Matthew Hesh walked out of the Oval Office's reception room and into the heart of the building. He wasn't there to play politics or respect protocols. He had come to the White House to get answers, and he wasn't leaving without them.
President Theodore Clay sat stiffly in a chair near the fireplace, staring at the documents Matthew had just laid out. His normally composed demeanor was cracking, and his silence said more than any words could.
"Mr. President," Matthew began firmly, standing across from Clay, "we both know these documents raise serious questions. I've pieced together enough to understand that your trip to Vienna wasn't just diplomacy. So let's skip the denials and get to the point."
Clay's jaw tightened. He reached for a glass of water on the table beside him but didn't drink. "You've done a lot of digging, Matthew. Perhaps too much."