This is what I do on my sick days or "I still feel dizzy when I stand up," days. I don't recommend getting used to so many updates this quickly.
Chapter Five:
Four days later, Miranda was prepping for a speech for a school about climate change, when Fleming appeared.
"The republicans are giving me a hard time with my commerce and treasury picks. I'm think about nominating my kids."
Fleming put a newspaper on her desk. It was a picture of Fleming and Gina at an inauguration ball. The headline was: "Reid's Thing One and Thing Two"
Miranda looked at the photo. "You always struck me as a 'Thing Two.'"
"This isn't funny Ma'am," she said tightly. "The story is about a dinner party where most of the senior staff was invited and a recording of their conversations were leaked to The Washington Outlook.
"Any other fun facts?" Miranda asked putting her notes aside and picking up the paper.
"Everyone is still suspicious of that drill. The speech writing team hates how you only seem to listen to Chuck Groves for ideas. The deputy chief of staff feels underused and doesn't get enough respect. Some people still think you're 'the Master' and fear you. And as I mentioned before, most of the staff has taken to call me and Gina Thing One and Thing Two."
"So, it sounds like I have a staff mutiny brewing," Miranda said lightly.
"Why are you so calm?" she asked. "This is a serious problem."
Miranda sat up straight. "Foreign leaders threatening war, I can handle. Natural disasters, I can handle. Staff conflicts, I can handle. Concern over someone messing with husband, that makes my blood boil."
"Exactly what happened when the British PM came?"
"You don't need to know everything, Thing Two," Miranda said.
"Are you really going to play that game with me?"
"You don't get to know everything Whitney," she said seriously.
"Is this because of the article?"
"It's because I need to start think about the rest of the staff and how our relationship is affecting people."
"If that is how you want to play it, just know my door is always open."
"Thank you, now do you have any plans this weekend?"
"Netflix and wine."
"Not anymore," she said and buzzed Annabeth.
"Yes, Ma'am?"
"Would you draft an email for all the senior staff for me? All staffers are required to attend a retreat at Camp David this weekend. Report to the White house at seven o'clock on Friday. Events will begin at ten in the morning the next day and will run through till six p.m. on Sunday."
Fleming shook her head.
"You're out of your mind."
"That is no way to talk to your Commander in Chief," she said mockingly.
"It's the truth."
"Be gone. I need to call the PM of Canada. I heard he had similar problems. I need his advice."
"Yes, Ma'am," she said and left.
Miranda sat back in her chair. She didn't need this but maybe she had had blinders on. Better to take them off now instead of later.
…
Williams was in was in Redmond's office swearing up a storm.
"I did not know anyone was recording that!" he said shouted.
"Calm down Bruce," she said. "Do you want the entire West Wing to hear you?"
"Because of that stupid article I have to miss my date night with my wife. All so we can get to together with the president to sit down and sing Kumbaya? It's ridiculous."
"Hey I'm missing a baby shower with my second cousin, though actually, that isn't the end of the world as I kind of hate that one."
"I'm being serious, Nicole."
"I appreciate her initiative, okay?" Redmond said. "Rather than trying to push the whole situation under the rug like some other bosses, she's facing it had on. Now can you leave? Your yelling is distracting me from writing something in anticipation for the riot of a briefing I'll be facing this afternoon."
…
"Mommy are you going to try to make friends with the rest of you staff," Rachel said as Miranda packed.
"I'm going to try to get on friendly terms with them honey," she said.
"Are you going to play games?"
"A few."
"Can I come?"
Miranda smiled at Rachel. "I wish you could."
She finished packing and found Reid waiting.
"Be careful," he said and hugged her.
"I will," she said.
Alex appeared.
"Hopefully workplace productivity will improve by ten percent as a result of this retreat."
"Hopefully, now do everything Daddy says and no playing Risk past eleven o'clock."
"Yes, Mom," Reid and Alex said together.
She said good-bye and went downstairs.
…
Miranda arrived at Camp David ten minutes after everyone else did. They were assembled around the kitchen eating snacks. Everyone stood when she came in.
"Sit, sit," she said. "I always wanted to be a girl scout. I kind of imagine this is what it would be like except without the beer."
This drew no laughs.
Miranda put her elbows on the counter. "Look I know a lot of you don't want to be here. I also know that many of you think I'm being reactionary in my choosing to host a Camp David retreat now and I am. I want us to work as a team, if we're going to stick together for the next four years. Understood?"
No one spoke. Miranda took a step back.
"I think I'll go put my things away and call it a night. I'd suggest roasting marshmallows tonight but maybe tomorrow."
An hour later she could hear sounds in the main gathering area. There was lots of laughter. She couldn't help herself. She creeped down the hall.
"I am the Master!" someone shouted. "Bow to me and make climate change happen!"
"No I am the Master!" another person shouted. "Of ice for I am Elsa. Unleash the Ice Monster!"
"I am the true master," a high-pitched voice said. "I rule from atop a hill of the republicans I have brow beaten and humiliated to death."
Miranda realized the last voice was Fleming overacting.
The laughter had stopped. Miranda looked around and realized she had been spotted. She could have played along if she really wanted to. She could have.
Her voice quivered. "The ice monster in Frozen is called Marshmallow. Second, I don't brow beat and humiliate republicans, I let them ruin their own reputations. And third and I know you guys are just having fun so I'm not holding it against you."
She turned around ran.
Fleming followed her.
"Miranda!" she said.
She turned around. "It is Madame President or Ma'am, Whitney. You lost the privilege to call me my given name the day I won the election.
Fleming sighed. "You know I was just trying to— "
"Show that you can be 'one of the guys.' I get it but that doesn't make it hurt any less."
Miranda went into her room.
"Goodnight, Whitney," she said and closed the door in her face.
Miranda changed and then got into bed. Tears silently leaked down her face.