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“It’s kind of my job. I’m a political bundler. I’m the guy you hire to collect contributions from donors on behalf of a campaign.”
“I see,” Shy said to him, as the bartender returned with her drink.
“I’m Jordan Bryson. And you are?”
“Not interested,” Shy said, and walked away with her drink. She hadn’t been back at the table long before Black returned, and it wasn’t too much longer after that when the lights dimmed, and the speeches began.
“At this time, it is my great pleasure and privilege to introduce to you tonight’s keynote speaker, Congressman Martin Marshall.”
Once the applause quieted, Martin stepped to the microphone. “Moses was walking down the street when he bumped into George W. Bush. ‘Hello,’ Bush said. ‘Nice weather we’re having, huh?’ Moses took one look at the President, turned, and ran in the other direction. The next day Moses was walking down the same street and there was Bush. Again, he tried to initiate a conversation. The same thing happened. Moses turned and ran away again. Bush was tired of this bizarre treatment, so the next time Moses ran away from him, Bush followed. When he caught up, he asked Moses what was wrong. Moses said, ‘The last time I talked to a bush … I spent forty years in the desert,” Martin said to a room full of laughter and applause.
“But seriously though my friends, we need to talk. We need to have a constructive conversation about the things that matter to people like you and I,” he said, and began to list his accomplishments. “We’ve been able to do all that in just a few short years. But the work isn’t done. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done before we can rest in the promised land.” Martin paused for the smattering of applause.
“But what about the rest of our great state? That is the next conversation that needs to be had. Can we take what we’ve been able to accomplish together and take it statewide? That is the question,” he said, holding up one finger and then Martin went on to restate his accomplishments in futuristic terms that would apply statewide to a round of applause. Then he quieted the crowd.
“Now with all due respect for retiring Senator, Nicholas Riedel, I have to say, quite frankly, his voting record on the things that you and I care about is dismal at best and disgraceful at worst. So, with that, I’d like to say thank you sir for your service to the great state of New York, but it’s time for you to go!”
The crowd rose to their feet and gave the retiring senator a long and loud send off. Once again, Martin raised his hands to calm his supporters.
“So, the question still stands. Can we take what we’ve been able to accomplish together over the last few years in this city that we all love and build on those successes for the entire state of New York?” He paused and looked around the ballroom. “Well, the answer to that question is yes. As a great man once said, yes, we can. Yes, my friends, we can. And that is why I am here to announce the formation of an exploratory committee.” Martin smiled and leaned on the podium. “That’s right folks, I am thinking about running to proudly represent the great state of New York in the United States Senate.”
Everybody in the room rose to their feet and gave Martin a thunderous standing ovation.
Chapter Twenty-six
Geno put his pants on and then he picked up the tray and put it outside the room. He looked down the hall, waved to his man at the elevator and then went back in the room with Valencia. They hadn’t left the room since they checked in a few days ago, and that seemed to be alright with the two of them.
She doesn’t leave your sight until you see me, was what the boss of The Family told Geno to do, and he had no problem following orders. Especially since Valencia had been naked just about the entire time she’d been there.
When he shut the door, Geno turned and looked at Valencia standing in front of the bed. She licked her lips, put two fingers in her mouth and let her hands roam over her body. Her nipples were hard, so she pinched and squeezed them a little bit. Geno smiled, took off his pants and started for the bed. Valencia was just about to crawl up on the bed when there was a knock at the door.
“Who is it?” Geno asked, reaching out to caress Valencia’s thigh.
“Adrianna Grey. I’m looking for Valencia DeVerão.”
Damn. “Just a minute, Adrianna,” she said, and grabbed the hotel robe. As Geno picked up his clothes and went in the bathroom, Valencia opened the door.
“Good morning, Adrianna,” she said, and without speaking Adrianna walked by her, wheeling a large Away suitcase, satchel over her shoulder and an arm full of file folders. “What are you doing here?” Valencia asked, angrily.
“It’s afternoon, and you have work to do,” she said, walking straight to the desk in the suite and began laying out the work she’d brought with her. “You haven’t been to the office in days, so I brought the office to you.”
“You’re right, as always” she said, and calmed herself. With everything that was going on in her world, she was lucky that she had Adrianna to keep the business going in her absence.
“And I stopped by your house and I got you some clothes and other essentials that you need.”
“Thank you, Adrianna. What do you have for me?” Valencia asked as she opened the suitcase.
“I brought you the contracts for RSK, Inc, Prestige Capital, and Structural Engineering Contractors.”
“That the one the Pooja was
working on?” Valencia asked holding up a Brunello Cucinelli belted denim jumpsuit that Adrianna had brought for her.
“No, Structural Engineering is Drew’s account. Pooja is working with Atlantic Preservation Systems. Her proposal is in this file, awaiting your review and signature,” she said, holding it up. “I rescheduled all of your in-person appointments, and once you have reviewed the calls that you need to return, I will schedule those appropriately.”
“Thank you, Adrianna,” Valencia said, standing in front of the mirror, holding the Mosaic Blue Zuhair Murad sheer long-sleeve mock-neck wide leg jumpsuit in front of her.
“I think that’s everything,” Adrianna said, and once they had completed their review, she left Valencia to her work and Geno finally came out of the bathroom.
