Chapter 30 - The President wants to meet you (1/2)
Ivy listened to the Sasha and Cedric joking and pulling each other legs while they drove towards the President's office.
”You are going to become a balloon if you keep eating this much,” Cedric commented, snatching the packet of ch_i_p_s from Sasha's hands.
”How does it matter to you, you bony man?” Sasha retorted, trying to get back her ch_i_p_s.
”If you become fat then who will marry you?” Cedric said putting a chip in his mouth.
”Those are my ch_i_p_s. How dare you eat it!! Spit it out. Spit it out right now. Sasha glared at him with her hands on her h_i_p_s. Ivy laughed at their playful banter.
While Cedric and Sasha were busy having a standoff in glaring at each other, Ivy grabbed the packet from Cedric's hands.
”Hey.” Both of them shouted at once. By then, the last remaining piece had gone inside Ivy's mouth and she gave them a contented smile.
”Look what you did Mister. That was the last packet I had. Now I have to settle for something else.” Sasha poked Cedric's cheek.
”You still have your food bag. Open it. You might find something more delicious.”
”Yes Sasha. Open your bag.” Ivy too urged her.
”I know both of you have set your eyes on my choco-chip cookies. But I am not sharing them with you two.”
”You have choco chip cookies?” Ivy's eyes widened and she gave Sasha a wicked smile. The one thing she liked the most was the choco-chip cookies prepared by Sasha's mother. The taste of butter and vanilla along with the chocolate ch_i_p_s and nuts just made Ivy salivate. And more than that, she liked how delicious those cookies tasted when dipped in chocolate syrup. They just tasted wow.
”Don't act all too innocent Ivy. I know you have been eyeing my bag since the beginning.” Sasha pulled out a granola bar and started munching on it.
”For now I'll settle with this. I'll open the box of cookies only after the press meet.”
Ivy huffed while Cedric g_r_o_a_n_e_d in frustration. By then they had arrived at the Presidents office. Ivy took a look at the mirror and arranged her dress properly. She had worn a white high neck shirt with a dark grey skirt and a matching jacket and black heel pumps. She had tied her hair in a low ponytail. She got off the car and walked towards the queue of reporters, waiting to get inside.
As soon as her turn came, she showed her ID card and her pass at the entrance. The assistant in front of her ticked her news channel's name on the attendance list and allowed her to go inside with Cedric. Ivy looked for her seat while Cedric started to set his camera equipment where all other cameramen were standing.
Sasha was not allowed inside the hall as she did not have a pass. Only two people from an agency were allowed inside the hall, a reporter and a cameraman. So, she had to wait outside the hall.
The chairs in the hall were placed on two sides with a gap in between for the cameramen and their equipment. There were four rows on each side with five chairs in every row. Ivy's seat was the first one in the second row. She smiled. Her seat had the best view and accessibility. She was neither in the exact front nor was she hidden in a corner. She placed her bag on her chair and then approached the lady assistant near the stage.
”Excuse me Miss. I am from the News4U channel. Can you tell me the order for asking the questions to the President?”
It was a known rule that all the reporters had to follow a protocol while attending press conferences of such type. In order to avoid a ruckus, each agency would be allowed to ask a certain number of questions. They had to follow the order and ask the question only when it was their turn. If this rule was violated, then that particular agency would be blacklisted and banned from attending any further press meets.
”Wait a second.” The assistant looked at the notepad in her hand.
”You can ask only two questions. You are to ask the fifth and the thirteenth question.”
Ivy thanked her and proceeded to talk to Cedric. ”Ced I have been given the fifth and the thirteenth slot.”
”That's good Ivy. You can look at the situation and then ask the questions.” Cedric said adjusting the video recorder. Ivy too felt the same. She could comprehend the situation correctly and then ask her questions to the President.
”I have this covered Ivy. You can return to your seat. Good luck”
”Good luck Ced.”
The conference started exactly at five. The President, Luis Truman, walked to the stage and stood at the podium. He stood with all the pride and confidence a leader must possess. He was accompanied by his secretary and four guards.
”Before you start asking questions, let me first tell you why this press meet was called. As you all know one of our ministers has conspired against the country and tried to harm the citizens.”
Although Luis did not reveal the name, everyone watching the live press meet could make out that he was talking about David Peters, the Finance Minister.
”I am here to guarantee the people that his plans have been foiled and there is no threat to anybody.”
”Now you may ask your questions.”