Magda nodded as she put her hand on Natalie’s shoulder. “Karima, before you go, I would like very much to present to you my new amie, Natalie Savage. She has come to do the White House for ATN. She is a smart one.” The warmth of Magda’s introduction was beyond anything Natalie could have hoped.

Karima’s face lit up with a magical smile that made Natalie feel at once important and awed. She offered Natalie her hand. “How lovely. You have already started at the White House?”

Natalie stammered, not wanting to miss her opening or get caught in a lie. “So happy to meet you. I did my first press briefing this week.” See, not a lie.

“Ah!” Karima’s eyes lit up in recognition. “I have heard of you. You asked after Anita, the First Lady, yes? They said it was a new girl. That was you?”

Natalie felt herself blush, deeply. Was it possible someone was talking about her—to Karima Sahadi?

Karima was regarding her with interest. “You are very smart. Thinking of Anita, looking where others aren’t.” She leaned toward Natalie as if she was going to impart a secret and Natalie caught the scent of her perfume, burnt wood and roses, marvelous even through the haze of chemicals. “Anita is a good woman. This is all too terrible.” Then she seemed to alight on an idea. “We will have lunch, you and me. Yes?”

“Oh that’d be so nice,” Natalie murmured to the lovely woman who called the First Lady by her first name and was undoubtedly just being polite. There was no way Karima Sahadi had time for lunch with temporary White House correspondents.

“Wonderful,” Karima said, pulling out her phone. “Bombay Club on Monday? 12:30 p.m.”

Stunned, Natalie just stared at her.

“She’ll be there!” Magda said, giving Natalie’s shoulder another squeeze. “This is wonderful, habibi—”

They were interrupted by the sound of a man yelling, straining like an unbroken stallion. Karima straightened. “Oh dear, there’s Osman. I must hurry before he tramples someone.” She turned toward Osman who was brandishing a hair dryer at his three assistants with increasing violence. “I’m coming, darling.”

As Natalie watched the delicate woman cross the floor, she breathed deeply and caught another whiff of Karima’s perfume.

“A custom blend of pure oils,” Magda explained. “The initial work costs tens of thousands. She goes through two bottles a month and every refill is—” She waved a hand as if numbers that size were incalculable. She gave Natalie a confidential smile. “She liked you.”

“I’m sure she was just being polite,” Natalie said.

“Trust Magda, habibi. When I do The Treatment to Karima’s hair, it takes five hours. In five hours one can learn many things. You go to lunch. Karima can make things happen in this town.”