The Devil and Her Treasures: Sequel to Grave New World
Preview chapter…
Claire Bennet swiveled in the President's expensive leather chair, putting her feet up on his desk while she waited for him to arrive. She just loved thinking about the look on his face when he saw her in his chair.
Of course, this wasn't his real chair, not anymore; it used to be when he was only a Senator and CEO of Pinehearst's operations. As President, now Nathan only used this chair and office when he was visiting from Washington D.C. If Claire could sneak into the Oval office she would, but even though she was his daughter and his finest Pinehearst agent, there were some things even she couldn't do.
Yet, she rather felt like home in Nathan's chair at Pinehearst, almost like it was hers and especially when he wasn't here. She wondered if she request use of it from him while he was in Washington. It really wasn't a bad idea.
The door opened and Claire saw the usual security detail flank outside Nathan's office as he came inside, returning from his party at the White House celebrating his first 100 days in office. He brushed off supposed wrinkles from his coat, and he pursed his lips when he met her eyes.
"You look comfortable," he told her wryly. He walked up and pushed her feet off his desk. They were caught in an odious stare-down for a few seconds before Claire slipped out of his chair and found her usual place sitting on the top of his desk. Nathan frowned, as he always did, when she took her place there, and she crossed her legs as she leaned close, peering over at his paperwork.
"Tell me you have a reason for being here. I'm due for a conference call in ten minutes with my top specialists," Nathan said, and Claire knew that his meeting was no doubt involving the formula. They were already mass producing it and selling it among consumers. Prices were astronomical, but in time, if she knew Nathan well enough, she knew he'd lower the price, letting everyone buy it and tax the hell out of people so he could pay down the national deficit. It was almost perfect. You get powers, but you paid for the privilege. It was only fair, but it put America at a surplus that it hadn't seen for over twenty years. Not only that, the president was betting that he could build a secret army this way by giving civilians powers. If any other country tried to threaten them, well, the people who paid for those powers would be more than willing to step up and give their lives to protect their country. And as far as selling the formula overseas to allies and enemies alike? Well, that was a whole different strategy, one that made the President and Pinehearst loads of money.
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Continued in The Devil and Her Treasures…