Chapter 3
Two weeks after everyone had come by her place to help her unpack, Kelsey walked into the West Wing and was shown to her new office. The painters had been in and painted it in the soft
lilac color she adored. She had a marvelous view of the Rose Garden from her window. Anxious to get started on the day, Kelsey put her briefcase and purse away and sat down in her new
office taking it all in.
C.J. came and got Kelsey for the morning staff meeting and then they went into the Press Room for the morning briefing.
"And now for the final item on today's agenda. We are pleased and proud to introduce our new White House Deputy Press Secretary, Ms. Kelsey Saufl. Kelsey's background and bio are in the
information packets you received earlier," explained C.J.
"So, if there are no more questions, we'll see you back here at two."
The reporters began to file out of the room as Kelsey followed C.J. back to her office.
"Mind if I interrupt?" Danny Concannon asked as he stood in the doorway of C.J.'s office.
"Danny?!" exclaimed Kelsey. "I should have known you'd come back here and cause trouble on my first day!"
"Well, you know me."
Kelsey walked over and gave Danny a big hug.
"How the hell are you?"
"Fine and you?"
"Fine."
"Mom here?"
"End of next week."
"Great! I can't wait to see her again."
"Wait until I tell her I ran into you today. She's going to insist that you come over and play cards."
"Just let me know the time and place and I'll be there," Danny replied.
"Nice briefing, C.J." he added and then turned to leave.
"Thanks, I think," C.J., replied as Danny left the room.
"So, how do you know Danny Concannon?" inquired C.J.
"His mother and mine are old friends. We practically grew up together," she explained. "I was going to marry him one day."
"What happened?"
"Nothing. We were just kids when we made a silly promise. He went to work in Dallas and I went to work at the Trib. He scooped me a couple of times and then he convinced one of my
sources to talk to him."
"And?"
"And he got the story and I was fired. It took me a long time to trust him again."
"And now?"
"Now, I keep him at arm's length," Kelsey paused looking over at her boss and noticing the concerned expression on her face.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to let our friendship or rather our mothers' friendship take precedence over my job. If anything knowing Danny is enough to keep me on my toes 24-7."
C.J. breathed a sigh of relief.