“Good evening Ms Lancaster – I am sorry that the President cannot stand and chat – we need to get back to the White House – matter of national security- if you will get into the car Madam President“

CJ virtually throws me into the car and jumps in beside me

“Damn “

“What ?”

The car sets off and as I glance out of the window Holly is left standing on her own. Get used to it honey – that’s how its going to be from now on. There is no chance she is going to put me in a compromising position.

“I guess I lose by letting her get close to you “

“Nah – don’t worry about her – she’s my problem “

“The thing is that your problem is the problem of a very large team of people.”

“I was thinking that maybe I should have fronted her out “

“That isn’t something that President’s do Bette. You delegate – you have a staff to deal with the nuisances of life and we take care of it “

“Thank you “

“When any of us say that we serve at the pleasure of the President its something that we genuinely mean. “

I lean back and close my eyes

“I need to get her out of my life “

“Is she likely to get bored ?”

“No – she is single minded. You do not stay at the heights of fame that she is unless you are truly, obsessively driven “

“That could be directed at you “ CJ points out

I laugh “Fair point “

“Alice suggested that we should do some digging – if we have to smear her we should “

“I have got pretty far by not smearing “

“Politics is dirty – we all know. We have been lucky that we haven’t had to indulge too much in the dark arts. You should let us find out what we can about her. Everyone has something that they do not want coming out. “

“On the one hand I shouldn’t be bothered – I was single – she wasn’t and she’s been in the closet for

years when she could have been a powerful role model but on the other hand “

“Yes “

“It feels like I am dancing to her tune like I always have “

“So pay the band to play what song you want it to. In the past she had all the power – that’s not the case any more. You have more power than you actually know what to do with “

I know that CJ is right

“Okay – get me some details. Talk to Henry –if she goes public we need a strategy. As you say – she’ll have some skeletons – even if we have to get it out through a friendly journalist. I am not going to be played “

“If she had wanted to damage you she could have dragged all this up at so many other occasions “

“I know – she is doing it for her own ends which are never the most obvious “

“I don’t think that meeting just now was damaging – she was hovering waiting for you – the detail were there to keep her away “

“She has more to worry about from me than I do from her – you know – let her do whatever she wants but I want you to have the ammo if she comes after us. Her book will be her version – actually “

A thought strikes me

“Yes ?”

“Wouldn’t it be terrible if someone else brought out a biography before her book that spiked her guns good and proper “