Compromise

Chapter 1

Paris, France 📍

Khadijah POV

I hum to the song playing in the background of the café while skimming through the menu. Looks like they finally have Religieuse, I've been craving to try the mocha cream filling.

I fixed my coach shades, so that I don't get the sun's rays straight in my damn eyes. I take a look at my whole surroundings. Seeing old architecture clashing with new modern architecture. The building is covered with all sorts of flowers from big to small descending down from the cafe's name board at the top. Matching perfectly with the spring season in France.

As I'm ready to tell my order to the waiter, I feel my phone buzz. Sometimes I usually would have my phone on either mute or on vibration. So that it doesn't affect my work or maybe when I don't feel like being bothered by others.

I noticed the text is from Rowan.

I wonder why he's texting me all of a sudden

It better be important because last time Rowan did this shit, I really thought it was a serious matter but no. I was to go get food from Rococo's Restaurant and I quote from him

'Dijah please... I checked your locations and figured you're closer to Rococo's Restaurant and it's really important to grab me a plate of that shrimp pasta please', as Rowan pleads to me on the other side of the line.

I fight the urge to roll my eyes at his antics despite him not being able to see my facial expression on the phone.

'Wow ok I see, so what I'm hearing is that you went through the system to track my whereabouts? Just to ask me to buy you some food?' I state, trying to understand his reason for calling me.

'Yes that's pretty much it. Don't worry Dijah I'll pay you back with whatever you want, I promise', he says.

'Hmm.. whatever I want, you say?'

'Yes'

'Well then your food will be there in 20 minutes. In advance, you will do my follow up reports for a month and a half. Just to let you know I'm not going to make it easy for you', didn't allow him to respond before ending the call.

Snapped back from my thoughts when I felt my phone vibrate again. After unlocking my phone, I tap on Rowan's latest message.

'You need to come back to the states now. It's urgent'

Looking at Rowan's text message with content. It seems he's serious, especially how he's messaging me. Then another vibration happens, I read what Rowan sent:

'It's about the president's campaign'

'I thought you guys had it under control without me? Plus I'm still in France, I can't just leave my post'.

Does he really think that I'm just going to drop my assignment just for this somewhat 'campaign' thing. It will be the last I'll drop everything for to go help whatever mess the president is in again.

'Yes we did have it under control but something had popped up when the president went to Michigan, to talk about helping Michigan's poor parts of the neighborhoods with water.'

Feeling curious, in wanting to know exactly the problem of the situation happening in Michigan.

Checking my phone once again, waiting for Rowan's response.

He responded back saying the words that I knew were bound to send me to go fix another mess the president has left publicly for everyone to know.

'There's been footage and leaked messages of the president having affairs. Though this is not his first affair but it is his first of one lady claiming she's pregnant with the president baby'

'How many people know of this?'

'So far only one reporter brought it up to the president and the woman herself. She threatens to come out public with this information'.

'What would she gain from doing this stunt?'

'That's what we want to know but it's hard to find her and not to mention trying to speak to her. She has refused to talk to anyone, especially Imani!'

Now that made me surprised to hear. No one ever refuses to speak with Imani, she's good at persuading people to talk.

'If she isn't talking to anyone in our unit, then what makes you think she would want to talk to me?'

'Why I think you will be the best option to get through her is because of your closeness to the president. I have an idea that, from having access to talk to you, she will be able to get through the president faster'.

The only closeness I have with the president is me being part of the 'cleanup crew'. Like I know I do help with the press secretary if I need to but other than that there's no other relations between us.

Contemplating what to do with the situation, I called the waiter back to take my order. Still haven't replied back to Rowan yet, my first priority was to order a Religieuse to-go. As I waited for my to-go bag with the pastry. I took off my sunglasses and placed them in my purse, to replace it with a champagne colored one. Following with it was a small compact mirror, using it to make sure I still look good and to re-apply my lip gloss. Making sure my lips stay moist and glossed.

I'm not trying to have no chapped lips, no cracked, or broken lips. We only accept good lips. Speaking of lips, no white line present on mine. Noticing I look perfect, a smile appeared on my lips.

Just receiving my pastry, I made my way out of the cafe after saying thank you to the waiter. I headed back to the hotel I'm staying at. This gave me time to really think about what Rowan was saying.

If I do go back to Washington, I am faced with helping in the ordeal there. Knowing that's not going to be the last; only more to come. If I don't go back, it will be the same problem but far more bigger problems to follow in the president's first term.

Stopping in front of the reception of Shangri La Paris Hotel, I came to my decision. I sent a message to Rowan before walking to the elevator and pressing my level number of where I stayed.

The elevator door closes, signaling me clocking out for the day.