Mr. President

Chapter 8

The ride to work didn't take long and I found myself dreading going in. I can't quite explain what was wrong with me or why what I heard on the phone bothered me. John was talking to his wife the way a husband should talk to their wife and we have no relations other than him being my boss and the president.

When I walk through the doors I'm met by security and have to show my employee ID. I make my way to the office he gave me and find a stack of papers and files to start going through.

After a couple of hours sorting, I hear a knock on the door.

"Come in."

The door opens and it's a man that I have seen around before but I don't know who it is.

"Scarlett?" He asks.

"Yes, that's me." I say and smile at him.

I assume that he is an employee as well because he is in a black suit and is holding what looks like more files to sort.

"The president asked me to give these to you. He needs them done by 7."

The man who is talking is kind of awkward acting, like he's uncomfortable. He is tall and fit, with dark brown hair and green eyes.

"Okay, you can just sit them on the desk." I tell him.

He sits them down and then sits in the chair on the other side of my desk.

"So you're pretty new here?" He asks me.

"Yeah, I've just been here a few days. I was working at the Capital building for a little before he moved me here." I tell him.

"Yeah that's usually how we all get here. My name is Lance. I'm just kind of a gopher for the president. Whatever errands he needs done, that kind of stuff. "

"Oh, how long have you been here?" I ask him. He doesn't look very old so I can't imagine he's been here long.

"Just since he got in office so not very long. When his term is over I'll probably move back home and run for mayor or something." He says and laughs.

I laugh with him and it feels good to not be so serious all of the time.

"What about you?" He asks. "What are you going to do when his term is over?"

I think for a minute, but honestly have no clue.

"I could go back to the Capital and work for whoever the next president is. I might move to California and find a simple job." I tell him.

"Why California?" He asks me.

"I don't know. I just feel like I could live the American Dream out on the west coast." I say.

"You're very interesting, Scarlett." He tells me and tilts his head.

"Where's home for you, Lance?"

"New Mexico." He says and smiles to himself. "Albuquerque. I'll probably move back but the way it's looking JFK might get another term, the people love him."

I hope he does. "Where is he now?" I ask Lance.

"The president?"

"Yes."

"Oh, he left this morning. He flew out to talk about the tension in Cuba with some cabinet members." He says and my heart sinks a little. He's not here today.

"When will he be back?" I ask.

"Either tonight or tomorrow morning, I'm not sure. He's a busy man. Running the country isn't an easy job." Lance says.

"I can imagine." I say to him.

"Well," He stands up and yawns. "I'd better get back to work, lots of things to be done today. It was nice meeting you, Scarlett." He says and reaches his arm out to shake my hand.

"You too. It's nice to finally know someone that I work with." I tell him and he smiles and picks his things up before walking out.

I continue to do the first stack of papers that I was working on and finish in half an hour. I stop for a minute to drink some coffee so I can make sure all of this gets done by 7.

I work for what seems like no time at all but when I finish I look up at the clock and it's 6:45. I got done just in time. I grab all of the papers and put them in a neat pile before carrying them to another office that John uses just to look at paperwork. I set them down on the desk and make sure there isn't anything else I need to do before I go home.

I get into the impala that John bought me and head back to the apartment. I remember that Penny wanted to go out tonight and I am thankful, I could use a drink.

I go up and change into a dress that's more comfortable and put different heels on.

We meet down in the lobby and I offer to drive. She gives me directions until we reach a local diner and bar. I'm thankful that it's a diner too because I'm starving.

We go in and sit up on the red barstools and chat until it's time to order.

"What will it be, ladies?" The man behind the bar asks.

"I'll have a hamburger, fries, a water and a red sangria." I order.

"And you?" He asks Penny. 

"I'll have a chicken salad with a blue lagoon." She orders.

"Alright ladies. It'll be out shortly."

We talk some more, she tells me about her family. She has a husband who works in a car factory and two little boys.

She asks me about my family but I don't have much to tell her. She asks about the man who bought me all of this stuff and by the time we get our food I'm already three drinks in and afraid I might say something about John.

"So where is he tonight?" She asks. "This mystery man of yours."

"I'm not sure." I say and take a bite of my fries.

We finish our food and have a few laughs before we decide to go home. We must have talked a lot because the clock on the wall says its 2 am. I let her drive because she's drank less than I have.