Madame President - Tara Sue Me Page 0,8

of interest reflected there. But he continued on, without even a smile.

“Who is that?” I’d asked the guy I’d been speaking with, wanting to know everything about the Adonis of a man who actually looked at me.

“Navin,” the guy said. “I don’t know much about him except that he—"

“Graduated first in his class at Colombia and scored insanely high on his LSAT,” a woman said.

“Really?” I turned to face her. “All that and brains, too?”

She sighed. “Yes, and word is he never dates. Only has the occasional one-nighter.”

“Damn,” I said and promised myself I’d stay as far away from him as possible.

One of the very few promises I’ve ever broken.

We didn’t interact much to begin with. Just a casual nod of recognition if we crossed paths, or a smile of camaraderie when our gazes met in the library. It was December of our first year before we had an actual conversation.

My undergraduate degree was in International Affairs, but I minored in Spanish, and while at Harvard, I volunteered to be a translator. I quickly discovered how rewarding it was to bridge that gap between people and volunteered as much as possible.

In December, the organization held a holiday party as a thank you. I never turned down an offer of free food, so I showed up, not anticipating to stay very long. Or that was my plan until Navin walked in, alone, and it hit me.

Even though he had a reputation as a playboy, I never saw him with a woman. Wouldn’t a playboy bring a date to a party? I abandoned my leave-the-party-early plan and decided to watch him instead. In the fifteen minutes that followed, three separate women approached him. All three were sent away with a smile, but they were definitely sent away.

As the third one made her way back to the crowd, Navin moved toward me. Though I saw what he was doing, I wasn’t prepared for him to stand before me and hold out his hand.

“Navin Hazar,” he said. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”

I shook his hand. “Anna Fitzpatrick.”

Chapter Seven

Him

Inauguration Day

Washington DC

Even though I’m a jaded cynic, I’ll admit the transitioning of power from one president to the next - always peaceful, calm, and dignified - never fails to make my chest swell with pride for what we have accomplished in this country. It’s not a sight I ever want to grow complacent with. For a sitting Commander-in-Chief to willingly step aside and let another take his or her place without violence or bloodshed, is a feat in and of itself.

Today is no different. Anna stands on the platform built for the occasion on the Capital’s West Front, places her left hand on George Washington’s Bible, and holds up her right. Her voice is full of the strength, passion, and determination she is quickly becoming known for, as she recites after the Chief Justice.

“I, Anna Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me, God.”

The crowd gathered erupts in a flurry of cheers, whistles, and applause. For a brief moment, I allow myself to hope that this time, this president will be the one to change things. But that hope is quickly dashed with the knowledge that experience doesn’t make this likely.

Nor is it helped by the mutterings of the stranger at my side.

“Damn, she’s hot,” he says as Anna addresses the country for the first time as our President. I glare at him, hoping he’ll stop. He lets out a low wolf whistle. “I’d definitely hit that.”

“Do you mind?” I ask through clenched teeth.

“What?”

I nod toward Anna. “That’s our President. Have some respect.”

“Why don’t you mind…” His words fall away and his eyes grow big as he recognizes me. “You’re that news guy.”

“Yes,” I say. “I am and unless you want to be the star of my upcoming feature called Sexist Assholes, I suggest you watch yourself.”

He slinks off into the crowd. I look over the packed streets, the flurry or two falling from the sky and take a deep breath before turning back into what Anna is saying.

I think back on the day I turned down her invitation and wish I hadn’t been such an ass. At the time, I’d said no out of a sense of self preservation, thinking it would be the best for all involved if we stayed as far apart