Hello, my name is Lauren. I have been a presidential secretary for 12 years. I have worked for 2 presidents. Having worked for Mr Bush for four years, i thought i was well prepared when president Grant took office. Well, let me tell you how wrong that was. It all started on day 2 of president Grant's term.
President Fitzgerald Grant, better known as Fitz to close friends, had a talk with me for a full hour of what to expect while working for him. At one point we discussed full accessibility to walk into the office or get put through on the phone without fail.
I fully expected the kids Jerry and Karen to be on that list. And they where. I also expected first lady Mellie Grant to be on the list, perhaps also Cyrus Been, Chief of Staff. But to my surprise, the president told me that the only other person to be added to the full access list was Olivia Pope, his communications director. I knew they had worked closely together on the election campeign, she was a big part to his successful election, but it was unusual to say the least. 3 hours into my second work day, i got to see first hand why Olivia was on the full access list.
Olivia Pope was even more beautiful up close and personal than her pictures in the news paper gave her credit. She was often photographed in close proximity to the president elect. But like i said, seeing her standing before me and hearing her introduce herself to me, blew me away. She had a presence about her, an aura if you will, that reels you in.
I have seen it time and time again over the years. When she enters a room, even the oval office, all eyes are on her. Beauty, smart, passion.
Anyway, she shook my hand, a hand that feels soft with a nice grip , beautiful manicured nails. I introduced myself as well ; she was sincere in her kindness to me. I told her that the president was unoccupied , that she could walk right in.
Walk in she did.
She closed the door behind her. After a few minutes president Grant got on my speakerphone, asking if they could please get 2 cups of coffee. So my assistant secretary made the coffee tray, while i tried to continue a briefing i was spell checking.
President Grant must had mixed up the buttons on his phone, because next thing i know, i could hear what him and Olivia where saying.
"God Liv, you look amazing, how can you look so good after the night we had? I didn't exactly let you sleep very much", the presidents voice interrupted my concentration. I frowned to myself and hurriedly took the phone off speaker while i lifted the horn.
I heard Olivia respond before i had a chance to interupt :
"You never let me sleep much, good thing i can sleep in my own bed tonight ,so your hands can't distract me".
President Grant sounded sexy in his response :" Just my hands, baby?"
"President Grant ! ", i interrupted quickly and louder than needed, i felt myself blush.
"You might want to disable the speakerphone , sir, for this conversation."
It was awfully quiet for a few seconds before the president got back to me :"Will do, thank you, Lauren, I apologize".
"No apologies needed, sir"., i told him.
My mind was spinning...that for sure sounded like the president was cheating on his wife!
I had met his wife, Mellie Grant, briefly, the day before. She was pretty, not beautiful like Olivia, but pretty none the less. But she also seemed a bit aloof, cold. And speaking of the devil, guess who walked up the the oval next...Ms Grant !
I hurriedly called the presidents desk: " Mrs Grant is here to see you, Mr President. ", i warned him.
Mrs Grant walked in, without greeting me i might add. A few minutes later she walked back out, she seemed distracted, but not upset, so i figured she hadn't walked in on her husband too close to another woman.
It would take me another week or so when i heard the president and his wife argue , the door was open and Mellie had waltzed in again , like she owned the place. So when they raised their voices, i easily heard the president tell her, :" Mellie, what do you want?Don't walk in here like you love your husband, we both know better than that". Mellie closed the door, so i don't know what else was said at that time.
What i do know , is that over the years, Olivia was the key to keeping my boss happy. My boss is a generous, good natured man. He is handsome, kind, smart.
But at times it seems like he doesn't want this job. Like he rather be a regular person. The only person he seems to let his guard down for is Olivia. I have come to learn over the years that he loves her, and only her. I mean, my assistant secretary , the secret service , a few other close staff members all knew it too, way before the affair was made public.
It started out as a closely guarded secret between me and secret service agents Tom and Hall.
Nobody else knew.
But that was before they became reckless. Before Mellie found out.
