White House, Oval Office.
George W. Bush held a steaming cup of coffee, standing by the window, his gaze seemingly penetrating the glass, falling somewhere in the distant void. The funds forcibly "extorted" from the bankers acted like a shot of adrenaline, temporarily stabilizing the front lines teetering on the brink of a financial collapse, but the subsequent tremors it caused were spreading out in ways he couldn't fully control.
The office door was gently knocked, but it was pushed open before he could respond.
It was his brother, Jeb Bush, who walked in.
Unlike the weariness George couldn't hide on his face, Jeb appeared agitated and worried, his suit still immaculate, but the unease in his eyes was unmistakable.
"George." Jeb's voice was somewhat dry; he rarely directly entered the Oval Office without an appointment.
