Foreign Affairs

Prologue

Foreign affairs

I am backstage at the most important press conference of my life. I can hear the rustling of the reporters, all waiting for me.

"You can do this, Ness. You're the First child of one of the most powerful nations in the world. Don't let them see you sweat." Winston, my mother's presidential advisor, offers me an encouraging smile.

"Just remember what we talked about... Don't answer the question they ask, answer the question you want to answer." Winston

I nod and take a deep breath... then walk out into the stage. I'm momentarily blinded by the flashing cameras, but I forces myself to smile as I step up to the podium. The reporters quiet down as I begin my statement.

"Thank you all for being here today. I am Ness Moon, First Child of the great nation Rutherland. I want to start by saying I take my duties as First Child seriously, I know I represent my country everywhere I go... And for the past six weeks, I've been bringing the sexy back to politics!" A murmur ripples throughout the room, and I see reporters nodding as they take notes.

"That's a big part of why I wanted to go to Vancross Institute for international Diplomacy... although my time at school hasn't exactly gone as planned..." I feel myself straying from my talking points, so I glance down at my notes.

"I admit, my recent behavior is not beffiting someone of my position--" Ness

"You can say that again! Look, we know what your statement's gonna say. agent to the good stuff!" The other reporters join in, and I can feel my control of the room slipping away...

"Ness, over here! Rutherland is one of the most powerful nations. Do you think this scandal will hurt your foreign relations? Do you feel you've let people down? More importantly, do you feel you've let the President down?" One of the reporters said.

"I- I know my mom's polling numbers have been affected by the... incident last night, but--" I can't finish my answers by all the raining questions from the reporters.

"Is that what we're calling it now? An 'incident'? Because where I'm from, we call it a full-blown sex scandal!" Reporter

"Thank you that will be all!" Winston. Chaos breaks out as the reporters shout my name. I am ushered offstage, still a little shell-shocked. I take one last look over my shoulder at the swarm of the press, circling like they smell blood in the water.

"...How the hell am I supposed to come back from this?"

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