At the capital city of Valoria. April 13th, 1938. It was late in the afternoon.
Alexander was in his office, deeply engrossed in a book on politics and governance. The room was quiet, the only sound being the soft rustling of pages as he turned them, absorbing the wisdom within. Each book felt like a step closer to mastering the art of leadership, and Alexander was determined to make every step count.
Just as he was about to start another chapter, a knock came at the door, interrupting his focus. He looked up, slightly annoyed at the disruption.
"Who is it?" he called out.
"Julieanne, Your Excellency," came the familiar voice from the other side of the door.
Alexander's expression softened. "Enter."
The door opened, and Julieanne stepped inside, her presence was always a welcome sight. However, she wasn't alone. Beside her stood a woman of equal elegance and poise, the Minister of State, Emily Harris. Emily's pristine bob-cut ashen grey hair framed her face perfectly, giving her an air of sophistication.
Her well-tailored dress accentuated her figure, complementing her strong yet feminine demeanor. Her face is as charming as Julieanne, which is another way of saying she is beautiful.
"Your Excellency," Emily greeted with a respectful nod.
"Minister Harris, Julieanne," Alexander acknowledged them, setting his book aside. "What can I do for you?"
"The delegation from the Kingdom of Zambesi will arrive in the evening at eight o'clock," Emily reported. "I just dropped by your office because I will take my leave at six o'clock and head to Norfolk. I will be the one receiving them and initiate diplomatic discussion."
Alexander listened intently and nodded. "I see...well, I trust that you are capable of handling this given your position as my Minister of State. I want this to go smoothly, no mishaps."
Emily bowed. "You can expect nothing less, Your Excellency," Emily finished and added. "My team and I have prepared extensively for this meeting. We understand the stakes and will ensure that the Zambesi delegation is treated with the utmost respect and professionalism.
Alexander gave a slight nod of approval, his expression softening. "Good. If there is nothing else, I will return to my studies."
Julieanne, who had been silent since the conversation started noted the files that she had brought for him to look up, sign, and stamp.
"Your Excellency. I don't want to interrupt your studies but have you finished—."
"Yes, I've finished them," Alexander cut her off, his tone decisive but not unkind. He gestured toward the neatly stacked papers on the corner of his desk. "You can check them. Everything is signed and stamped."
"Perfect," Emily said, giving Julieanne a light pat on the shoulder. "Now let's get through this day so we can enjoy our evening."
***
Eight o'clock in the evening, at the Port of Norfolk. The Expeditionary Fleet returned and on the deck was Chief Mosi and his associates. They were gazing at the sky as their attention was drawn to the noise being made from there. They observed it and saw it was flying steel with steel blades rotating at high speed and it was descending slowly.
Chief Mosi tried his best to compose himself in the unknown as he was battling with his inner struggles. He wanted to run as he didn't know what that was but when he glanced at Captain Ellis who looked undisturbed and completely at ease, Chief Mosi forced himself to remain calm.
The helicopter touched down with a smooth landing, and as the blades gradually slowed their rotation, the door swung open. Chief Mosi and his delegation turned their gaze to the figure stepping out.
A woman emerged, her presence commanding immediate attention. Her short ashen grey hair framed a face that was both beautiful and authoritative. She wore a tailored suit that accentuated her form, projecting both elegance and strength. This was no ordinary person; her aura alone suggested someone of significant importance.
The woman walked forward with graceful confidence, her gaze steady as she approached Chief Mosi and his entourage. Captain Ellis stepped aside, acknowledging her with a respectful nod.
"Chief Mosi," she began. "I am Emily Harris, the Minister of State of Valoria. It is an honor to finally meet you in person. I will be your point of contact throughout this process as we work to establish diplomatic ties between our nations."
The translator translated her words and the more words Chief Mosi absorbed, the more his face frowned. So he whispered to his translator.
"Chief Mosi asked if it's true that you will be the person whom he will discuss with?" the translator asked.
Emily nodded in confirmation.
Chief Mosi whispered again to his translator and there was a growing unease in his face.
"Chief Mosi says... he finds it unusual to discuss matters of governance and diplomacy with a woman. In his country, women do not hold such positions, and he expresses discomfort in proceeding with the discussions under these circumstances."
Hearing that, Emily's eyes widened in surprise, and so were Captain Ellis and his officers nearby who immediately turned to look at Chief Mosi.
"What did you say?"
"Chief Mosi believes that it is an utter disrespect to his position and his nation to have a woman conduct such important discussions," the translator reluctantly conveyed and added. "Chief Mosi insists that he must speak with the leader of Valoria directly, or at the very least, with a man who holds a significant position in foreign affairs.
He does not wish to proceed under the current circumstances."