Author's Note: We begin Chapter 3 by ending the day inside the White House Office and introducing Suzanne's colleagues, for those who are new to reading the stories involving Suzanne Gibbs, the wife of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Suzanne works with Claudia Bailey and Linda Pearson at the White House. To recap, Suzanne's name was mentioned in a fitness segment in a negative light. Her friend, Jimmy Palmer, and husband, Special Agent Gibbs, discuss the fallout once Suzanne create and execute revenge.
Songwriting Credit: Satisfaction (2003-Ruff Ryder Records, Jeffers, Young, Elizondo). Note that some of the lyrics were edited and changed to fit to the story and situation at hand. Credit to the song and songwriters go to rapper Eve.
Their section of the EOP-Executive Office of the President-was called Team Ya-Ya, the nickname for Sisterhood. The corridor possessed three of the four powerful women behind David Owens' success. Mrs. Owens' office was inside the White House Office but in a different sector. Linda, Claudia, and Suzanne handled all correspondences, engagements and schedules from the Office of the President. While Claudia and Linda handled domestic engagements from the office, Suzanne accompanied, corresponded, double-checked and ensured precision. The California trip, her first with the President and working collaboratively, went very well. Europe was three weeks away, and the last thing Suzanne anticipated was a trivial-assed discussion about her weight.
TV's off. Suzanne's irritation with ZNN subsided...after 45 minutes, two cups of coffee and the equivalent of an entire brownie. With headphones on, she resumed her administrative duties for the President and listening to a mix of female empowerment rappers. Of course, the lyrics were autobiographical, given the recent events. Obviously, it was a person with the Advance Department or Secret Service the three deduced as culprits to the nonstop press. Nevertheless, Suzanne was ready for retaliation. The primary theme was macho—a supposed aggressive, virile, dominant man's man, and in the world and sensibilities of Suzanne Gibbs, a woman would set those attitudes in place.
'Now I'ma do this thing like it ain't done before
Never leave the game stranded, I had to give more
I'ma give you what you want, what you waitin' for?
Make my music that the people can't ignore
A lotta dudes are bitches, and bitches be trippin'
A lotta them be wishin' that they was in my position
A lotta dudes be cowards and most cowards be chickens
Screw 'em with their cluck-cluck, Gibbs ain't trippin...'
The chuckles continued, her coworkers watching her sing and bopping her head to the corresponding beat.
Sometimes I feel bad most of the time I don't
'Cuz if I don't protect my shit other people won't
Some want me to neglect my shit, take it for a joke?
But I'm stayin' on the grind, never goin' back to broke
"Suzanne's right, though. The 'experts' cannot assess women at a simple glance." Linda added. The elder stateswoman of the trio and voice of reason, Linda Pearson was the Personal Secretary for the threeprevious administrations. President Owens valued the 'Lovely Mrs. L' for candor and confidentiality. The President identified his employees with a character trait. Linda was Lovely L or Mrs. P. She seldom she made a negative comment about anything, but in the current newscycle she wholeheartedly agreed with Suzanne. Linda continued her disgust with Claudia. "It is ridiculous to compare BMI's of men and women together."
Anything I want, I'ma get it 'cuz I know I need it
Anything I need, gotta have it, bet I'm gonna grab it
Ain't nothin' better than the satisfaction
Everything I am, just because I had to make it happen
They never thought that I would make it happen
Anything I need, gotta have it, bet I'm gonna grab it
Ain't nothin' better than the satisfaction
"Umm...E-Vee-E back there..." Claudia said aloud, complete with the smart-assed reference to the songstress. Suzanne removed the headphones.
"You're loud. We can hear the bass from your headphones!"
Claudia Bailey, Director of Oval Office Operations by name and paper. In reality, Linda had the actual experience. The student deferred to the elder. The President called "C"- code-breaker, closer, cautious, calculating but in an objective manner. Her talent to the office was nonsense.
"Don't start cussing about missing apple juice from the staff refrigerator!"
"Oh, I'm set for revenge." Their coworker sipped her coffee behind her desk. She grinned, resumed with the typing. It was perfect for plotting and scheming to exact detail how to make reporters of the newscast 'eat crow.'
"Ain't nothing better than a satisfaction of making those motherf-Lord, excuse me,Mrs. Pearson..." 'Quick temper' was not necessarily the reason she earned the moniker 'Q' from President Owens. It came from Susie Q, a classic song from a man declaring his love for Susan, perhaps a Suzanne in his life. Once he learned the Personal Aide preferred her given name, he insisted the unique alphabet for "Query," always having an answer to a question. A second reason was Bond-inspired, as he remarked on her quick-witted response to bureaucratic red tape. 'The hell you mean two days?! Oh, okay...I'll see it this afternoon, thank you!' Suzanne stopped the comment at the right moment but neglected to finish her thoughts on the entire matter. "I truly need to pray about this."
"Probably one of Secret Service detail." Claudia's voice was above a whisper, her fingers clicking across the keyboard. The squared-frame reading glasses slipped just below her nose as she glanced at one detail and onto the computer screen. "Want to make you look bad before Europe."
"What you need is a bar of soap to place in that filthy mouth, Suzanne Gibbs." Linda chastised as she gathered her belongings and wished her colleagues a well weekend. "And think of a way of getting those sneaky son-of-a-bitches back-quickly."
"I will let the bastards remember the brains behind this body." It was a put up or shut up for certain detail agents from Secret Service.