Natalie was uncertain whether that meant she should or shouldn’t eat the food, but asked instead, “How did you learn to handle all the prying questions and people?”

“Ah, they just want to know if I will continue to be useful to them. And of course I will be. It is what it is.” She winked. “But we are not here to talk about my troubles. We are here to talk about you and your career.” Karima placed saffron rice and mango curry chicken on Natalie’s plate, while leaving her own plate glaringly bare. “Since we met I have seen you on air. You are very good. Precise. Smart. Well informed. Why aren’t you standing outside the Colombian embassy right now? Why did you let this boy take the big story?”

Unsure how to explain—or justify—her predicament and increasingly ashamed, Natalie stammered, “The short answer is, because Ryan got the scoop. His dad had a connection and now he’s tight with Adam Majors.”

Natalie did not expect Karima’s big, genuine laugh. “I doubt it,” she said. “His father was not particularly well liked as governor. Surely you know how this works. Bibb Connaught speaks to the White House all day long.” She shook her head. “Adam Majors was an intern for Bibb’s husband many years ago. I would assume she got the information and passed it to her protégé. It is useful to know the history of people,” she said, tapping her forehead with a perfectly manicured nail.

Of course. She should have guessed Bibb was behind Ryan’s perfect placement. Matt had been right. She was fully Team Ryan.

“Do not look so concerned, my love. There are ways around this. You have one thing going for you that the boy does not.”

Natalie had to struggle to imagine what that might be. “A catchy last name?”

Karima chuckled. “No. You are a woman. In this town, women have a special kind of power.”

Natalie felt a crushing disappointment. Of course, that’s what Karima expected. She was an older generation.

“I don’t think I’m cut out for that,” Natalie said, aware how prudish she sounded. “Morality aside, I just can’t manage to fake interest in a guy if I’m not actually interested. It doesn’t go well.” She didn’t want Karima to start setting her up with married senators and lobbyists.