Natalie looked over at the monitor playing ATN. There was Ryan, still at the anchor desk, beaming Hearty American Manhood across the airwaves. No, he wouldn’t hesitate, and, no, he would not be kind.

Ignoring Matt, she looked up at Dasha. “What do you think?”

Dasha nodded like a loyal comrade. “If you do not want to make the report, I make excuse,” Dasha said, shrugging. “Camera trouble. We do this often in Kandahar.”

“Stop it, both of you,” Matt snapped, then turned to Natalie. “Do you want the White House job or not?”

“Of course I want the job.”

“Then stop acting like a baby and do it.”

Dasha’s phone rang and, after answering it, she covered the mouthpiece.

“They call for us now,” she directed this to Natalie. “Want I should say connection is bad?”

Natalie looked from Matt to Dasha and turned to take in the sight behind her. The majesty of the White House, the wide expanse of the North Lawn.

This is your shot.

“Yes or no?” Dasha asked from behind the camera.

Why are you looking for problems? she asked herself. You’ve earned this.

She looked from the lights to the camera and made a decision. She’d do it. She had the bureau chief and the network behind her. What were the chances this would go wrong?

Natalie stepped up onto a tiny platform under the ATN tent and faced Dasha’s camera, three HMI lights on her face, a large diva light casting a warm glow across her features.

Combined with the sun, the lights made it hard to see, and she could feel her eyes start to water, on the verge of tears. She held a hand in front of her face.

“Is bright?” Dasha said. “I adjust. But is very good shot. Very pretty. Very young.”

“Does your mom the bride know you’re about to break this story wide open?” Matt asked from the sidelines.

Natalie shook her head no. Mom and Sarah would find out afterward. And then they’d understand.

“Savage, we got you live from the White House. Coming to you in thirty. Ryan McGreavy is your anchor,” a voice said in her ear. “We have some photos and video of the FLOTUS. We’ll follow your lead.”

“Is my hair okay?” she whispered to Dasha. Both Matt and Dasha nodded yes, emphatically. God bless Magda.

She took a deep breath and looked into the camera, switching to reporter mode. She put on her formal smile. The Breaking News music filled her ear and she could hear Ryan in studio promising viewers a “major breaking development you’ll only see here on ATN.” Then he tossed to Natalie, “Live from the White House.”

She felt a flutter of anticipation.

She was going to nail this.