Page 30 of The Press Secretary's Passion
“Shit,” I bite out.
“What’s that?” Grace asks.
“It’s time for a Press Briefing,” I answer.
“Oh shit,” Carter repeats my earlier curse. “What are you going to do?”
“I’ll tell you what I’mnotdoing,” I answer him with a grim smile as I push out of my chair. “Apparently, I’m not going to Africa.”
“Africa?” he asks as I smooth my palms down the front of my slacks. “What about Africa?”
“Nothing.” I smile as I walk out the door.
“Good morning, ladies and gentleman,” I say as I step up to the podium in the press room. “I suspect this will be a quick one, as it’s a slow news day.”
Voices clamor all around me.
“What can you tell us about the hunting accident Captain Black was involved in?” someone shouts.
“Just that there was a minor accident and he is at home recovering,” I respond. “He has asked for privacy during his time of healing.”
“Has the president changed his stance on HB 2250?” someone else shouts.
“Not to my knowledge. President Chancellor is still openly opposed to House Bill 2250 and its dangerous implications.”
“Speaking of the president,” someone says, and I mentally brace. “How long have you been romantically involved with the president’s father?”
“I am not involved with anyone,” I reply with a bored expression pasted on my face. “And if I was, my personal life is not free for public consumption.”
“Was the president as happy about the relationship as your parents are?” someone asks.
“I will repeat that I am not romantically involved with anyone at this moment.”
“What about yesterday morning’s report in the paper?” someone asks.
“What about it?” I reply as if I haven’t a care in the world.
“Both the senior senator and your parents are quoted as being pleased with the match,” someone else says. “And you deny it?”
“I don’t deny that it seems all parties mentioned would be pleased with a match,” I answer and then smile. “I am just not one of those parties. And my parents have not been apprised of my love life for quite some time. As it’s my love life and I’ve previously stated that, one, it’s none of your business, and two, there is no love life to speak of, I think you should take my word for it. Now, since that seems all we have for this morning, I will see you all later. Make good choices.”
And then I walk out of the room with my head held high.
“Could Wedding Bells Be Ringing for FLOTUS BFF and President’s Father?”
Chapter 9
Finally something right
Buzz… Buzz… Buzzzzz…
My phone dances around on the kitchen counter. I had silenced it while I was driving home, because it was ringing nonstop. Worse yet, not only was it ringing nonstop, but it was my mother who was calling.
I’m not ready to deal with my parents and the interview they gave to multiple national news agencies, including my former employers at Eagle News. I know I’m going to have to eventually, but right now, I just can’t. What could they have possibly been thinking giving those interviews? And who told them I was involved with anyone, let alone a former U.S. Senator, because I certainly did not.
When I pulled up in front of my house, the whole front was covered with news vans and littered with paparazzi.
This cannot be happening.
