“Yes, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
As she made her way through the now-familiar corridors that led to the West Wing, she noticed right away that everything was unusually quiet. That she didn’t pass a single other person during a weekday was highly unusual. Outside the Oval Office, she encountered Nick’s faithful admin, Julie, who was on a call. She nodded to Sam.
He’d told her to walk right into the Oval Office any time she wanted to, but she didn’t feel right about doing that today. So she waited.
At least five minutes later, Julie finally finished her call. “I’m so sorry to keep you waiting, ma’am. Let me tell him you’re here.”
She called into the office and murmured a few words that Sam couldn’t hear. Almost instantly, Nick was at the door, gesturing for Sam to come into the office.
He looked stricken. That was the only word she could think of to describe his expression. It reminded her of the day he’d found John O’Connor murdered in his Watergate apartment.
“I came as fast as I could.”
“Thank you.” He put an arm around her.
Sam felt like she was walking into a room full of the popular kids in high school. They all went silent when they saw her.
“I think you know everyone,” Nick said.
She didn’t, but that didn’t matter.
A woman she did know, Teresa Howard, gestured for Nick to step aside for a second, leaving Sam marooned in a sea of people who stared at her like she was an unwelcome surprise.
Whatever Teresa was saying to Nick wasn’t going over well. His face was flushed, the way it got when he was upset or aroused. Suddenly, Sam wished she hadn’t come.
Nick returned to her side and took her hand. “Come with me.” He led her into his private office and drew her into a tight hug. “It means so much to me that you came home to support me. I need you more than ever right now.”
“But?”
“You can’t be in the room while we discuss strategy. You don’t have a security clearance.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“I’m sorry, love. I want you there. You know I do.”
“It’s not a problem. I have plenty to do at work.”
“I was going to ask if you could maybe stay close for when I make a public statement about what’s happening. I’d love to have you with me then.”
“I can do that. Do you have any idea when that might be?”
“I don’t.” He frowned and shook his head. “Don’t wait around. It’s fine. We can reconnect later.”
“I want to be here for you if you need me.”
“It means so much to me that you came when you heard what was happening. It’s okay to go back to work. I have no idea how this will unfold. The FBI director is suggesting we say nothing until we have Ivanov in custody.”
“Who?”
“The Russian opposition leader who Gretchen has been entertaining—overnight—at the Naval Observatory.”
“What?” Sam asked on a long exhale.
“You heard me right, but don’t repeat that to anyone. I’m sure it will all be public before long, but that’s part of the reason why you can’t stay. For now, anyway, the details are classified.”
“I’m so sorry she disappointed you this way, love.”
