A Presidential Affair

Ch. 1 - Mr. President

JANUARY 10 2017: President Andrew Claxton

(I would start the music here, my lovely humans)

"Mr. President, Secret Service Director Gentry is waiting for your call, he says its urgent."

"Sure thing Ms. Riley, let him know I'll be calling him at 9 a.m., sharp."

"Of course, Mr. President."

I walked into the oval office to greet my newly appointed Secretary of State, Ophelia Rocklin. My former cabinet member resigned due to an unforeseen, "dilemma" with his position.

"Hello Ophelia, welcome to the oval office, although you've seen it many times before." She turned towards me with bright eyes full of life as mine were before being elected president. "Greetings Mr. President, I prefer to be addressed as Ms. Rocklin." I smiled warmly, "Of course, Ms. Rocklin. We have a few issues to discuss before my call with S.S. Director Gentry, let's get to it."

I walked behind my desk and sat down, offering for her to take a seat as well.

"We must discuss your first meeting which will be with Japan, concerning multiple foreign affairs and policies that have come into question as of late. Here is an outline, consisting of the key points you must discuss. After the meeting, you will meet with my assistant Ms. Riley and relay a message to me in regards to a successful or unsuccessful meeting. Simple enough?"

She nodded, "Yes Mr. President. Although, I'm thinking of some other key points that may be more important or perhaps as important as the ones you have listed."

Her first official day and she's already making changes, I suppose that's her duty. "What might those points be?"

After a brief synopsis, I confirmed the new details were important and that she should introduce them the meeting. "Thank you, Ms. Rocklin. Now, I have an important phone call. Don't forget about-" She interrupted me by finishing my sentence, "Yes Mr. President, don't forget about the message I must relay to your assistant Ms. Riley." I nodded and excused her from the office.

I looked at my watch and it was exactly 9 a.m., the time in which I was supposed to call S.S. Director Gentry.

(I would pause the music here, my lovely humans)

"Hello Mr. President."

"Hello Director Gentry, what is the urgency of this matter?"

"We believe there has been a breach within the computer systems. Personal photos of you and your family are beginning to surface online. The reporter who first released them is a woman located in New York known as, Tania Orly. She works for the newspaper company, 'Truth News'. "

I gritted my teeth, angered by the situation at hand. If it's one thing that affects me, it's when personal photos of my family, that are meant to be private, are leaked all over the internet. I understand the privacy I gave up when I took office, but I wish these hackers would stop and leave the pictures released to the official press secretary. My foot began to tap subconsciously due to the anxiety I was feeling.

"Mr. President, what action would you like to take?" I pondered for a moment, I wouldn't want to ruin the career of a young reporter trying to make a buck over some innocent photos, but it was such an invasion of privacy.

"Send me a copy of the initial article, I want to see which photos she released before deciding what action to take." I received the article immediately. The photos were taken during our last vacation to the U.S. Virgin Islands. It bothered me that they were public because there are moments I hold close to my heart. This was one of them.