Smith’s knee bounced nervously. He couldn’t stop fidgeting in his chair. The president’s secretary kept giving him a kind smile, which he returned. He checked his watch for the twelfth time.
“I’m sure he’ll see you any minute, Congressman.”
Smith smiled. “Yes, I know he’s been busy lately.”
“And he’s not the only one,” she said, looking at him. “You’ve been in the headlines all week. You’re all anyone can talk about.”
“Yes, it’s all very flattering.”
The past week had gone by in a blur. All the meetings, news conferences, and interviews seemed to be one collective rush. But this meeting would be one he remembered.
“Congressman Smith?” the secretary asked. “The president will see you now.”
“Thank you.”
Smith buttoned the jacket of his suit, exhaled, and pushed through the door of the Oval Office. The president was alone, sitting behind his desk.
“Congressman Smith,” the president said. “So good to have you here.”
“Thank you, Mr. President.”
“Please, have a seat.”
Even with everything that had happened, the corrupt democracy, treason charges, and the negative media assault, Smith still couldn’t help but feel awed by the history that filled the room. Countless ambassadors and presidents had sat on the very same couch he sat on now.
“I have to say that your persistence has been admirable, Congressman. It’s good to know that we have politicians out there that will hold firm to the bedrock of our democracy.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Now, as you know, I’ll be signing your water bill into law this afternoon, but I wanted to speak with you privately before the media circus exploded. I’m sure you’re aware of the investigation of Congressman Jones?”
“Yes, although all that I know is from what I’ve seen on the news.”
“Ah, well, you know how the media is. Their business is just as much speculation as it is reporting the facts.”
The president gave a good-hearted laugh, which Smith didn’t return. Smith knew the president had a connection to Jones, and this was the president’s way of vetting him.
“Mr. President, I try not to speculate, so I’ll stick with the facts of what I know. Jones had deep financial ties with Strydent Chemical, which is now going to lose billions because of Dr. Carlson’s designs. I know that he had dirt and leverage on almost every official in government. And I know he was an avid supporter of your election two years ago,” Smith said.
The president dropped the pleasantries. “That sounds like speculation to me, Congressman.”
“Perhaps. But the good news is that the investigations across all branches of government will bring the facts to light soon enough.”
A pause lingered between the two of them before the president finally rose and extended his hand. “Thank you for stopping by, Congressman. I look forward to seeing you at the signing this evening. And I hope to see you at the National Mall for the Navy’s award ceremony after lunch.”
Smith shook his hand as the president quickly ushered him out of the Oval Office.