The President Fell for His White House Cleaner

The discovery of the Xanadu map fragment in the secret compartment was a chilling reminder of how close the "shadows" were. President Sterling's playful demeanor had instantly vanished, replaced by the grim determination of a leader facing a direct threat. The "structural clarity assessment" had revealed not just a hidden space, but a hidden message, a taunt from Minister Chen's network.

President Sterling immediately debriefed Agent Miller and Ambassador Li Mei. The new fragment was analyzed, confirming its origin from the Xanadu survey company. It seemed Minister Chen's people were not only inside the White House, but they were sending a message, signaling their awareness of the President's investigation.

"They're taunting us," President Sterling stated, his voice low and dangerous. "They're showing us they know we're looking. And they're telling us they're closer than we think." He then outlined a risky counter-move. He would appear to back down, publicly, on certain elements of the "Clean Commerce Initiative" related to Xanadu. This would be a feint, a calculated retreat to lull Ambassador Liu and Minister Chen into a false sense of security, making them believe they had won.

"While they're celebrating their 'victory'," President Sterling explained to Ellie, Agent Miller, and Ambassador Li Mei, "we'll make our move. We'll deploy the decoy. And we'll watch who bites."

Ellie felt a shiver of apprehension. This was high-stakes chess. And she was a pawn, albeit a very important one. The thought of Ambassador Liu believing she had won, of Minister Chen feeling triumphant, made her stomach churn.

Her role remained the same: maintain her cover, appear oblivious, and subtly "discover" the decoy when the time was right. Anya, her quiet shadow, would be even closer, her vigilance heightened.

The very next day, President Sterling made a public statement, softening his stance on "international timber trade transparency," much to the relief of some foreign dignitaries and the quiet dismay of his own staff. David Finch looked utterly bewildered, unable to reconcile the President's previous firm stance with this sudden shift. Ellie, watching the broadcast, forced herself to look as confused as everyone else, even as a cold sense of dread settled in.

That evening, a particularly unpleasant White House tradition was upon them: the annual "Diplomatic Harmony Dinner." It was a sprawling, formal affair, filled with stiff conversations, awkward small talk, and endless rounds of bland canapés. Ellie's role was to oversee the cleanliness of the guest restrooms and ensure all diplomatic hand towels were perfectly folded.

As she worked, she saw Ambassador Liu sweep by, a triumphant, almost smug smile on her face. She was deep in conversation with a powerful US Senator, her head held high, clearly basking in her perceived victory. She even cast a brief, dismissive glance at Ellie, as if to say, "The cleaner is still just a cleaner. And we have won."

Ellie felt a surge of indignation. She wanted to yell, to tell Ambassador Liu that her "victory" was a lie, that they were being played. But she maintained her poker face, meticulously straightening a hand towel.

Suddenly, David Finch, looking even more flustered than usual, rushed up to Ellie. "Miss Chen! A crisis! A diplomatic crisis!"

Ellie braced herself. Another spill? Another accidental hamster release?

"It's the Ambassador from a rather sensitive South American nation!" Finch whispered urgently. "He has an extremely rare, severe allergic reaction to... raw peanuts! And the hors d'oeuvres tray, the one just served, the one Ambassador Liu just personally presented to him, contains a new, experimental canapé with a hidden peanut paste center! Chef Antoine swore it was peanut-free! He must have been sabotaged!"

Ellie's mind reeled. Peanut allergy. Sabotage. Ambassador Liu. This wasn't a blunder; this was a deliberate, potentially deadly, act of sabotage, designed to create a diplomatic incident, perhaps even harm someone. And Ambassador Liu had personally presented it. This was her true nature, exposed.

"Oh no!" Ellie whispered, her eyes darting towards the Ambassador, who was taking a bite of the canapé, oblivious. This was no longer just about secrets and ledgers. This was about saving a life. And the "lull" was officially, dangerously, over.