Chapter 49
With Blake following behind her, Mac met with the two women in her new secretary's office. She shook hands with Ms. Abigail Strat and mentally nicknamed her The Dragon Lady. The woman was built like a prison matron, tall and stout, with her hair in an iron gray bun and orthopedic shoes. The horn-rimmed glasses did nothing to hide what Mac assumed was a permanent sour expression on her very plain face. Mac found herself thinking that this is what she pictured Lauren Singer's mother looking like!
Then, as a study in contrasts, Megan Pratt was younger than Mac with an ear-splitting grin, twinkling green eyes and blond hair cut in the latest style. She was petite and perky. Megan explained that she had been the assistant to the previous First Lady's PA, but that when President Kennex took office without a First Lady, Mrs. Crenshaw had taken another job. The young woman promised to do her best for Mac if she would only give her the chance.
Mac liked her immediately and assured Megan that they would get along fine.
Ms. Strat, tired of not being spoken to, opened the door to Mac's new office and asked if she would like to see it. As Mac entered the highly feminine room decorated in pink and lace, Ms. Strat was saying, "The last First Lady added her personal touch to the room with the doilies and the lace sheers on the windows."
The fearless-in-the-face-of-gunfire Marine almost turned and ran from the room! The office was a Barbie dream come true and Mac knew she would never be able to get any work done there.
Mac turned to Ms. Strat and asked, "So, the First Lady is allowed to make her own personal stamp on the office?"
"Oh yes Ms. Mackenzie, it is even encouraged! As your own personal assistant, Ms. Pratt, will be the one to make sure anything you want done is carried out. I, of course, see to your schedule and personal appearances. If you will give me the name of your hair dresser and your favorite designer, I will see that appointments are set up for fittings and such."
"Well, I usually go to Costcutters in the mall and the last couple of times I saw Su Lin and liked what she did for me. As for a designer, I need to make a call, but I think I know who I want."
Ms. Strat made notes as Mac talked and she was sure the woman gave a derisive snort at the mention of Costcutters. Because of that, Mac was a bit abrupt when she said, "That will be all for now Ms. Strat. Megan and I need to go over the changes I want to make in the office so they can be finished before the wedding."
Once the two younger women were alone Mac said, "Before we get started Megan, let me make a quick call about the designer I was talking about."
Megan nodded and dug out pen and paper so she could take notes of what Ms. Mackenzie wanted done to the office.
"Chegwidden," AJ answered the phone out of habit.
"Hello Admiral, it's Mac…"
"It's only 'Mac' if it's 'AJ', Ms. Future First Lady."
"Oh! You saw the news then?"
"Yes we did. I'd like to offer you Luna and my congratulations."
"Thank you Si…AJ. I do hope that you, Luna and Shawn will be able to come to the wedding. Shawn and Kenneth's twins are the same age and I bet they'd get along famously."
"We'd be honored to attend Mac. I'm sure Luna will love an excuse to buy a new dress."
Mac chuckled along with him and then admitted, "I did have another reason for calling Si…AJ. I wondered if I could get your daughter's phone number from you? I'm supposed to choose a dress designer for formal occasions and she's the only one I know!"
"Well I'm sure that she'll be pleased to hear from you. Here's her number..."
After that they chatted for another minute or two and then Mac had to go. Saying good-bye, they promised to catch up at the wedding.
To be continued…..
