Page 5 of Not the Plan

“Excellent, because we need you here tomorrow, bright and early. There’s no time to waste, with Christina leaving us who knows when. That’s women for you, right? They keep you waiting or guessing, or they walk out on you in your time of need.”

The remark was a double slap to Karim, despite the senator’s chuckle. It was both inappropriate for work and hitting too close to home.

“Very funny, Julian,” Christina said, stapling some papers and handing the stack to Karim. “You know I’ll be here as long as possible, and back as soon as possible. Karim, I already took care of your pre-screening. Just fill these forms out, and the secretary will get them to Senate Administration so that you’ll be clear to start tomorrow.”

“Will do,” he said. “Thanks again, and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

“I won’t be here,” Julian said at the door. “Gotta head back to the district office in San Diego for a couple days. Christina will get you set up. There’s one bill I want you to focus on: cosponsoring a freeway project with our dear majority leader. It’s very important I show my constituents who really cares about them.”

“Got it,” Karim said.

“Karim, will you join me in my office?” Christina asked, rising from her seat.

“Sure thing.”

Down the hall, Christina closed the door behind her after Karim took the seat she indicated in front of her desk. She took her seat facing him.

She wove her fingers together and rested them on her crossed knee, leaning back into her seat.

“This is going to sound silly, but since you need to be up and running quickly, I need for things to be clear.”

Karim raised an eyebrow.

“Okay,” he said slowly.

“Julian just mentioned our majority leader. His name is Daniel Etcheverri. He also represents part of San Diego.”

“Yes.” Karim nodded. He was well accustomed to cities with populations large enough to require more than one state senator.

“And yeah, we’re members of the same party,” Christina continued. “So, we work together in public. We ultimately have to be on the same page, especially in the face of the minority party. But we donotget along. Weneverhave. We never will.”

Christina’s face was hard. Her jaw looked like it could cut diamonds. Karim had come across his fair share ofintractable-seeming positions in his years in politics, but the idea that there could be no hope of cooperation in the future was new to him, especially from people within the same party.

“Never will?” he asked.

“Never,” she said. “Let’s just say that the Capulets”—she pointed at herself—“and the Montagues”—she jerked a thumb toward the window—“have to work together.”

“The Capulets and the Montagues?”

She wove her fingers together again and rested her hands on her knee.

“And San Diego is ‘fair Verona.’ ” She shrugged. “Everything in the district is a competition. Anything they bring home for their constituents, you’d better believe we’re bringing home the same for ours. Daniel’s aides are always on the lookout for ways to make him look better than Julian, so it’s our job to make sure Julian looks even better. And that’s amplified at the state level. Anything Daniel does, we do better. Always.”

What have I gotten myself into? There’s always some degree of ego in politics, but come on, it’s supposed to be about the people.

He cleared his throat.

“Okay,” he said.

“You need to be careful who you associate with, who you are seen with,” Christina said. “Very careful.You never know who is really on Daniel’s team and is looking for a way to stab you, and by extension Julian, in the back. I imagine that the last thing you want is to ruin your new start in California by becoming an Achilles’ heel for your new boss?”

Christina’s tone chafed. A lot. But hewasbrand spanking new. He wasn’t going to create problems by reciprocating her attitude.

“Of course not,” he said.

She nodded, then continued. “It will take a little time for you to get to know everyone, but here are the people you can count on.” She leaned over, opening a drawer to her right, brought out a file folder, and placed it on her desk. Flipping it open, she tookout two stapled front-and-back pages with two columns of ID badge photos and lists of names. “These are the aides.” She handed him the pages. “And these are the members.” She handed him a second, similar page, titled Senators and Assembly Members. “Naturally, we don’t expect you to memorize everyone’s name right away. But knowing friendly faces is important.”

Karim took a moment to scan the pages. That they would have the “family” printed up and ready made it clear just how serious these allegiances were.

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