"Yesmin, I'd like you to meet my new assistant, Felix," Jacob Kennedy said as Yesmin entered the Oval Office.
"Nice to meet you," Yesmin said, offering Felix a brief handshake. Her eyes never left Jacob.
"Can I get you anything to drink?" Felix asked. His hands trembled, a visible manifestation of his first-day nerves. He couldn't afford to disappoint Jacob—not after being given a luxurious condo to live in.
"No, thank you." She stepped past him.
"I'm not withdrawing Lolita's invitation to the global summits."
"Yesmin!" Jacob's voice spiked. "Did you watch the news? She fired a missile at the mountain. I was nearly killed in that crash because of her."
"How can you blame that on her?" Yesmin tilted her head, calm and slightly condescending. "Osa is ruthless. Did you provoke him?"
"The footage shows the missile was manufactured in Intermarium—"
"Cascadia supported Intermarium during the war," She cut in smoothly. "So remind me—how exactly are you so certain it's theirs?"
"Because Lolita is out for me." Jacob's eyes darkened with barely contained fury. "First, the church bombing-"
"You weren't there," Yesmin interrupted unapologetically. "So how do you know it was meant for you?"
"Because I refused to give her Purple Island. She retaliated."
"Or, you're shifting the blame." Yesmin crossed her arms over her chest, her white cashmere sweater soft enough to absorb his shouting. "Why are reporters asking about your connection to a man known for exploiting minors?"
"Yesmin!" Jacob shouted, his face flushing. "My wife went on national television and said I had no part in it! What more proof do you need?"
"Your wife is ten years younger than you."
"So what? She was an adult when I met her!"
"Regardless," Yesmin cut in smoothly, "I'm not convinced. Lolita stays."
"She should be on trial for war crimes, not attending meetings! She poisoned the fields of Cascadia, triggering a famine."
"On the contrary," Yesmin said, turning toward the door. "Osa should be on trial for bombing Ethan's Dam and displacing millions. This meeting is finished, Jacob. I haven't changed my mind—I'll see you at the summit."
Jacob's fist tightened furiously as he watched Yesmin's black stiletto heels click across the marble floor and out of the room.