Connor walked back to her little private desk and pressed the button that would summon Aaron Lowry. Her back stiffened when she heard his voice. “I’d like you to come up to my quarters now, Aaron.”

“Madam President, if it’s not an emergency, can the visit wait an hour or so? I’m up to my neck in some tricky—”

“I said now, Aaron.” She broke the connection before the COS could utter another word.

Fresh coffee in hand, she sat down on one of the chairs she’d arranged in a small informal setting. She waited for one of the Secret Service detail to fetch the COS.

When Lowry finally bustled in, huffing and puffing, he looked at her with disdain. “Did something happen? Is there some emergency I’m not aware of?” he grated.

“No. Please, Aaron, sit down. You appear winded. We have an excellent gym here. You should take advantage of it.”

“I would if I had time. Unfortunately, I work sixteen hours a day, so that leaves little time for gyms. What did you want to see me about?”

“Several things. One being your long hours. That’s going to stop the first of the year, when you will work nine to five. Lizzie Fox will be here by then to lessen your workload. I’m also going to switch up your assistants. By the way, none of this is negotiable. If there’s anything I’m about to tell you that you don’t like, feel free to tender your resignation. Now, tell me what you and Baron Bell have in common.”

Whatever Aaron Lowry had expected to hear, a question about Baron Bell was not it. “He’s got the ear of just about every politician on both sides of the aisle. One of the Joint Chiefs is his cousin. He knows everyone. Always offers sound advice. A good man to have in our corner. Why are you asking?”

“Because I can. I’m the president. Did you forget that?”

“No, Madam President, I did not forget that.”

Connor looked at the little toad of a man and felt herself wince. She was almost certain he had a Napoleon complex. “You don’t like me, do you, Aaron?”

Lowry pretended horror. “What? Why would you ask me something like that, Madam President? Of course I like you. I’m here to serve you. I try to do it to the best of my ability. If there’s something I’ve done or something you think I should have done and didn’t, you should tell me.”

“I don’t like you, Aaron.” Good Lord, did I just say that? Obviously, she did, because the man’s face turned brick red. Connor leaned forward to pick up a cigarette and fired it up. She blew a perfect smoke ring upward. The look of horror on Lowry’s face made her take a second puff from the cigarette she didn’t even want.