The President Fell for His White House Cleaner

The Rose Garden Incident, quickly dubbed the "Peanut Plot" by the Secret Service (much to David Finch's dismay), sent shockwaves through the White House. Ambassador Liu's brazen attempt to harm a visiting dignitary had exposed the true ruthlessness of Minister Chen's network, and the President's public accusation, however veiled, confirmed that the gloves were truly off. Ellie, the accidental heroine, found herself propelled further into the heart of this dangerous game.

The immediate aftermath was a whirlwind of damage control and heightened security. The South American Ambassador made a swift, if somewhat shaky, recovery, effusively thanking President Sterling and, perhaps most surprisingly, Ellie. Chef Antoine Dubois, initially horrified, then relieved, then utterly bewildered by the "sabotage," went into a culinary lockdown, refusing to make anything more complex than plain toast for the next 48 hours.

Later that night, President Sterling convened a discreet, urgent meeting in his private study. Only Ellie, Agent Miller, and Ambassador Li Mei were present. The atmosphere was grim, devoid of the usual White House pleasantries.

"Ambassador Liu made her move," President Sterling stated, his voice low and dangerous. "She underestimated us. And she underestimated you, Miss Chen." He looked at Ellie, a steely resolve in his eyes. "The video surveillance from the ballroom confirms her subtle manipulation of the canapé tray. We have her. Not for the peanut allergy, not yet, but for attempted diplomatic sabotage. Enough to declare her persona non grata and send her packing."

Ambassador Li Mei nodded, her face grim. "Minister Chen will be furious. Losing his top operative, especially in such a public and embarrassing manner, will hit hard. It also signals that we are aware of his reach within the diplomatic corps."

Ellie felt a shiver. She had directly thwarted a powerful, ruthless opponent. The fear was real, but so was a strange surge of adrenaline.

"So, what's next?" Ellie asked, her voice steady.

President Sterling leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. "Next, we tighten the net. Her expulsion will force Minister Chen to accelerate his plans. He'll either make a desperate move, or send in new assets. This is where our 'sting operation' comes into play. We need to lure him out, expose his entire network in the US, and finally, find that original ledger. It's the only way to permanently clear your father's name, Miss Chen, and dismantle his operation for good."

He then looked at Agent Miller. "Agent Miller, you will coordinate with Ambassador Li Mei to disseminate the decoy information. We'll use the microfilm as leverage. Make it seem like Miss Chen has just discovered its contents and is overwhelmed, looking for a way out, perhaps even willing to sell the information for her safety."

Ellie's eyes widened. "Sell the information? But... it's not real, is it?"

"The decoy will contain just enough real-looking but misleading data to be convincing," Ambassador Li Mei explained. "It needs to appear genuine, enticing enough for Minister Chen to risk sending someone new and high-level to retrieve it. And to silence you, Miss Chen." Her words, though professional, carried a clear warning of the danger.

"This is where you truly shine, Miss Chen," President Sterling added, a faint, almost wry smile touching his lips. "You play the part you've been so wonderfully performing all along: the slightly clumsy, overwhelmed cleaner who's stumbled into something far too big for her. Make it convincing. Make them believe you're vulnerable, isolated, and desperate. Every 'blunder' will be a calculated move. Every nervous glance, a performance."

Ellie swallowed hard. She had mastered accidental chaos. Now, she had to master intentional chaos. The thought was daunting, but the image of her father's name being cleared, of Minister Chen finally being stopped, hardened her resolve.

"I can do it, Mr. President," Ellie said, her voice firm. "I can be the most overwhelmed cleaner you've ever seen."

He nodded, a look of profound trust in his eyes. "I believe you, Miss Chen. More than anyone. Agent Miller, Ambassador Li Mei, prepare the decoy. Miss Chen, prepare for your most important performance yet. The White House is about to become a very grand, very dangerous stage." The quiet lull was definitively over. The game was on, and Ellie was the bait.