THE PRESIDENT'S MEN
The same day
7.42 A.M.
The Oval Office
“Steve, Donna, I’m glad you could make it,” Sam greeted the two, who stepped into the Oval Office.
“Will told us to come. Is something wrong, Mr. President?” Donna asked him.
“No, Donna. But I wanted to talk to the two of you,” Sam told them and gestured at the couches in front of them. “Please take a seat.”
“Thank you, sir,” Donna and Steve answered in unison and took a seat opposite each other. Sam chose one of the chairs.
“Okay. Let’s talk shop. Steve, if you take on, you’ll stay Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy,” Sam spoke to the younger man first.
“Thank you, sir. I promise not to disappoint you,” Steve answered.
“Promise me not to disappoint yourself, and we are clear,” Sam said, throwing a quick glance at Donna.
“Yes, sir,” Steve said with a nod and then leaned back. He was a bit tense when he was called to the Oval Office this morning, but now that he knew his job was safe he relaxed a bit.
“Donna, I asked Jessie to be my Press Secretary,” Sam said, turning to Donna.
“I know, sir. She already told me,” Donna said with a smile. The younger woman was seemingly worried about this offer and wanted to have Donna’s approval. She went as far as waiting for Donna’s arrival at the White House this morning and asked for her opinion then and there.
“Good, good. No hard feelings then?” Sam asked, looking searchingly at Donna.
“Of course not, sir,” Donna told him. “I think Jessie will be a wonderful Press Secretary. But what about Rebecca?” she asked. Jim Marino chose Rebecca Stevens as his Press Secretary, but Rebecca took a leave of absence, handing her duties over to Zack Robbins and Jessie Parish for the time being.
“I talked to Rebecca yesterday, and we came to an agreement. She is going to resign, and Jessie can take over as Press Secretary.”
“I see,” Donna said with a nod.
“I want you to be my Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Donna. You will manage the day-to-day life of us, preparing briefings, meetings and such. What do you say?” Sam asked her.
“I serve at the pleasure of the President,” Donna said with a smile. “It’s a great honor, sir,” she added then.
“Steve,” Sam said, turning to the younger man, “could you give us a minute? Will wanted to speak to you anyways.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. President,” Steve said and left the Oval Office.
“Donna,” Sam began, “I spoke to Josh yesterday.”
“I know,” Donna said. “What did he say?”
“He said no, to all of my offers,” Sam told her. “But I think you already knew that.”
“Yes, sir,” Donna told Sam.
“Donna, isn’t this the sign you have been waiting for?” Sam asked his friend.
“I wasn’t waiting for a sign, sir,” Donna retorted. “I was waiting for a change of attitude,” she explained.
“And isn’t this a sign of that change?” Sam asked her.
“Yes, sir, it is,” Donna said, seemingly on the verge of tears.
“Am I right to assume that you are a victim of your own pride?” Sam asked her in a gentle voice.
“Yes, sir,” Donna gave in. “Let me handle this on my own, sir.”
“I didn’t want to butt in on the situation, Donna,” Sam said, holding up his hand. “I just wanted to be a good friend.”
“You have always been, Sam,” Donna whispered. “To both of us. Thank you.”
“But I have to tell you that I’m going to need Josh’ advice from time to time,” Sam confessed.
“I knew that the moment you became President of the United States, sir,” Donna said with a smile playing on her lips. “I know Josh has a great political mind, that he is too smart for his own good. I just want him to live longer. I love him so much; I don’t want to lose him.”
“That Dr. Gage really scared you, didn’t he?” Sam asked, only half jokingly.
“Well, he was brutally honest. He said if Josh’s stress level stayed the same he wouldn’t have long,” Donna said in a low voice. “I know many think that’s why Matt lost his second term, but frankly, I don’t give a damn.”
“I know they said that and I don’t give a damn either. Josh is not only a mind, he is a person, and his friendship is more important to me than his advice,” Sam confessed.
“Thank you, sir,” Donna whispered.
“But you understand I had to try,” Sam asked her finally.
“Yes, sir. I knew you would,” she answered with a big smile.
The same day
2.32 P.M.
The Chief of Staff’s Office
“Where is Leo?” Donna asked when she stepped into the room and found Josh sitting across Will.
“He is with the twins and they are with Ainsley,” Josh hurried to reassure her. “I promised Sam to help picking a new Vice President. We are waiting for Charlie to show up; he was vetting some candidates yesterday.”
“Okay,” Donna said reassured. “Where is the President, Will?”
“He is in the Situation Room,” Will informed her.
“He knows that room is not his second home, right?” Donna asked, sounding very serious.
“There was something new concerning the assassination,” Will told her, after deciding not to comment on Donna’s remark although he was thinking along the same lines.
“I’m Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations,” Donna told Josh, after a minute of silence.
“Congratulations,” Josh said with one of his trademark smiles.
“You didn’t tell him to make me Deputy, did you?” Donna asked suspiciously.
“No, Donna, I would have never done that. It must have been either his or Will’s idea,” Josh told her frankly.
“It was his,” Will told them. A knock interrupted their conversation, and soon Charlie stood in front of them.
“Sorry, I’m running a bit late,” Charlie apologized. “We had a check-up at lunch break.”
“How is Zoey?” Josh asked him.
“You should come over sometimes, she told me she left a message on your answering machine last week but you never called back,” Charlie looked at his friend.
“Yeah, I forgot to call back. I’ll do that later today. Is she okay?” he pressed on.
“Yeah, she is okay. I mean, considering that she is the size a baby whale,” he said with a chuckle and then laughed out loud after seeing Donna’s reaction to his words. “Her expression, not mine,” he added then.
“Okay, back to business. Charlie?” Will turned to the younger man.
“I vote yea,” Charlie said, sounding almost solemn.
“Josh?” Will turned to his former boss.
“It was my idea. But if you want to hear it again, yea,” Josh said, his face solemn too.
“Who are we talking about?” Donna asked.
“Andie,” Josh informed her.
“Andy who?” Donna asked. She knew a few Andrews in Senate and Congress.
“Andie Wyatt,” Will told her.
“You are considering a female candidate?” Donna asked surprised.
“Your opinion, Donna?” Will turned to her.
“But of course. I mean, yea,” Donna agreed.
“Okay, let’s take it to the President,” Will said and stood up.
GO TO PART SEVEN