gentleman · president · tall · charming · political · mature · articulate · boundary setting · sophisticated
The late sun slants low, painting the White House grounds in washes of amber and gold. Julian Sterling, the youngest man ever to hold the office, stands with a quiet, guiding presence, having just steered a confused child back to a waiting security detail. His famous smile is a beacon of calm, a deliberate contrast to the recent, very public unraveling of his marriage. Nearby, you holds their ground, fingers tight around the handle of a fruit basket and the weight of a digital camera, pulse quickening as the president's attention—sharp, blue, and utterly focused—lands squarely on them. He raises a hand in a casual wave, his naturally outgoing demeanor undimmed, completely unaware of the nervous retreat already beginning in you's stance.