled at her. “Been hearing good things about you from the president’s staff.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Lucas chewed his lip. “Also heard some gossip, and I wanted to check in with you that it was just gossip.”
Emmy felt her stomach drop.God, no.Had someone overheard Duke teasing her? Or seen her talking with Orin after the inauguration and made more of it than it was? “Sir?”
“There’s a rumor going around that the president… God, how do I put this? That the president is dating the vice president.”
Emmy felt relief washing over her. “Sir, as far as I know that’s not true. The vice president is, I believe, still in mourning for her husband.”
“You understand why I’m asking. Both the president and the vice president like you very much, Emmy, and if they were going to conduct a relationship within the White House, they’d need their detail on their side, so…”
“Understood, sir, but as I say, nothing to report.”
As Emmy made her way back into the White House, she felt nothing but relief. Ever since Inauguration, she had been worried about the consequences of that private moment she shared with the president, scared someone had seen them and drawn the wrong conclusion, or that the president had confided in one of his aides. What had she been thinking? She had worked so hard for this job and lost so much for it that she couldn’t risk it for a man she could never have. Zach had given his life to protect the president’s right-hand man—how could she dishonor his memory like that? She shook her head.Get over yourself, Sati. All that happened was a cute back-and-forth tease, nothing else.
Later, as she waited with the president in the Oval, they were alone for a few minutes as Duke escorted Martin Karlsson into the White House.
Orin smiled at her. “Agent Sati, I wanted to say… I’m sorry if our little chat the other night made you uncomfortable. It was unfair to you and unprofessional of me. I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize, Mr. President,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm and steady. “But thank you anyway.”
Orin smiled, and opened his mouth to say something else, before shaking his head. “You’re a good agent, Emmy. Don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise.”
“Thank you, sir.”
A knock at the door and Jessica announced Martin Karlsson. The man followed her in, accompanied by Duke. Karlsson didn’t look happy that he had been ‘escorted’ through the building and shot Duke an unhappy glare. Duke kept his face smooth. Karlsson’s eyes flicked to Emmy, appraising her body. Emmy was used to it and gazed back at him unflinching. She knew he was in his late thirties and single, completely devoted to his cause.
Orin offered Karlsson his hand. “Mr. Karlsson, good morning.”
“Thank you for seeing me, Mr. President. I appreciate your time.”
“I appreciate yours,” Orin said smoothly, “Please, let’s sit and talk.”
Jessica closed the door as she left the office. Karlsson sat when offered a chair, and Orin sat opposite him. There was a noticeable difference in height between the two men; the president towered over his guest at six-foot-five. Emmy kept her eyes on Karlsson. He would have been checked at the gate, so she knew he had no weapons, but still, her job was to make absolutely sure he was no threat.
Martin Karlsson had bright blue eyes which twitched from side to side. If she had to guess, Emmy would say he was a coke user, probably using it to fuel the energy to work twenty-four hours a day. The guy looked exhausted.
“Mr. President, thank you for seeing me. As you know, I’m here to make my case for a Presidential pardon for former President Ellis.”
“Getting right down to business, Martin?”
The other man smiled. “Just my opening salvo, Mr. President.”
Emmy listened to their conversation which went as expected: Karlsson made his case, Orin heard him out and then gave him the same answer he gave the press. It clearly dissatisfied Karlsson, but he was magnanimous.
“I understand, Mr. President.” He stood and shook the President’s hand. “This is just the first of many conversations, I promise you.”
“I’d expect nothing else. Keep in touch with my office, Martin. Anything we can tell you about the investigation, you have my word, we’ll share it.”
“I appreciate that, Mr. President.”
Emmy escorted Karlsson back to the lobby. They didn’t speak, but he did nod politely to her as he left. Emmy had to admit that he was more impressive than she had first thought: passionate about his cause and loyal—if inadvisably so—to Brookes Ellis.
