The President's Wife - Kathy Myme Page 0,24
on my hips, “need to talk, sir.”
Three faces look back at me: two men in military gear and President Shepard. There’s a far-too-long pause as the full extent of what I just did hits me.
Oh god, I groan. I’m getting sassy with the President. The most powerful man in the world. In the Oval Office. He could probably have me thrown in a cell if he really wanted to.
“I think somebody wants to see you, sir,” one of the military men says eventually, coughing weakly.
“Yes,” the President agrees. His eyes are fixed on me. “It appears so. Both of you are dismissed, but I want another report tomorrow.”
The two of them nod frantically. “Yes, sir.”
And just like that, I’m alone with the President.
“What’s going on?” I ask, gesturing to the door the two men left out of.
The President raises an eyebrow as if bemused at my interest. “Trying to learn state secrets, Miss Waters?”
“They looked upset.”
“Rightfully so. Somebody has let slip the details about a few changes I’m making to our military policy. The press are going to be kicking up quite the fuss come tomorrow.”
“What kind of changes?”
“Changes I wanted to introduce gradually. Not changes pushed into the world like a cannonball hitting our nation.” He shakes his head. “Miss Waters.”
“Yes?”
“Did you come here to interrupt my private conversations - without knocking, I might add - or did you actually have something meaningful to say?”
Part of me wants to blush and back-down at his frankness, but I came here for a reason.
I stand up a little straighter. “Mr President, sir-”
“David.”
“What?”
“Call me David.” He shrugs, far too relaxed. “If we’re meant to be madly in love, I expect you should call me by my first name.”
I stare at the man in front of me. The President. President David Shepard, leader of the free world. Could he ever be just ‘David’ to me?
“Sir…” I begin.
“No buts,” he warns. “We’ve both agreed to the plan. It’s important that we follow it.”
The plan. I snap back to reality. That’s what I’m here to discuss.
“Si- um, David,” I say, his name foreign and wrong on my tongue. “I’ve followed your schedule this morning.”
He nods. “Good girl.”
My train of thought disappears. “What?”
“Aren’t I allowed to call my fiancée a good girl?”
If he’s trying to distract me, it’s working. Good girl. The absolutely blasé way he spoke those words, the simple nod of his head as he sits leaning back in his seat… it’s enough to drive a girl insane.
I think about the hundreds of gossip mags drooling over the President. Imagine how much they’d give to be in my situation.
“David,” I press insistently, trying to shake it off. “I know it’s our first day doing this and there’s so much we haven’t discussed, but we need to talk.”
“Then talk.” He looks me up and down, his gaze piercing. “Are you here to tell me you want to back out?”
“What? No.” I swallow. I know how much this cover-up could cost him. How much it could cost the administration. “Everything that’s happened today… it’s too much.”
“Too much?”
“You have Jackson and god-knows-how-many Secret Service agents trailing after me,” I explain. “You’ve given me an itinerary I’m being forced to follow. I’m supposed to obey certain etiquette rules and I’m apparently being made a whole new wardrobe.”
He nods along passively. “You have a problem with this?”
“Yes!” I fold my arms. “It’s not practical, sir- um, David. I have a life to lead. I’m willing to lie for this administration, if it’s for a good cause. But you can’t expect me to be okay with you controlling every aspect of my life.” I give him a small smile. “Next thing you’ll be trying to tell me where to live or how to spend my evenings.”
David waves a hand. “I don’t need to think about that. It’s already arranged.”
My blood runs cold. “What?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” he asks. “Miss Waters, your belongings are being collected from your flat and moved into a suite in my executive residence. And I will be taking you for dinner this evening.”
Two words: hell… and no.
“I am not giving up my apartment,” I snap. “We never agreed to that. In fact, I didn’t agree to any of this. All I promised is that I’d help you keep your reputation.”
“The press will be hounding your apartment for weeks,” he says. “At least here we can keep you safe.”
“I can deal with the press.”
“Things will be better if we’re able to keep an eye on you. For your