Page 9 of Power
Chapter three
Bennett
Sittinginmyoffice, I’m inundated with paperwork.
“Mr. President,” Esther announces herself as she walks into my office and places yet another stack of folders on my desk.
“Is today over yet?” I ask as I skim the top file.
“Sure,” she replies sarcastically. “And maybe we can hold hands and skip down the corridor.”
I look up from the file, staring at her from above my glasses. “Are you sassing me, Esther?”
“Not at all, sir.” A small devious smile stretches her lips. “I just thought we were exchanging fantasies.”
“Your fantasy is to hold hands with me and skip down the hallway?” I can’t help but chuckle. “That’s a pretty sad fantasy.”
“It’s either that, or a date with Johnny Depp. And let’s face it, Johnny is way out of my league.”
I laugh a little more. “Get out, before I have Mark forcibly remove you.” I look over her shoulder and yell out, “Mark!”
“Yes, sir.” He appears inside my office and stands rigidly.
“Get rid of Esther. Remove her from the White House,” I jokingly say.
Mark looks to me and then to Esther. “I’m sorry, sir, but she scares the crap out of me.”
Esther looks proud of herself. “She’s five-foot-nothing and weighs a buck twenty soaking wet,” I say with a chuckle.
“Not to mention I’m fifty-five years old,” Esther adds to the satire.
“Sorry, sir, but she’s scary.” Mark juts his head to the side.
“That’s it, you’re both fired.”
“Who’s fired?” Liam asks as he walks into my office from the door on the left.
“Apparently, I am,” Esther replies. “And Mark’s throwing me out before he’s fired too.”
Liam’s brows lift as he stares at me. “I’d like to see Mark try.” Esther and Mark both leave my office, and Mark closes the door. “There’s a problem in California.”
“What’s the problem?” I ask, all the silliness now gone.
“A fire has broken out at Angeles National Forest.”
“A fire?” Liam nods. “What are we talking about? How big is it?”
“It’s burned through about fifteen thousand acres so far.”
“How long has it been burning, and how fast is it moving?” Liam goes to answer, but I shake my head. “Get the governor on the line.” Liam picks my phone up while I continue reading the file I’m working on.
“Lucy’s on the phone.” He holds the receiver out to me.
“Lucy.”
“Mr. President,” she says.
“What’s happening at Angeles National Forest?”
