“What’s gotten into him?” I ask Tracy as we walk down a corridor at a brisk pace, heading toward the conference room.

“No idea,” she shrugs, trying to appear calm and in control, but I know that she’s a wreck underneath her professional demeanor. Against his own advice, Austin has decided to hold a press conference, and he hasn’t even told Tracy a word of what he’s going to be saying. Maybe all this stress has gotten the best of him. And if that’s what’s happening … well, then, we’re all fucked. But it’s not like we can stop him; he’s the President of the United States, after all, and when the President wants something, he usually gets it.

Even if that’s a press conference that might dictate his own impeachment

I know what you’re thinking; what am I doing back at the White House, right? After the heated exchange of words between Austin and I, I was on the verge of leaving for good. And I did. Went back to my apartment for the night. But a deal is a deal, and I’ve never backed out of one. And I’m not going to start now. And, besides, despite how much of an asshole he was toward me… I still believe that he’s the right man to be leading this country.

“Thing is,” Tracy tells me, stopping before we enter the wing of the White House opens to the reporters, “a bug was found in the Oval Office. Just like you said. And it’s as clear as water that Walker is the one behind it. There’s a forensics team up there as we speak.”

“Maybe he plans to use that as leverage against Walker?”

“If that were the case, I doubt he’d call a press conference. He’d do it behind closed doors.”

“Well, let’s hope he has a plan then,” I whisper as I step with Tracy inside the conference room, taking our seats on an area cordoned by the Secret Service. The room is completely packed with the White House press corps, and the mood is one of nervousness and excitement. Whatever Austin says at this press conference, history will be made—one way or another.

“He’s late,” I tell Tracy as I look down at my wristwatch. My heart aches as I remember the first time I saw Austin, back when I was being briefed on what my job would be; but this time the mood is a sour one, and no intern joke finds its way to my lips. Tracy opens her mouth to respond but then closes it again as Austin strolls inside the room by a side entrance, buttoning his jacket as he assumes his position behind the podium.

“Good evening, everyone,” he says into the mic, his gaze wandering over every single person in the room. His voice is deep and serious and, for the first time, he has adopted a presidential posture that would make George Washington proud. “Ever since I assumed the Presidency, the press has been obsessed with my personal life. With this new allegation that the Speaker of the House has made against me, I think it’s time I finally address all that has been said. Bob Walker was correct: Ashley was brought on board as my fake fiancée.”

His words hit the room like a nuclear bomb and, before he’s bombarded with a thousand questions, he raises one hand up in the air, calming everyone down. It isn’t that hard: everyone’s too stunned to do anything, and that includes me.

“It’s time this country knows the truth. I owe it to all of the Americans who have put their trust in me.” Pausing for a couple of seconds, as if gathering his thoughts, he then continues. “Despite what I’ve told you, I’ve broken no laws. No crime was committed; Ashley wasn’t given access to any classified information. But, yes, I’ll admit this whole ruse was an ill conceived plan, and the country deserves better of me.”

“The Speaker of the House is, however, trying to use this mistake against me. And he’s doing it in such a way that proves he’s the wrong person to hold the Presidency. As we speak, a special forensics team is investigating Bob Walker and it seems like a foregone conclusion that the Speaker of the House was involved in illegal wiretapping.”

This time, there’s a slight oh of surprise washing over everyone in the room. The President is revealing that his fiancée is fake, the Speaker of the House is involved in wiretapping—what’s happening with this country?

“I take full responsibility for my mistakes,” Austin continues, his presidential tone demanding the attention of everyone in the room. “But I also want to take responsibility for the good I’ve done. Under my presidency, the nation is better off than it's ever been. Public funding has improved, our ill-conceived involvement with foreign states has been reduced, and unemployment is at an all-time low. During the past decade, the world has looked at the United States as an empire too big for its own good, but now the tide is turning. The world is, once again, looking up at us as a role model, capable of leading by example instead of by force.”

“HELL YEAH!” someone shouts from the back of the room, and I turn back to see that the shout came from one of the reporters. He’s on his feet, ready to applaud Austin, but then realizes that everyone is looking at him and he sinks down onto his seat, embarrassed.

“Sure, my methods might be unconventional. I don’t care about what’s politically correct; I care about results. I care about making this country greater than it has ever been. And this is why Americans all over the country voted for me because they want results. They want things to be better… and things are better. And they will keep on getting better.”

With that, he falls into a deep silence, his gaze wandering over the room with a kind of poised confidence. I half-expect the room to erupt with a million questions but, instead, every just stays silent, allowing everything that Austin has said to sink in.

“At some point in our recent history, things changed for us,” Austin says from the podium. “It wasn’t about what’s best for everyone, or even working to compromise to make the country great. It began to become about what’s best for me. What do I want, versus what do we want. What’s good for us became uncool when compared to what’s making me feel good right now.”

There’s silence.

“We began to want things for ourselves without paying for them,” Austin says. “And we didn’t want to deal with our problems. And so we forgot ourselves. And we created a machine. A beast that fed our desire to forget.”

Photographers are clicking.

“How did we do that?” Austin asks. He pauses and smiles.

“We created a media machine that began by pitting us against each other. They scared the shit out of us and made us forget that we’re all fucking Americans. But they did it well. They made us forget and they knew that no matter who was elected, they would make money by tearing that person down and half the country would cheer them on. So they’ve been coming after me and my…dalliances and saying it’s the end of the fucking world when I’ve done so much good. They measure the inches on my cock and spend time on that rather than the millions of jobs I’ve brought back. And you can bet your last dollar that when Bob Walker made those accusations, they seized on it.”

There’s an embarrassed silence. Austin looks from his podium.

“I challenge anyone, in this room or in the whole country, to say I’m not the best thing that has ever happened to this country,” he says and, in this very moment, he doesn’t look like a President of the United States; he looks like a God King, descended from the heavens to give fire and wisdom to the humans living under him. If this was a battlefield, I believe that everyone in this room would follow Austin straight into the arms of death.

“WE’RE WITH YOU!” one of the onlookers lining up the war on the far corner shouts and, a few seconds after, more shouts of support start exploding through the room. Before I know it, everyone is up on their feet, clapping their hands and whistling. This impromptu standing ovation lasts for a few minutes, and I don’t think there’s any doubt in anyone’s mind, the country stands behind its President.

I guess that, even though my assignment was a failure, we succeeded in what was our purpose. The country stands with Austin and now… now I’m no longer needed.

“I’m going now,” I tell Tracy, going up to my feet. With all the confusion in the room, I can probably sneak out without anyone noticing.

Except Austin has other plans.

“One more thing,” Austin says into the mic, his strong voice booming over the loud celebratory ruckus. Everyone quiets down in response, and even I turn on my heels to see what else Austin’s going to say. And when I turn around, I realize that he’s looking straight at me.

“Even though my relationship with Ashley started the way it did…” He takes a deep breath, a few cracks showing in his poised posture. “She’s the best damn thing that has ever happened to me. And I don’t want to lose her just because I’m unconventional.” Still looking straight at me, he goes around the podium and starts walking down the aisle, heading toward me. I remain frozen in place, my mouth slightly ajar as I try to wrap my mind around what Austin has said.

Did I dream it? Or did he really say he didn’t want to lose me?

Coming up to me, Austin takes both my hands in his and offers me a gentle smile. The cameras are all focused on us, and everything that’s happening is being broadcasted to the entire world. I’m on the world stage now, billions of eyeballs on me.

“What are you doing, Austin?” I tell him in a whisper, my heart's racing so fast I wouldn’t be surprised if it simply jumped out of my chest.

“The right thing. The country needs a First Lady like you,” he replies with a whisper of his own and, without waiting for a reply, he goes down on one knee.

“You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me, Ashley. I love you like I’ve never loved anyone or anything… and I need you by my side.” With that, he reaches inside his jacket and brings out a small box. Popping it open with a flick from his thumb, he shows me the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen, something antique and with a discrete diamond cresting the golden band. “Will you marry me?”

“I…” I stammer, not knowing what to say, but then every single thought inside my head falls into alignment. “Yes! Yes, I will!” I tell him, biting down on my lower lip as I feel the sting of tears in my eyes.

Smiling gently, Austin takes the ring out of the box and, grabbing my hand, he places it on my finger. It fits perfectly, almost as if destiny wanted that ring to be mine.

“It’s beautiful, Austin,” I whisper as he stands up in front of me, his eyes on mine.

“It was my grandmother’s. And now it’s yours, Ash,” he tells me, placing one hand on the nape of my neck and leaning in to kiss me.

All around me, the room seems to explode with the flash of cameras and the quick chatter of reporters and onlookers. But I don’t care about any of that, and I barely even register any of it.

Right now, I’m the happiest woman in the world.