"Diplomacy" – Chapter One

by Zahra Owens

As Ambassador, Jack Christensen was the representative of his Head of State in the country he was assigned to. That didn't mean he always agreed with the man, it just meant he had to pretend he did. He was not exactly a member of the current President's fan club. In fact he had always been a fairly eloquent Democrat, so he was quite surprised when he was appointed to replace the retiring Ambassador to Belgium.

Even though a large part of his job was to translate his President's policies for the country he was assigned to, the assignment excited him. This was a small country indeed, but a well trusted one. Not to mention it was interesting diplomatically, since its capital housed not only the Headquarters of NATO but also the seat of the European Commission and was considered the de facto capital of the European Union. The north of Belgium also housed a major international seaport that was often used by the United States for military transport, making them an ally to be pampered.

On the other hand, Belgium was known to be a headstrong country that did not follow the pack blindly. On more than one occasion the former Ambassador had needed to smooth out wrinkles in the transatlantic relationship, so Jack knew he had his work cut out for him.

Tonight had been his baptism of fire. He hadn't even had the occasion to officially present his credentials to King Albert II yet, as was the custom for new ambassadors, and now his President was visiting and he had a house full of government officials and Secret Service personnel.

The visit would last three days and Jack knew that with all the receptions and banquets it was going to be the longest three days of his life.

The banquet went perfectly, even though the UK Ambassador had been sent home early with a bad case of the flu. At least that would be the official explanation. Just after the main course, Maria had noticed he was rather inebriated and after she alerted Jack to this, he was discreetly removed and sent home in his chauffeur driven car. Since the President and First Lady were guests at the Embassy, Jack and Maria were also required to stay in the private quarters of the Embassy, instead of going to their home just outside the city.

“Tonight was perfect.” Jack was in his pajama bottoms, leaning against the doorway watching Maria take off her make-up. He knew she would understand that as 'thank you for a great job'.

She rolled her eyes. “We came close to a small diplomatic incident, though. Luckily our Brit didn't object too much to being sent home.”

Jack moved behind her and rested his hands on her slender hips. “Judging from his reaction, his assistant wasn't surprised.” He watched her elegant figure in the large bathroom mirror.

As they had greeted their guests before the banquet he had seen quite a few men's eyes travel across his wife's body. Some of them had even looked at her lustfully, not even bothering to hide it while he was talking to them. So why had she never conjured up those feelings in him? He loved her, of course. She was beautiful, that he could see too, but he had never felt the uncontrollable need to just have his way with her on the top of the table. Even in the beginning of their relationship, making love had been tender and caring, but rarely unashamedly passionate.

He kissed her neck tenderly. Luckily they were great friends. “It's going to be a long day tomorrow as well, starting bright and early with a private breakfast with our honored guests.”

She turned around and brushed her finger along his jaw. “Yeah, we’d better turn in.”

 

The following evening there would be a reception to give the Americans living in Belgium a chance to meet their President and also their new Ambassador. Even though it was a much more relaxed affair compared to the banquet, Jack and Maria would have to make their rounds and shake a lot of hands, leaving very little chance to actually have a decent conversation with anyone.

Jack was talking to a Presbyterian minister and his wife who had lived in Belgium for more than twenty years. As always, he had one eye on the entrance where the guests were being greeted by his Protocol Officer. Just as Jack was politely declining the minister's dinner invitation, his eye was caught by a young man entering. He was tall, dressed all in black and instead of a tie he had on a black silk cravat, wrapped loosely around his neck. His hair was long and wavy and Jack realized that he was probably the only one in the entire room who could get away with that look and not seem underdressed for the occasion. On his arm was a beautiful, fresh looking young blond woman, who was smiling nervously and clinging to him like wrapping paper.

“Oh, but you and you lovely wife must come to our church, Mr. Christensen. Antwerp is just a forty-five minute drive, you know,” he vaguely heard the older woman say.

As if emerging from a daze, he excused himself, “Mr. and Mrs… Wallace, I'm sorry but I need to attend to a minor emergency.” He quickly made his way through one of the side doors.

Just seconds later Maria entered as well. “I almost felt like I should come and rescue you.”

“Huh? What?”

“I saw your eyes glaze over. She IS a little pushy, isn't she? Now let's go back in before our guests start to wonder why the new Ambassador and his wife disappeared together.”  She was smiling as she gently nudged Jack back into the room.

Both the President and the First Lady, closely watched by the Secret Service, were working the room like consummate professionals, trying to cover as much ground as possible in the shortest time. Jack and Maria were well experienced in doing the same, but as he emerged Jack realized he was scanning the crowd for the dark haired young man. Even though the reception was at its height, he quickly found him and his twinkling companion, animatedly talking to the First Lady, who was clearly very taken by the confident young man. Jack could tell he was in no way fazed by the First Lady's notoriety and seemed totally at ease, something Jack had never achieved in all his years in the diplomatic corps. Just as he was ready to make his way over to him, sensing the First Lady was ready to move on, he was engaged by an older businessman, a newcomer to the country and clearly eager to meet his Ambassador. They exchanged courtesies, but Jack was relieved when another older couple joined in the conversation, giving him a chance to take his leave.

“Your Excellency?”

A fairly low, confident and very British voice made him turn around, and he found himself looking into the most beautiful chocolate brown eyes he had ever seen. There was a moment of awkward silence between them that seemed to last forever. Jack knew he had to respond, but his mind was an absolute blank.

“You Excellency, my name is Lucas Carlton, Assistant Information Management Officer for The Right Honourable Marcus Boyles, and this is my fiancée Lucy Marsh.” He indicated the young woman who disentangled her arm to shake his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

Glad for the younger man’s forwardness, Jack first shook her hand, then his. Lucas's grip was firm and his hand soft and dry. The familiar protocol helped Jack recover somewhat. “Ah, yes, our esteemed UK Ambassador. How is he feeling today?” They exchanged knowing looks.

“Still a little uncomfortable, but nothing that can't be remedied,” the young man responded with a conspiratorial smile.

Jack had a hard time breaking eye contact with Lucas, but it was only polite to address the young woman as well. “Miss Marsh, you are American, I believe?”

Lucy smiled at him, clearly ill at ease. “Yes, from Boston.”

“And you decided only a Brit was good enough?” As soon as the words left his mouth, Jack wished he could take them back. That was awfully forward as a conversation starter.

Lucy smiled, a little unsure of how exactly she was to respond, but was rescued by Lucas. “We met at Stanford, where I was studying International Relations. She made a foreigner feel very welcome.” He smiled at her reassuringly.

“Was it you I spoke to last night?” Jack asked Lucas, relieving Lucy of being the center of attention.

Lucas raised his eyebrows. “Ah, yes, we were expecting a call, so I stayed to co-ordinate. His Excellency was…'ill' already when he was dropped off, but he was determined to attend. I could only hope that you or your wife would save him from embarrassment, as you so kindly did.”

The understanding glances between Lucas and Jack were totally lost on Lucy, who clearly didn't have a clue that the UK ambassador was not really sick.

“Well, we won't keep you much longer, your Excellency. I simply wanted to introduce myself, since the US and the UK have always been close allies and I expect we will be meeting again very soon. My boss has informed me I will become his liaison officer with your Embassy, since I have strong interests in that area anyway.”

Jack expected Lucas to look at his girlfriend to acknowledge exactly where those interests were situated, but he did not, instead captivating Jack with his gaze for what seemed like forever.

Lucas finally nodded as he took a step back and guided Lucy farther into the room.

Jack sighed, releasing a breath he’d apparently been holding. He then took a few more deep breaths, trying to calm down his racing heart.

 

It wasn't until later that night, when he was alone in the bathroom of his private quarters in the Embassy, that he had a chance to think it over. What was it that made Lucas so special? Why had this young man awakened feelings he had buried long ago? He let his head fall into his hands and tried to ban the thoughts that kept creeping into his mind when he thought of the young Brit, of his chocolate brown eyes and his radiant smile, of his firm handshake that went straight to his groin.

He got up and threw some cold water on his face, while he looked at himself in the mirror. Forget it, Jack, he's got a girlfriend and you have a wife. You're both successful heterosexual men. It's pointless to let your pecker take over.

After drying his face, he walked into the dark bedroom, trying not to wake up Maria.

“You don't have to sneak around,” he heard her say, just before he slid under the blankets. She wrapped herself around him as he lay down on his back and rested her head on his shoulder. “Well, you seem happy to see me.”