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He smiled at her. Damn, he was charismatic. The man hadn’t been in office for years, but he hadn’t lost the magic that enchanted so many voters.
“Philip,” he said. “And you must be Tess.” Her jaw was moving, though no sounds were actually coming from her mouth. “Come inside and we’ll talk.”
Byron gestured as he retreated inside again. Her attention flew around to the smiling Hugo.
“Told you there was a surprise in there for you,” he said.
“Is there… I mean is he…”
“He has a security agent and there’s a stewardess. Other than them and the pilots, it will be just the three of us… His time is obviously valuable,” he said and laughed again. “I don’t think he’s used to being kept waiting.”
No, she didn’t imagine he was. Hugo guided her ahead of him and put his hands to her hips to direct her up the stairs into the plane. After shuffling through the kitchen, they entered a larger space filled with wide, deep chairs unlike any normal plane seats. Her experience on planes was limited. She and her mother used them occasionally in her early childhood, though not often. Buses, trains, cars, they didn’t require going through enclosed airports with security lines and few options for a hasty exit if the need arose.
After 9/11 when security measures became even more stringent, they’d opted not to use airlines. Being caught travelling on a fake ID was always a risk. The penalty for taking that risk became all the more serious after that fateful day. Hence why they stuck to roads and railways.
President Byron was at the opposite end of the room. To the left, sitting at a table with four chairs around it.
“Please,” he called to them, pouring champagne into tall flutes. “Join me.”
Refusing a president, even a former one, probably came with some kind of penalty. Maybe not an official one, but she definitely didn’t want to offend him.
Hugo ushered her down the plane and into a window seat before taking the one next to her. The president handed her a glass, then Hugo, though his smile stayed on her.
“You got the good stuff,” Hugo said, holding his glass to the middle of the table. “Philip, this is Tess. Tess, former President Byron.”
She’d figured that out all on her own. “It’s a… an honor.”
The warmth of Byron’s smile grew. It was probably her imagination, but was there an actual glint in his eye?
“Honor’s all mine,” he said, raising his glass toward Hugo’s. “Shall we drink to new friends?”
It took a few seconds to catch up with her glass.
“New friends,” Hugo said.
After all three of their glasses touched, the men drank. She did too, sort of wishing there was something stronger than champagne on offer.
The sudden movement of the plane took the flute from her lips. She hadn’t heard the door close or the engines. If the men noticed her surprise, they didn’t acknowledge it.
Byron lowered his glass and leaned a little toward her. “You know, I feel like I’ve known you all your life,” he said. “Seeing you like this, here in front of me… It’s a little overwhelming.”
What was he talking about? That such an important figure could think that way was astounding… and confusing. “I’m sorry, sir, I don’t…”
Byron laughed and reached over to lay a reassuring hand on hers. “Really, Philip is just fine. We don’t have to stand on ceremony. Not here. We’re equals here.”
Being touched by a president took her by surprise. That wasn’t the only surprise. While still trying to figure out what was going on, her attention was split by their vehicle’s change of angle. Glancing out the window, the runway sunk from beneath them.
“I appreciate that you took the time to come out this way, Philip,” Hugo said. “You’ve been on the go a lot recently.”
Byron’s hand slid away from hers. “The responsibilities of office have always taken precedence over everything else,” he said. “Even if the office has changed over the years.”
Tearing her focus from the disappearing city, and thoughts of the man left behind, she looked at the man seated opposite her.
“You’ve been doing a lot of charity work, work for the UN. You’ve been an advocate for many worthy causes.”
“Thank you,” Byron said. “I try to do what I can… There are so many issues worthy of our attention that it’s sometimes difficult to know whether or not we’re choosing the right ones or making a difference.”
“You inspire,” she said. “You and your wife. I love the work she does with children and how she champions education. It’s so important.”
