The ten days after the election flew by in a second. Severine couldn't believe the time had come for the transfer of power.

"Here comes the president's car. She has chosen a plated Citroën DS crossback like her predecessor, but hers is a hybrid."

"I'm not surprised. The president is often defined as an ecology ally and many citizens count on her to make significant changes in that direction," the commentator said to the viewers.

"Vous êtes prêtes madame?"

Even if she wasn't ready, the show had to go on.

Her car's door opened, and she stepped out. Severine felt a surge of determination. The palace was within reach, yet it seemed distant from where she stood.

Severine confidently donned a dark, presidential blue chapelet coat. Deliberately, she opted not to carry a bag, ensuring her hands were free for handshakes. This also presented a more modest silhouette that commanded attention. As for her hair, she chose a low side-parted chignon, exuding authority and purpose.

The visual impact projected a sense of gravitas.

She strode forward with the poise of a soldier. The world paused as the president made her way onto the red carpet under the watchful eyes of the guests and the army. Even the news commentators held their breath until Severine ascended the steps of the Elysee Palace.

"Madame."

"Monsieur."

The new and the old president shook hands.

Severine's handshake was firm. The exiting president noted that she didn't even have sweaty palms. Although the encounter was the first for both of them, Severine didn't seem impressed.

The man who stood before her was powerful, but his energy dwindled as the minutes passed, and Severine took charge of the palace.

Some people imagined the transfer of power was a simple discussion, but it was more significant than that. The protocol included the transfer of the nation's armament commands.

They went directly into an office that wasn't the golden office. The room resembled an interrogation room.

"Sorry for the discomfort. The tea will be for later," the exiting president said. It's better to get this over and done with."

A briefcase was presented to Severine. It was time to see if movies had got it right.

"Your codes to open the briefcase are unique. You must memorize them; we don't want them to end at the dry cleaners."

The banter wasn't meant to be funny; it referred to President François Mitterand, who forgot his codes in a pocket and ended up at the dry cleaners since no president was allowed to keep the codes on them in any way or form other than in their memory.

Severine opened the briefcase. Its contents weren't surprising, but it would disappoint Noëm, who imagined his mother holding the button of Frances's armament.

"This, madame, gives you direct and secured communication with the Ministry of Defense, the Jupiter bunker, the Navel base at Houilles, and the air base bunker at Taverny." The commander explained.

There was no red button to press, but the protocol for armament and military deployment was explained to Severine.

"You'll need the prime minister, the defense minister, and the chief of staff to activate anything. None are an option; all designated should be present."

Severine felt not only the pressure but also the weight of responsibility.

Power.

Severine gained a little more at that instant.

The two presidents spent almost half an hour discussing security protocol before taking a break in the garden.

"You're not ready for this." the exiting president said.

"Neither were you."

"No, I wasn't." The exiting president replied, looking at his feet, "I was immature and boastful. This function humbled me. There is nothing harder than being the president of a censorship vote. You're not the people's choice. You're a bad choice that people voted to avoid the worst. That's the truth about your election. The mirage of being something new will fade, and you will be alone."

Severine beamed, "Your words are inspiring, but there's a difference between you and me. I'm not afraid of the dark because that's where people like me grow and evolve. I do not dream of being loved or idolized. I'm here to do my duty. All I see around me are exchangeable suits. No one is irreplacable."

"They won't let you govern; you know that, don't you? As we speak, your party is getting ready to silence you."

"Please do not pity me. I chose to be president. One can't lead without the opposition. They won't slaughter me in the assembly's coliseum. I'm a spartan; I won't go down without causing damage."

The exiting president laughed. "You have more enemies than you imagine."

"Yes, isn't it exciting?" Severine exclaimed.

No, Severine wasn't a lamb or a wolf. She was either a honey badger, the most fearless animal capable of attacking bigger and more dangerous animals, or a jellyfish so brainless that dread didn't exist, the exiting president thought.

"I'm glad you're amused," the man said.

"Yes, it's funny to hear this coming from you."

"I didn't wither. I held through storms no other president has. I made the calls, and the country survived a pandemic and an economic crisis. I changed the country."

"Good for you; you've left me enough work to fill my term's agenda," Severine said mockingly.

The outgoing president could almost feel her invisible hand tapping on his shoulder. He looked Severine up and down. She had the confidence of an underdog that reminded him of his attitude when he was first elected. He realized everyone thought leading was easy, but the task was terrifying.

They left the garden, and Severine walked the former president to the Elysee's steps.

They shook hands again, signing the end of the handover, and the former got ready to walk away to his car under Severine's gaze, as tradition wanted when the president said. "Let me walk you out."

It was unexpected. Severine took the red carpet and accompanied him.

"What's the meaning of this?" The former president asked between gritted teeth that maintained his plastic smile.

"Nothing but propaganda," Severine answered.

There were two reasons for her gesture. One, she covered her tracks. Neither her party nor anyone could decode her actions. All they could do was speculate on whether she had his support. The second reason made Paul, her former spin doctor, chuckle in front of his phone screen. Severine stole the former president's thunder, for the last image people would hold of him had Severine in its frame.

None would remember his solemn walk. Most would retain the image of Severine showing her last respects and bidding farewell.

"By the way, I never said I'd do better. I promised I wouldn't do worse," Severine said as the former president climbed in his car.

The man smiled, happy to have left the lion's den.

Severine didn't watch the car leave. She turned on her heels and returned to the palace. She had fifteen minutes to change for her inauguration.

The president chooses a Roksanda Demetria cape midi dress in crimson red. It was her son's choice; "the cape makes you look like a superhero," Noëm said when she did the tryouts.

Severine liked the idea. She used all the symbolism possible to establish her legend. The cape covered one shoulder, slid down on the side, and finished its course, fading into a flamboyant golden tail, a color associated with liberalism.

"Madame nous devons partir."

Despite the new security diapositive, Faryil remained her bodyguard. The man was with her at every moment and entered the party hall for the ceremony with her.

There, she found Noëm, her father and girlfriend Laulati, and the Lafarge, her in-laws and husband.

"Et voilà la diablesse tout de rouge vêtue." Alexis whispered to his mother.

The man's eyes fled his former mistress, who stalked every one of his moves. Cara couldn't believe the man hadn't spoken to her since the second round of the presidential election.

"C'est un cauchemar." Alexis added earning him a, "tais-toi," from his mother.

Corinne always knew it would come to this. Severine was part of the ambitious women. She realized then that she never liked her daughter-in-law. Severine was brighter than her Alexis. She knew what she wanted from life, while Alexis still walked around in haram pants playing djembe on his college campus, hoping it would bring world peace.

Severine demonstrated that being fed with a golden spoon made one somewhat lazy.

Alexis took everything for granted, while Severine worked to grant herself everything.

And here she stood, accepting the president's lapel pinned on her by the grand chancellor of the Legion of Honor before being presented with the Grand Collar of the Legion of Honour on its velvet red coussin.

All listened as the chancellor said, "Madame la Presidente of the Republic, we recognize you as the Grand Master of the National Order of the Legion of Honour."

There was no oath.

Severine proceeded to the meet and greet of guests under her husband's and party members' greedy eyes before living the most anticipated moment, when she received military honors and drove down the Champs Elysee bathed in a radiating sun.

In New York, Jessica turned to her alarm clock again after turning to find an empty bed. Her husband's absence brought her to her living room door frame. From there, she observed her husband, too absorbed by the TV screen to notice her presence.

Severine Loketo.

Since 4 AM EDT, Matisse didn't even blink as he watched her. The man scrutinized the entire early morning edition of France's direct of her inauguration.

She's back to haunt him, thought Jessica, wondering if Severine had ever left her husband's mind.

"Well, there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. The handover went smoothly for President Lafarge. Don't you think, Aline?"

"All I can say is wow, the president was just breathtaking. That red dress cape dress will go down in history. She's a power dresser. I'm sure social media platforms are on fire right now."

"Romain, do you have a last comment concerning this investiture?"

"I'm sure I'm not the only one surprised to see the president accompany the former president to his car. It's the image I retain from this. We've had icier handovers, and there, Severine showed, let's say, some respect for her predecessor."

Mattise switched the TV off. Thank goodness it was Saturday. He didn't see himself going to work after the all-nighter he pulled. What was he saying? He wasn't tired. He was galvanized by what he saw. He couldn't believe Severine was president.

"Don't switch it off. It isn't finished right," Jessica said, making her husband jump.

"Jessica, I'm tired. I was going to come up."

"I want to watch. It's the French inauguration, right?"

"Jessica, there's no need."

"Yes, there's a need. Need enough for you to sneak out of bed to watch it. It should be worthwhile. I mean, you were a French senator. Your passion is mine," the woman said and came to snuggle up next to him. "Go on, turn it back on."

Matisse sighed, "The ceremony is over."

"I'm sure other channels are covering it." Jessica took the remote from the coffee table and switched to the mosaic channel. "Look, she's everywhere. Let's give you your eyes' worth." Jessica said with a smile before planting a kiss on Mattisse's cheek.