Chapter 1: Press Conference

 

Chapter 1: Press Conference

I stood at the podium, my hands trembling. Trying to calm my surging heart, I studied a few faces of the crowd.

One, in particular, stood out among the rest. He had glossy black hair, gray-green eyes, and highly angled features.

I blinked and stared at the man, dimly aware he was staring back.

With a mental shrug, I began my speech.

“Fellow Americans,” I said, confidence a key, “my father or, as you know him, President John Falador, sends his most sincere apologies in this tax nonsense However, it is not within his power to simply wave them.” I feigned a smile and began taking questions.

“Over here!" a representative from NBC hissed, violently shoving CBS's rather timid reporter aside.

“Sure, whatever,” I said, waving my hand for her to continue.

“Reyenne, what is the cause of your father's absence?”

“He has the flu,” I lied pleasantly, “and is currently bedridden. Ms. Raven Champbell, his representative, can elaborate.” I stepped down from the podium and took Raven's seat when she stood.

As the flog of questions for Raven began, my thought wandered as usual.

Truth be told, the president had a tumor the size of a walnut and was having it removed today of all days.

Dandy, right?

So he decides he'll send his nineteen-year-old daughter, as in moi, to deliver the speech for the one thing every president since Washington himself has had troubles with:taxes.

Surprisingly, the people respected him just as much as they respected him. Go figure.

I smiled to myself, pleased with that thought. My authority was my father's.

“Reyenne.” The V.P., Herreld B. Chandly, nudged me. “You're on again, hon.”

I nodded, my smile fading, and approached the podium again.

“What she said,” I said lamely into the microphone. “Thanks to all for listening and have a wonderful evening.”

'What she said.' I cracked up before the cameras shut off, I knew I did.

“Reyenne!” Raven sighed deeply as she covered the mic with her ebony hand. “That's great. Press'll have a field day with that. Mark my words, your face will be seen first on every effing news program. Why did the president's daughter laugh after her speech???? Jeez, Reyenne. You were told better. And wearing jeans to a meeting so important isn't exactly-”

I shrugged it off. “Rave, I'm a kid,” I interrupted. “I'm not all serious, all the time. And I love Levi's.”

“Sometimes I wish you didn't.”

I ignored her and glanced once more across the faces, searching for the man I'd seen before, but he wasn't there.

“Hey, Rave,” I said slowly. “Do you know who everyone here is?”

“Maybe. Why?”

“I saw someone earlier who-- You know what? Never mind.”

“Mmm.... I'll bet it was Arrin Lusk,” Raven said after a pause. “Handsome, olive skinned, black hair, beautiful eyes?”

I didn't reply.

Raven smirked. “Thought so.”