Not that the Martindale affair was that big a deal for Sharon directly. Outside of the U.S., the sexual antics of a sitting U.S. president, real or potential, were more a source of bemusement than anything, especially in those countries where it was well-known their leaders were not only cheating on their spouses but using government money to pay for their high-class call girls. That a young woman had lied about never meeting President Jerguessen barely caused any notice, which meant Sharon didn’t have to think about the issue much at all, beyond commiserating with Tanks and Augie and press secretary Jean Bouyer, who were dealing with all the fuss domestically.
For Martindale had already told reporters on Friday, before the President had made his statement about not commenting, that she had never met the man. She had always worked in the House of Representatives and had had limited contact with senators. Which she said again, Sunday morning, on one of the political talk shows, although Augie later said she should have known that something was up when she’d been asked on the show. Why have her there at all if she really didn’t know the president?
Because as soon as she affirmed she had never met President Jerguessen, she was asked to identify the people in the photo on the studio screen – a photo that clearly showed her and Mark Jerguessen shaking hands at a party of some sort. Flabbergasted, Martindale stammered that she had no clue where or when the photo had been taken and then made her second fatal error by suggesting that the show had somehow tampered with the shot to make it look as though she and the president had met.
So naturally, on Monday, everyone was talking about how if Martindale had lied about knowing the president and the two had obviously met, then how well did she really know him? Sharon found herself trying not to wonder the same thing, although there was a part of her that remembered that Mark had said that as far as he knew the two had never met. So unless someone had been doing some serious playing around with PhotoShop, the two obviously had.
It got around the White House very quickly that the boss was not happy. He kept his same schedule, sent around a memo reminding employees that they were not to comment either way on any rumored romances, but otherwise, kept to himself as much as possible. Jean said at the morning press briefing that they were working on the source of the photo, and it did not appear that anyone could identify when or where it had been taken. Which while Jean did not say so and flat out denied it when she was pressed, got many assuming she was implying that the photo was a fake.
What did help was that the next day, she was able to announce to the press that the photo had been identified.
“It was taken at an education lobby party about 15 months ago, just before the president announced his candidacy,” Jean said. “The president told me it was the usual for such affairs and he remembers talking with several people whose names he never got and would probably be surprised to find that he’d met them, as well. Nor is he surprised that Ms. Martindale did not remember the event, either. He was just a senator at that point and as she has pointed out, she worked with members of the House. The president would also like to point out that this sort of thing is exactly why he does not comment on potential relationships.”
Which fed the fire for another few days, although by the time Carrie Martindale showed up to the White House for a very public lunch with the President, the story was all but dead.
All but dead, June noted with some mild disgust as she perused a couple Washington society blogs. She was fairly sure her brother was not seeing anyone at the moment. Mark was beyond discreet, but June could usually tell. The funny thing was, it had looked like he was back in early February. June decided it had either fallen through or something else had triggered his “happy” look, as she called it. Either way, something had to be done about the gossip-mongering and she thought she knew what. The problem would be convincing Mark.
That Sunday, as Mark made their brunch, June laid out her idea. As she expected, Mark was less than enthused.
“What makes you think people won’t be placing bets on who wins my hand?” he grumbled as he chopped onions to go in what would become a corned-beef hash.
“Then the joke’s on them, isn’t it?” June replied. “I mean, honestly, Mark, half the reason the damn rumors get so much ground is that you don’t date anyone publicly. If you’ve got a whole group you’re dating, then it’s pretty obvious, these are just friendly relationships. What’s even better, is that I’ll be the one over-seeing who you go out with for what event, so there’ll be a lot less room for speculation.”
Mark grimaced. “Do you really want to take that on?”
“Honestly?”
“Oh, crud.” Mark shook his head with a rueful grin. “You’re just dying to, aren’t you?”
June giggled in spite of herself. “Damn skippy. I mean, I don’t want to mess with your love life. But it kinda would be fun to set you up. You could even set me up occasionally, if you want.”
“Hm.” Mark focused on finely dicing a potato. “That could even things up a little.”
“Could. And I don’t mind you floating the odd name or two, just between us. It’s not like I don’t know most of your friends.”
“True.” Mark thought as he turned the heat up on the cast iron skillet, then slid some white solid fat into it.
June grimaced. “Are you using lard again?”
“It’s the unadulterated stuff, without the poly-unsaturates and lard has less of the bad fat than butter. Besides, it’s the best thing to get this hash nice and crisp the way you like it. How about Mary Karpati?”
“She’s perfect.” June nodded. “If I can get her, Tish MacDonald?”
“Your BFF. So that’s what triggered this little idea.” Mark grinned shamelessly.
“What?”
“Hasn’t she been begging you to set me up with her for how long?”
June laughed. “More like how long ago. We were in high school when that happened. She’s gotten over you in a big way, although you’re okay as guys and politicians go. Think we can add Carrie Martindale to the list?”
Mark winced. “Conflict of interest.”
“You’re right. Karen Tanaka?”
“Has a boyfriend.”
“Sharon Wheatly?”
“Doubt you’ll get her to go for it.” Mark held his breath, hoping that June didn’t notice the flutter in his chest. “Besides, doesn’t look good dating a subordinate.”
June sighed. “Mark, the whole point is that you’re not really dating, so that shouldn’t be an issue. Let’s see. Who else?”
Mark left her to her musing.
Two days later, Daniel Friedman got June on the phone.
“I, uh, heard about your dating pool plan,” Daniel told her once the pleasantries were dispensed with.
“Yeah. You got someone for me?”
“I do. Only I’m thinking as a special interest date, for embassy soirees, etc. Sharon Wheatly.”
“Too perfect. But Mark said he’s concerned about what it would look like dating a subordinate.”
“She’d be there almost as his assistant and personal translator.”
“I suppose, but to tell you the truth, I don’t think she’ll go for it.”
“She’d be perfect and we won’t have to spend a lot of time briefing her. Plus, we won’t have to worry about her saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.”
“Well, I’ll talk to her, but don’t get too excited, Daniel. She really doesn’t like the spotlight.”
“Let me know how it goes. Maybe I’ll talk to her, too.”
“Just do me a favor and wait for me to give you the heads up.”
June hung up, not sure what to do. The problem was, Sharon would be the perfect date for embassy and other events involving foreign dignitaries. But what she’d said about not liking being looked at, June understood and was reluctant to push Sharon. Not entirely reluctant. Mark clearly liked her, although June was pretty sure he was more interested in her as a friend.
June suddenly smiled. Friendship was all well and good. But there was something about Mark and Sharon that just seemed to feel right. Maybe what the two of them needed was a nice gentle shove in the other’s direction.
