"Can I get you a coffee," Elizabeth hurried through her office, turning her head so she could maintain eye contact with Daisy.
"No, thank you." the other woman replied, shaking her head with a gentle smile as she watched Elizabeth pour herself her coffee cup. "Actually, I was hoping we could get this over with quickly. The press is already here..." Elizabeth then raised her head and crossed the office again to sit down on the sofa across from Daisy. As she did so, she clasped the cup with both hands and balanced it carefully in front of her. "... I don't want to drive you crazy, but I think if we don't act on the rumors soon, things aren't going to get any better." Daisy bit her lips and looked at her uncertainly, "the decision is yours, though, of course."
Just as she was about to explain herself further, Elizabeth raised her hand defensively. "It's all right. Oh I trust you that you have only the best in mind," Bess sighed, "Heavens, I probably wouldn't be able to set a foot outside without you."
Embarrassed, Daisy lowered her gaze to her hands folded in her lap, "Ma'am, I..."
"You were just doing your job. I know what you're going to say," Bess leaned back into the sofa and ran her thumb over the rim of her coffee cup, "Let's get started."
As if waiting for the cue, Daisy flipped open the press conference memo. "So the press doesn't know about the scheduled address yet. The reporters are all sitting in the room expecting me to announce all the daily news and updates as usual. We have not yet communicated that we have planned for you to step behind the lectern right after that. I am of the opinion that we should not do that either. I would rather have as little excitement as possible. If you ask Mr. Barnow, though, you'll get a different opinion. But clearly you know that."
Bess shook her head somewhat incredulously, "I agree with you."
Daisy glanced up once quickly before delving back into the documents. "Matt has already written the statement. You should have it as well. Otherwise, I have another hard copy here and then on the desk is the binder." Elizabeth set her cup down on the coffee table at her words and flipped through the documents spread out there. "Here, I got it." Triumphantly, she held up a sheet of paper that looked as if it had been in her hands for a long time. The bottom edge was slightly curled, and if one looked closely, a dried tear or two would be visible.
A tremendous heat seemed to emanate from the leaf. It felt like fire in her hands. She had to swallow. How many times she had been afraid of this moment... This afternoon would change her forever, officially. Her thoughts drifted. To the nights when she had fallen asleep crying with this document in her hand and the next morning had put the coffee cup next to it to read the words once again. The words that promised so much redemption and relief, and at the same time hurt so much. It was the finality that made her so afraid. With the speech, it was officially over for good.
"This time is hard enough for both of us as it is."
This sentence had burned itself into her memory and every time she read it, she was painfully reminded of how she had hardly slept the last few nights, and if so, restlessly, barely getting anything down and trying to numb her feelings with pain. She shook herself briefly to bring her focus back to Daisy. When she met her gaze, she looked into eyes full of understanding and sympathy.
"Should I inform Director Munsey that we'll be life on in a moment, or...," Daisy left the question open-ended. Elizabeth knew what she wanted to ask anyway.
There was silence for a moment. Elizabeth's gaze alternated between the sheet in front of her and Daisy. Her lips were puckered in thoughts. "I'd like to do that by myself." Daisy gave her a smile and then began to gather her papers back together.
"Okay, then we have about ten minutes until the conference starts. I'd like to have you out in front of the door in fifteen minutes. Depending on how quickly I'm through with the usual, I'd appreciate it if we did a flying change. After your speech, I'll go back in as we agreed and answer the final questions?" Elizabeth nodded.
"Nothing too personal and that violates your privacy, but enough that you can go back home in two days without the press being at your front door?" Again, Elizabeth nodded. "If there's nothing more then, I'll leave you alone. You inform Director Munsey and then stand by. All right? I'll let Blake know so he can get you in time." A grateful smile flitted across Elizabeth's face, "Thanks!"
With a quick nod, Daisy left the room, "Ma'am."
Elizabeth let herself fall back into the sofa with a gasp. Her tension rose and she felt her lungs constricting. Numbly, she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed the number she was so familiar with. Indecisively, her finger rested over the display.
Why had she decided that she wanted to inform him? She sighed. The uneasiness inside her was rising. Now she knew why she wanted to call him. 'Are we making a mistake? We can work on us. I can work on me. I can work on me so I do what pleases you.' No. That wasn't right. She was afraid of what was to come, which was why she wanted to escape back into the old and somehow familiar.
Determined, she pressed her finger to the screen. With each pause, her tension rose. She hadn't spoken to him since the termini in court. That was now a few days ago. Actually, the statement was supposed to be issued the very next day, after the conversation with Isabelle, but some world-shattering catastrophe had once again intervened.
"This is the voicemail of Andrew Munsey. Please leave your message after the signal. I will get back to you as soon as possible."
She gasped for air. Her chest seemed constricted. "Hi Andrew. I, I um," She paused briefly, trying to sort out her thoughts. "I'm about to go in front of the press. Just so you, um, so you know." She pinched her lips together. She almost said it. She almost said 'I love you.' Her stomach flipped, and she quickly yanked the phone from her ear to hang up. Otherwise, she might have really asked 'Are we making a mistake?'
She straightened up and pressed a hand against her chest. Quickly, she made her way to the bathroom. As she passed her desk, she pressed the button to reach Blake. "Blake, how long do I have?"
"Eight minutes, ma'am."
Quietly, she gasped a "Thank you" into the intercom before standing back up and walking briskly toward her bathroom and the razor blades, disinfectant and sanitary napkins located in the top drawer.
After enjoying her high for a brief moment, she heard the joyful knock of Blake reminding her that it was time. Time to share the truth with the world. As she stood outside the massive doors of the press room waiting for Daisy to introduce her, she reminded herself to put her shoulders back and stand up. When she entered, everyone rose from their seats and looked at her with respect and curiosity.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Bess took a deep breath. Now she could still run. Make a bee-line home and hide in bed, "I stand here before you today to announce that CIA Director Andrew Munsey and I, Elizabeth Adams Munsey, have decided, with heavy hearts, to each go our separate ways from now on." It was silent. Deafeningly quiet. You could hear a pin drop. That was not at all the reaction she had expected. A bit unsettled, she continued reading the prepared statement.
"I ask you to respect that each of us will find and find our own way to deal with the new situation. This time is hard enough for both of us as it is." She raised her eyes and looked into surprised, as well as irritated faces. Somehow she had expected excitement, reporters jumping up, rude questions, or booing. Everything, but not that. Silence.
She frowned barely noticeably. "Thank you for your respect, I count on you to accept my privacy, as well as that of CIA Director Andrew Munsey."
She gestured with her arm to the side of the podium where Daisy stood. "My press secretary, Daisy Grant, will be available to answer your questions in a moment. Have a great day and and goodbye."
Later, as she sat in her office watching the press conference broadcast repeatedly, her thoughts circled back to Andrew. 'Why hadn't he answered the phone? Has he even seen the press conference yet?' She was about to glance at her cell phone when the newscaster's voice drew her attention back to the TV.
"Secretary Elizabeth Adams announced her divorce from CIA Director Andrew Munsey today. She says, quote, 'I ask you to respect that each of us has found and will find our own way to deal with the new situation.' But what that means, 'finding their own way to deal with the situation, the Secretary did not explain. Rumor has it that Michael Barnow, an acquaintance and employee of her, is not entirely uninvolved in the matter. We have a photo from anomy source, on which both seem very familiar with each other. The first photo was taken at the Watergate Hotel bar and shows the two of them in what seems like a intimate embrace. And the other one is right in front of the house of Barnow. She leaves the house with an enchanting smile and he stands at the door looking after her with a smile."
Bess groaned and turned off the TV. This, this was exactly what she was trying to avoid... Frustrated, she stood up and stuck her head out the door. "DAISY!" She would have to be careful not to take out her frustration, which was already turning into anger, on innocent Daisy... Just as she was standing in front of her desk again, her phone beeped. As she read the text on it, she slammed her fist on the desk and screamed.
A huge scream made Blake jump up from his chair. Immediately, he ran into the Secretary's office. In the doorway, he bumped into Daisy, who stood transfixed.