Serenierre
Established Nation
Sun Room, Grosvenor House
Paris.
08.01.2010
Shahrazad leaned back into the sofa and inhaled sharply. It had just been eight days since she had taken over as Prime Minister and, already, she had dealt with several issues which could have affected Belmont. The Meribian nuclear blast, the Marquette economy, the Wazistani missile tests and the situation in Batavie had all had to be dealt by the new Premier within hours of becoming the PM. She held a mug of coffee in her hand and took slow and gentle sips as she read the newspaper. The warm rays of the sun entered the room from the massive windows. The winter, this year, had been much harder and the newly elected Premier had moved her office up to the sun room, which was much more warmer than her office in the Western Annex.
She stood up and stretched out her legs. She walked to the window, the one which overlooked the Grosvenor House gardens. Her mind was lost in a storm of thoughts. Being Prime Minister wasn't an easy job, she knew that, but she believed that she really could lead the nation of eighty million people into a better future. One could assume that was her ego or one could assume she really was the nation's saviour. Looking at the election results, it seemed many Belmontien's thought of her as the latter.
Today, Paris was cloudy, as it was almost everyday in winter. Paris was quite dull in winter, although the people made up for the dull weather. After last week's cold spell, the city had started to warmup and the sun was starting to shine through the thick, dense covering of clouds which extended across the ancient capital city. Back in Marseilles, thanks to that city being a port, the weather was never this bleak nor was it as cold, she observed.
Philippe, her secretary, knocked lightly on the door and she turned her head. "Yes," she asked softly.
"Madame Premier" he said, looking at her, "your eleven o'clock is here."
"Right." She turned around and paced to her desk, putting on her coat, she looked at Philippe, again, and said plainly, "What are you standing around here for? Bring him up... now"
The young man scrambled down to the main hallway. Philippe didn't know who the man was but, he knew he was someone very important from the General Headquarters. He climbed down the attic stairs slowly and carefully. Were he to trip here, he would surely break his leg. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, he inhaled deeply and walked over to the robust man standing in full army uniform.
"Sir," he looked at the name tag, "The Premier has been expecting you. Please follow me."
Standing at six feet four inches, General Mazarin looked like a giant next to the five feet, seven inches assistant. Mazarin walked slowly behind the Premier's secretary as he led up the army's top man into the sun room. Mazarin had been wanting to meet the new Prime Minister since the day she took over from Millerand but her schedule had managed to keep the woman elusive for Mazarin. Finally, yesterday, the Prime Minister's Office had managed to pencil in the five star general into the Premier's busy day.
"Madame Premier," he said, his voice booming, as he entered the private study of the Prime Minister. He saluted the woman and extended his massive hand.
"General Mazarin, finally I get to meet you." Shahrazad shook his hand firmly and gestured him to take a seat on one of the sofas. Once both were comfortably seated, she asked "So what brings you to Grosvenor?"
"Yes, Madame Premier. The reason I am here to basically see if you are up to date on the involvements of the armed forces, the army in particular."
"Well, I have read each of the dossiers that were sent over by the GHQ... so unless you wish to talk about something new... I am completely aware of our situation."
"Good." he said. Thinking for a minute, he looked at the woman, who was sitting on the sofa on his right, "Madame, my second reason, for coming, was to inform you that, you have the fortune, or misfortune - it depends how you look at it - of being shoved into the job in the middle of such crises. I come to offer you my and my officers full support."
"Greatly appreciated, General Mazarin." Shahrazad said with a smile.
"And I must give you a report of the Strategic Projects."
"Go ahead."