“Hello, sir,” Meredith said in a cheery voice. She was dressed in a simple blue cocktail dress that plunged moderately low into her bustline.
White pearls lay softly against her bare neck, beckoning to him. Her hair was its usual blond splendor, only frozen into place with hair spray. The dress cut above her panty-hose-covered knees, and angled slightly up on the left side, teasing him. A faint smell of perfume circled him, accelerating his lust.
Her innocent smile and wide blue eyes greeted him, comforting him in his own knowledge that indeed she did want him. She dressed up just for me.
“Meredith, you look beautiful. I’m sorry I underdressed. I thought we were just going to go over a few notes. I can go change if you’d like,” he said, standing from the chair. Good move, Mick old boy. Make her the aggressor.
Andre had floated back to the kitchen with a shit-eating grin on his face. Boss man be getting some tonight. After catching sight of Meredith, Andre could not blame him.
“No, no,” she said, smiling, and grabbing him by the arm. She was personable and liked to touch in a social setting. It was her way of communicating.
Touching, already. That’s good. Very good.
“I’ve got the briefcase right here. And after hearing Kaitachi, I think we’ve got plenty to work on.”
“I was just going to have some dinner with Mrs. Stone, but she got called away. Would you like her plate?” Stone said.
“I’m so sorry,” Meredith said, again lightly touching his arm. He wanted to reach out and satisfy her on the spot. She obviously wanted him. The dress, the hair, the perfume, the pearls, the face, the smile, the high heels, the touching. Yes, there was no doubt she wanted him.
“Drinks?” Andre asked. He wore a white butler coat and shirt, with black pants and a black bow tie.
“Meredith?” Stone said, smiling, knowing what bounty lay ahead for him. He would savor the moment.
“Whatever you’re having, sir,” she said, her voice oozing over him, causing his heart to flutter. He blushed.
“Two glasses of champagne, please Andre,” he said. “And bring the bottle.” Yes, they would drink, loosen inhibitions, and maybe even skip dinner. I knew it. She’s wanted me since day one.
They sat on the leather sofa and drank cham-pagne. At some point Meredith had gained the courage to grab the remote control and flip the television to CNN, muting the volume so they could talk. She had one eye on the television though. Soon the president would be on.
Andre had served dinner and cleaned up, retiring for the evening to his quarters after bringing a second bottle of champagne. Stone had drunk most of the first bottle, distorting his already skewed perception of the evening. Meredith had successfully nursed two glasses but was feeling the effects of the alcohol. She still preferred beer.
“Ready to get to work, Meredith?” Stone said. He stood and stumbled.
“Don’t you want to wait for the president’s speech, sir?” Meredith asked seriously.
“No, I’ve seen a copy. Let’s go to the study.”
Stone stood, hovering over Meredith as she stared at the television.
Chapter 77
For the first time in the evening, Meredith was uncomfortable. She saw a glint in Stone’s eyes that sparkled of a hidden agenda. She looked nervously at her attire and suddenly felt guilty for being beautiful.
“C’mon. Let’s head to the study, there’s a TV in there,” he said. She was still wondering how she could have been so stupid. Had she led him on? No, maybe his motives were pure. She had done much for him, and indeed the country, in a behind-the-scenes sort of way over the past week. Perhaps this was Stone’s way of saying thank you, by letting some of the help enjoy a small part of his life. She wanted to believe that.
“I haven’t read the speech though. I’d like to see it, sir.”
“Hell, you wrote part of it,” he said. “I gave your report to Palmer. He said there was no use reinventing the wheel and that he’d embellish your comments and give them to the president.”
“Well, now I really want to see it,” she said, forcing a smile. Yes, she could do this. Delay until he got tired. He was an old man and would probably go limp soon.
She turned up the volume of the television as the camera panned the face of the president. He looked worried and tired.
Stone turned on the stereo, put a CD in the disc changer, and soon the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” was belting out of the speakers, nearly overriding the television. Stone played a bit of air guitar, grabbed a mock microphone, and said, “Mick Jagger!”
Then he moved behind the sofa and rested his hands on the leather to either side of Meredith’s shoulders. She could feel his hot breath blowing into her hair. “I’m a rock star,” he whispered in her ear.
Gross.
“Good evening, my fellow Americans,” the president said. “Tonight I speak to you, the nation, and to the entire world concerning the rapidly unfolding events in the Philippines.
“As you all know, earlier today Japan announced her intentions to intervene militarily in the affairs of the Republic of the Philippines. Specifically, they stated that they wished to restore democracy to the freedom-loving people of the Philippines. Such a move is consistent with our desire to maintain dem-ocratic governments around the world, yet it competes with the emerging international consensus of guaranteeing the right to self-determination of individual countries.” Meredith smiled. It was her line. Stone had not lied; at least not about using her words for the president’s speech. More heavy breathing, though, like an obscene phone call.
“However, we will begin dialogue with the Japanese government to discuss alternatives to the physical military occupation of the Philippines. We believe there are other methods of securing Japan’s lines of communication through the South China and Celebes Seas. I ask the international community to be patient with us and with Japan. We will find a solution through statecraft.” Meredith wondered why the president would show the glimpse of a smile when he said “through statecraft.”
“My message to the American people is, don’t be alarmed. The situation is well under control. My message to the people of the Philippines is that we will work to ensure your country is not beholden to the dark vision of Islamic extremism. My message to the world is that we have the lead in this action. Our Japanese allies will work independently, yet we will closely monitor their military action. All freedom-seeking people wish to stem the flow of Islamic fundamentalism and the sinister future it harbors.
“Thank you and God bless America and all freedom-loving people.”
Short and way off the point, Meredith surmised.
It said so little, but meant so much. The world would interpret it as meaning Japan’s actions were intended to fight Islamic extremism, saving a bit of face for the president and perhaps calming the fears of China, Russia, and Korea. Those nations, at least in the near term, would be reluctant to take any kind of action against Japan. It was crucial to portray Japan as an ally, she had told Stone, thereby negating a knee-jerk response from any one country, lest they have to contend with the American nuclear and conventional arsenal.