by D J Small
Jabir nodded, and another tired sigh escaped Val. “We’ll meet with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the National Security Council to figure out our next move. I’ll speak with Basara beforehand to see where the Alliance’s thinking is, but in the meantime, keep an eye on the situation out there, and update me as soon as we hear anything about the missing troops.”
“Yes, Madam President,” Jabir said as he stood from the couch, buttoning his suit jacket. “I’m sorry I didn’t have better news for you. I know you’re dealing with the crisis in California, but this—”
“This is more critical,” Val interjected with a slight grimace. The events in California were serious, but the situation in the Middle East could potentially create a global crisis and possibly lead to war. She shook Jabir’s hand. “I appreciate you coming to me with this, Jabir.”
He smiled and said, “Anytime, ma’am. I will see you shortly.”
“Yes,” Val said as she returned his smile. The secretary showed himself out of the office, and Val walked over to her desk, pushing the button for Manny’s desk on her holo-phone.
The line rang twice before he answered. “Yes, Madam President?”
“Have Addison report to my office right away.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The call ended, and Val buried her fingers in her hair. One of her burning blazes just got bigger. If the universe put one more thing on her plate today, she was going to scream.
Addison walked into her office moments later. “You wanted to see me? I haven’t talked to any of the concerned representatives yet if that’s what this is about. They’ve all magically found themselves in meetings.”
“More troops were taken in Kuwait. Secretary Kanaan and I will be meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the NSC to discuss what the next steps will be. I need to call Basara and find out what the Alliance’s thoughts are. Can you go see Michelle and tell her to fill in for me at the meeting for California?”
Addison nodded. “Certainly. Do we know what happened?”
Val frowned. “Ambush on a transport unit was all Jabir told me.”
“You know we won’t be able to keep this under wraps for long, right?” Addison let out a short, humorless guffaw. “All it takes is for one video to hit the streaming feeds, and it will be out of our control.”
Val blew out a deep breath. “I know. After this meeting, I’ll come to some decisions, but I don’t want it to affect the denuclearization negotiations.”
Addison cringed. “I forgot those were happening this week. I’ll have to find out when Basara and Hasem are coming in tomorrow.” She gave an frustrated growl. “We also have to get you to California by the end of the week.”
Val shook her head and mentally cursed the universe for dropping everything on her all at once. “I won’t mention tonight’s state dinner.”
Addison groaned, and Val chuckled.
“I’ll get through the meetings and tonight’s dinner, and tomorrow we can schedule my trip to California while going over what happened in today’s meetings.”
Addison nodded in agreement. “And I will try to find out what the hell is going on with your tax bill.”
Val scowled. “I have a feeling I’m going to have to lower some of my standards to get the damn thing passed, but I’m not going to lower them by much.” She held up a finger. “Ask Michelle if she can speak with the representatives if you don’t get anywhere. I don’t want to get involved too soon, because if I do, I’m going to get really ugly.”
Addison laughed. “You’re not supposed to get involved.”
“I know I’m not, but this country needs tax reform, and it’s going to happen now, not later,” Val argued. She would get this damn bill passed. Her lips formed a grim line. “Any word about the casualties in California?”
Addison let out a deep sigh and ran a hand though her hair. “A hundred fifty deaths so far, a lot of injuries, and the structural damage…” She shook her head. “It’s a mess, Val, and there are a lot of people unaccounted for.”
Of course it was. This was probably the most catastrophic earthquake to hit California since the early twentieth century. “Get aid to the state as quickly as possible. If the National Guard needs more support, let me know, and they will get it.”
“Should I….” Addison trailed off and a hesitant look came to her face. Val’s eyebrows scrunched together when she failed to figure out where Addison’s sentence was headed.
“What, Addison?”
Her chief of staff sighed. “We have the chairperson of the country’s most influential humanitarian organization in the White House. Should we involve her?”
Val took a moment to think about it. Her morning had been too hectic for her to even think about Summer, but Addison did bring up a good point. The Armstrong Foundation’s track record with helping cities and towns recover from natural disasters was an incredible one. A few years ago, a terrible hurricane had hit Florida, and the foundation had stayed in the state to offer assistance to people and help the local governments with recovery. They were there for so long the foundation had eventually opened a small satellite office.
Despite the Armstrong Foundation’s wonderful work, the one thing stopping Val was Summer. She didn’t want anything to do with the White House, and no one was supposed to know she was— “Have you heard anything from Director Hopkins about the leak?” Val asked when she remembered someone had informed the press about Summer’s presence at the White House.
Addison shook her head. “I have not, but I can definitely look into it.”
“Thank you, and about Summer, we’re not involving her,” Val stated. “No one was supposed to know she was here to begin with, at least not this soon, and having the foundation involved in relief efforts with the administration would only raise more questions, so we’re not going to do it.”
“Understandable,” Addison stated with a slight nod. “Do you need me for anything else? I need to track down Michelle and speak to the director.”
Val shook her head. “No, that will be all, thank you, Addison.”
Addison smirked. “Just another day of being your right-hand woman.”
Val chuckled as Addison left the office and sat down in her chair. Once she was settled, she set up the holo-phone for a video call then rang Manny’s desk. He picked up after the second ring. “Yes, Madam President?”
“Put me through to Basara’s office. Let his people know it’s an emergency.”
“Right away, ma’am.”
For an infinitesimal moment, Val relaxed and mentally prepared herself for being the leader of her country. Another minute passed, then the kind face of Kuwait’s prime minister appeared on the holo-phone’s screen. He gave her a gentle smile. “President Hawkins, I’m surprised you were able to call me today.” His face took on a somber appearance. “My condolences and prayers to the people of California.”
“Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. It is definitely a trying time for the country, but I have no doubt we will persevere through it as we always do,” Val said believing every word she spoke. Americans were resilient, and had been for centuries. The earthquake was an experience they would all learn and grow from. “The reason for my call, sir, is regarding the events that took place today. Do you have time to speak with me?”
Prime Minister Basara nodded. “Of course.”
Val began to tell him about the meetings planned for later in the day, miraculously pushing the events in California from her mind so she could figure out the best way to rescue the brave men and women that had been captured. When their conversation was over, she would give the crisis her full attention once again. Val knew she would be working late into the night, especially with the state dinner happening, but it was one of the drawbacks that came with her job, and she accepted it. Though she still longed to be on that remote island.
~~~
“Scott, it is not my fucking job to talk to the press,” Summer told the man whose aggravated face filled the screen of
the holo-phone sitting on the desk.
Scott O’Neil ran a hand through his dirty blonde hair. “Summer, they want to know why you’re there, and they’re not getting anywhere with the president’s people, so yours is next.”
“My office is not next,” Summer countered as she stopped pacing in front of the desk to glare at Scott. This wasn’t her problem, it was Val’s. She was the one who had brought her back to this damn place. “The fact they are more interested in why I’m here instead of what’s going on in California shows how debased the press have become lately.”
Scott sighed. “So, if I’m asked about your reappearance at the White House we’re sticking with the normal routine?”
“Yes,” Summer answered as she resumed pacing. “Get me reports on what’s going on in California, Scott. I want the foundation to have a fundraising event in the next few days, and since I’m in fucking D.C., I’ll talk to the asshole senators who thought passing a bill to strengthen the country’s infrastructure wasn’t all that important.” Summer glanced at the phone’s screen and caught the slight grimace on Scott’s face. “What?”
“Wouldn’t that bring up some ethical concerns since you are the president’s ex-wife?” Scott asked with some hesitation, which wasn’t lost on Summer.
She stopped again and narrowed her eyes at the screen. “You can shove your ethical concerns up your ass, Scott.” Knowing he was right, she huffed in annoyance, then pointed at the phone and said, “I want the towns that were affected most by the earthquake to have aid by the end of the day, and I want you to contact Governor Zavala’s office. Let them know I would like to speak with him.”
Scott nodded. He wasn’t a bad public relations person; he made sure the foundation always looked good and remained in high regard with the public, since Summer could care less about what people thought of the foundation. All she cared about was helping those like her and families who had lost a family member while serving their country. “The widow program, how is the research going on that?”
Scott drew in a breath and said, “You want to do a lot, Summer, and our main problem would be funding, but it is feasible. If you—”
A knock on the door interrupted him, and Summer raised an eyebrow. No one other than the Secret Service would have any reason to bother her. “Who is it?” she called out. The young woman who entered seemed familiar to Summer, but she couldn’t quite place her. “Who are you, and what do you want?”
The woman smiled and said, “I would be offended, but you have been busy the last couple years. I was your chief of staff before you left. Ms. Connors thought you might need some help.”
Summer now remembered who the woman was, along with her name. “Nina, I want to say thank you for the offer, but…” She trailed off, realizing she could use the help. There were funds to arrange; companies she needed to coordinate with to get essential resources to California; and other errands that would probably pop up as the day continued. With her not being able to leave White House grounds it would be hard to get them done. However, Summer wondered if Nina would even be useful to her considering the circumstances surrounding her presence at the complex. She studied her for a long moment, then said, “The president has given me special instructions, which probably means some of them may have carried over to you when Addison asked you to come in today. Did they?”
Nina tried not to grimace, but failed. “Yes, Colonel.”
The title grated on Summer’s nerves, and she was about to tell Nina not to use it but decided to hold her tongue on the matter. There was something about being called colonel in an official tone that caused Summer to feel a flicker of something, and since she wasn’t angry this time, she enjoyed it. “What are the conditions of you working with me?” Nina began to list off several conditions, many of them mirroring the rules Summer was currently under. When she finished, Summer shook her head. “You’re basically useless to me.”
Nina smirked. “Not necessarily, ma’am. I do have local contacts who can help, and unlike you, I am able to leave the White House.”
Summer chuckled. The respectful dig amused her. “Okay, you can help. I’m going to finish my call with the foundation’s public relations director. In fact, why don’t you listen to the rest of it. We’re going to talk about fundraising for California and what aid the foundation will be sending to the state.”
Nina nodded then moved to take a seat on the couch as Summer continued her phone call with Scott. Once it was over Nina said, “I’ll handle everything for the fundraiser, including finding a place for the gala to be held.”
Nina’s enthusiasm made Summer a little leery. She appreciated the support, but it irritated her because Addison hadn’t given her a heads up. Nina got up from the couch as Summer nodded. “Sounds good. Any problems, let me know.” Summer walked over to the large desk, and as she started to sit behind it she noticed Nina hadn’t made any attempt to leave the office. “What?”
Nina took a step toward the desk. “I was told to inform you that you have a fitting with the White House tailor at two to make sure your mess dress uniform fits for tonight’s state dinner.”
“I’m not going to that fucking dinner,” Summer snapped. If Val actually thought she could force her to go then she was definitely mistaken, and Summer would go directly to the West Wing and tell her that to her face.
Reluctance shone in Nina’s eyes, and a slight grimace joined the expression. “Ms. Connors is under the impression that you are.”
Summer glared at Nina, and as much as she wanted to go off on her, she held off from doing so. Nina was only a messenger in the twisted game Val had created. “When you see either Addison or President Hawkins,” Summer said as she accessed her email, “tell them I would like to have a word with them.”
“Okay,” Nina responded quickly. “Is there anything else?”
“No, that will be it,” Summer replied in a clipped tone as she stared at the screen in front of her, not really taking in the words but shoving down the anger that wanted to break loose.
“Before I go, I do have to say it is nice to have you back, Colonel.”
Summer looked up right as Nina made a hasty exit from the office. As soon as the door closed, Summer slumped back against the chair and released a weary sigh. Being called colonel she could handle. The man in charge of her security detail called her colonel and hearing it in an official capacity was the most normal thing she had heard in the last two years, but being shoved into her dress uniform and having to play nice with the political and social elite of D.C. was another thing. Just thinking about it made Summer want to swallow a cyanide tablet. She felt even less inclined to go because Val had yet to tell her why she was here.
With the earthquake taking up all her attention for most of the morning, Summer hadn’t put any real effort into finding out the reason why Val had dragged her back to D.C. The events in California took precedence because she wanted to make sure the people in the state knew the foundation was there to fully support them and assist with relief and recovery. Summer also knew Val would be busy doing whatever the president did in a crisis like this and was probably inaccessible. She sighed and focused on the message she had opened. They both had too much work to do, and Summer grudgingly admitted that the two of them bickering during a national emergency wasn’t a good use of their time.
However, this didn’t mean she wouldn’t be having an argument with someone today. There were several members of Congress she wanted to talk to about their stance on the country’s infrastructure and making it safer and more resilient so this type of disaster wouldn’t happen again. Summer tightened her lips together as the idea skidded to a halt and she remembered the president of the United States was holding her hostage. The scowl worsened when Scott’s warning from earlier forced its way to the forefront of her brain. She wouldn’t be able to talk to the senators. Being the president’s ex-wife would raise numerous ethical concerns and would put Val under unnecessary scrutiny.
“I should have marrie
d the veterinarian,” Summer mumbled, reluctantly accepting the fact her plans for the day had been effectively shot to hell. Blowing out a frustrated breath, she got to work on sending emails to the foundation’s leadership and letting them know her expectations regarding assistance to California and how she wanted aid sent to the state immediately.
An hour later, as she sent an email to the person she had put in charge of California’s relief effort, Summer heard her mom’s voice. Glancing up at the holo-screen she had turned on for background noise, Summer was little surprised to see her mom holding a press conference about the earthquake. “The Armstrong Foundation will be in California by the end of tomorrow helping with clean-up, search and rescue, and assisting people who have been affected by this horrendous event.”
“Mrs. Armstrong,” a reporter called out, “your daughter, Summer, who is also the chairperson of the foundation, has been reported to be in Washington D.C. and at the White House. Is there anything you can tell us about that?”
“No, I cannot. If my daughter is at the White House, she is there for a good reason,” Summer’s mother responded coolly, but Summer could read the slight annoyance in her mother’s eyes.
The same reporter asked another question. “Does this mean she is there doing work for the foundation and not trying to reconcile with President Hawkins?”
The camera zoomed in on Cassandra’s face, and Summer knew her mother was seconds away from losing her temper. Cassandra cleared her throat softly and replied, “The fact you find it more pertinent to ask about why my daughter is at the White House instead of focusing on the tragedy that has befallen our fellow Americans is quite telling, and unbefitting of the reason why I called this press conference. We are here for the people of California, to let them know The Armstrong Foundation, along with its partners, are willing and ready to help them in any way we can.” Summer’s mother closed out the press conference after a momentary pause. “On behalf of the foundation, I thank you all for coming.”
