Page 2 of Power
I blink while staring at Liam. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You want to run polls on how the American public would feel if they found out I’m seeing an escort?” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Yes, because I’m sure ninety percent would be all for it, Liam,” I shout as I slam my hand on my desk. “No, we’re not doing that.”
“You need to be prepared if this becomes more than the Secret Service getting you a regular girl on a Friday night.”
“There’s nothing to prepare for, Liam. Nothing.” He opens his mouth and quickly closes it when I silence him with a look.
He straightens and nods. “Is there anything else, Mr. President?”
I turn to look out the window. “No.”
“I’ll arrange it for you,” he replies curtly.
“Thank you.” I stand, adjust my tie and head back to my desk.
Liam walks toward the door leading out to the reception area where my personal aide and secretary work. “Alison.” He gestures for her to enter.
“Mr. President, one of the reporters told me he’s hearing whispers that the baggage handlers are about to go on strike.”
I look to Liam. “On it,” Liam says, rushing out of my office.
“When’s your briefing?”
“I have twenty-five minutes.”
“As soon as we find something out, we’ll let you know.”
“Thank you, Mr. President.”
A good five minutes have passed when Liam returns to my office and picks up the phone. “Secretary of Transportation.” He holds the phone out to me.
“Cary,” I say. “What’s going on with the baggage handlers?”
“They hit us hard about fifteen minutes ago. They’re prepared to stage a nation-wide walkout if they don’t get a twenty percent increase.”
“Twenty percent?” I ask as I lift my brows in surprise.
“Yes, sir.” He waits on my reply.
“When?”
“Tomorrow night, for seventy-two hours.”
“Beginning of the work week.”
“Yes, sir. They know how hard it’ll hit.”
“Set up a meeting.”
“Yes, sir.”
I hang up and look to Liam. “How did we not know about this?”
“I’ll find that out.” He stands back and nods.
“And brief Alison. Thank you.” Liam exits, giving me a moment to think about Reece, before Esther barges into my office.
She walks over and places a stack of papers on my desk. “You have an appointment with the vice president at nine, and nine-fifteen there’s a briefing with the secretary of defense. At ten, you have a meeting with the attorney general, and at eleven your mother is arriving.”
“She is?” I look to Esther who nods. “Um.”
