I also go ahead and agree with Liam, "Count me in."
We say our good byes and they walk out of the office. I sit back for a moment in my chair and think about how easy it was to speak with both of them. It was all so cordial. Hell, even the meeting was good. Liam is right. We actually are getting somewhere. We’re going to get this deal done. This couldn’t have been more different from our encounter at the Harvard Club. I mean, one minute, I'm putting my fist into Liam's face, and the next, we're making dinner reservations.
I remember my impending meeting with Jason, Chief Strategist, and I snap my laptop closed and go to my desk. Vivian and Liam have left. I push the button to my intercom to summon my secretary.
"Cheryl, you can let Jason in now."
As if waiting for the word, Jason, my Chief Strategist, bounds in. He's always been a high-strung person, but today he seems especially frazzled. When he turns his head, his body bounces along sharply with his every movement.
With him is my Press Secretary, Michele.
She looks up at me. "Have you seen the news Governor?"
"I just got out of a meeting. I haven't seen anything," I reply.
"Well then, you better crawl out from whatever rock you're buried under and watch this," she says, walking over to a nearby television. She clicks it on, and I watch as the screen comes to life.
A reporter is speaking in a hurried tone. "Again, if you’re just joining us, we have breaking news being reported by the New York Daily Journal of yet another scandal in Albany. That’s right. New York State has had its share of political mischief, but this time, all levels of government seem to be involved. Political operatives on both parties are outraged in what they say is some of the worst abuses of power this state has ever seen. Revolving around Governor Andrews and his decision to block the investment of several factories from the Boltiador family and further move more jobs to China, inside sources tell me that a deal is being put into place that would do just that."
Well, it’s not that bad, actually.
"At the heart of this decision is a desire that has nothing to do with government, but a desire to be romantically involved with the state’s junior Senator to Washington, Vivian Hawthorne," the reporter cont
inues.
Okay. That might be pretty bad.
"The Governor has been in a very unorthodox mood lately, acting in a very strange manner according to those close to him. Last week, he was involved in a fight that led to a temporary arrest in New York City. And now, sources confirm that he’s working with the Mayor of New Kingston to find a politically expedient way to move 10,000 would be jobs from the state and send them to China," the reporter continues.
Yeah, this isn’t looking that good. They don’t understand, that’s not what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to figure out a workaround. Maybe not bring over the highest polluting operations but more skilled work.
"The Governor is also being implicated in revealing his plans and working in concert with Chinese Communist Party leaders in secret," the reporter concludes.
Okay now that is bad.
"We’ll have more after these messages," the reporter says as the news cuts to GEICO commercial.
"I’ve never been so relieved to know I could save 15% on my car insurance by switching to GEICO."
"What the hell is going on Governor?" Michele asks, her brows furrowed in worry.
How has the media caught wind of this? I'm wracking my brain and nothing makes sense unless … Vivian and Liam are the only people who would know about this conversation. Could that really be true?
I don't know Michele," I say, shaking my head. And that's the truth. I really don't know how in the hell this has been leaked.
"Well, you better figure it out, and fast. You're going to be racing against the clock on this one. We're going to need to come up with a new technique to manage this one. As two of your senior advisors, I have to say that this isn't casting you in a favorable light with the public." I watch as she places both hands on her hips defensively.
"Don't you think I know that?"
"Well, you seen so nonchalant," Michele shrugs. "You can't sit here and expect everything to be OK."
"Is that what you call this? If so, you've been fooled," I growl in irritation. "I'm anything but calm. I'm downright outraged."
"We need to avoid any further negative media coverage," Michele says.
Fine. I hate to do this. But I’m going to have to.
"Okay, listen, lock it down then," I say to Amy. "No communication inside or out until this blows over. I have a dinner with Vivian and Liam…"