Chapter 1
President Underwood walks into CEO Banicard's office while instructing his detail to stay outside. Alicia Banicard, the CEO, is on the phone with a partner of her firm.
"No, I didn't ask you that. I asked if you could cut him off at the knee, if you could be my pit bull. Well no actually I didn't ask, it was more a command. So Steven. Cut him off at the knee," Alicia said in an exasperated tone.
She looked over to President Underwood and hung up her phone. Alicia reached her hand out to greet the President.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. President," Alicia and President Underwood sat down, "I already know what you're here for.
Alicia looked the president in the eye and smiled, "You know I have a reputation for staying apolitical Mr. President. I hate trifling in Washington's affairs."
President Underwood smiled back and responded, "Yes, yes, I know all that, but you see that's why I wanted you."
"You want my money," Alicia retorted.
Frank had to recalculate how he was going to approach her now. He wasn't expecting this. Frank was expecting a broken up a widow who was soft and didn't have a sense for politics.
"And with all due respect," Alicia straightened her white dress and moved towards her office windows overlooking D.C, "Drop the shit show. I know that's your presidential voice; but if you're going to ask me for money be Francis Underwood not President Underwood."
Alicia Banicard can be painted as a cold blooded shark who advanced her financial future by marrying the much older, Richard Banicard, who died 6 months ago. The coroner's final report said that it was natural causes. Alicia Banicard doesn't make it publicly known, but she graduated summa cum laud for Columbia with her master's in Business.
Frank was taken aback by Alicia's blatant disregard of formality, yet he didn't take it as a sign of disrespect, more of a sign of strength. He left his chair and went over to meet Alicia.
"Even though you're apolitical, what can I do to make you feel more comfortable about donating to my campaign," Frank asked, not completely dropping the presidential act.
Alicia turned to him, with heels on, they're the same height, "For years I've always wondered where the leftover money from PAC's go. You can't spend all of it can you? And I've never wanted to ask the internet because I'm afraid that they'll lie to me. Can you tell me, Mr. President."
Frank joked, "If I told you, I'd have to kill you."
Alicia laughed and looked at the president. She thought that he looked younger in person.
"We can't talk here. Lunch on Thursday. I'll text the Head of Staff the address," Alicia walked back to her desk to pick up her phone.
Just from this meeting, Frank was impressed with her.