Seduced By The Candidate (The Candidate, #1) (25 page)

Still, he could not yet allow himself to lower his guard and
enjoy the moment. So that his tense nervous mood didn’t spoil the overall sense
of exhilaration, he retired to his own office and switched on the television.
The election coverage special had been ever present as background noise, but he
wasn’t really focusing on it, preferring to lose himself in his own private
reverie.

When the flawlessly beautiful anchorwoman announced that the
program was being interrupted by a special news broadcast, his interest piqued.
He concentrated on the program wondering if this was the news that he had been
waiting for.

* * *

“We interrupt this
broadcast to bring you some breaking news and something that had it not been
for the events currently taking place across America, would have guaranteed the
headlines in tomorrow’s tabloids.

What you are seeing are
events that took place around forty-five minutes ago, when police officials
arrested all three managing directors of the firm Quest Realtors. Although
officials haven’t yet confirmed what the
trio have
been charged with, our sources have suggested that they could be as serious as
coercion, blackmail, money laundering and even murder.

Quest has become
something of a household name recently, with a string of lucrative acquisitions
and business deals that have made the company millions of dollars in pre-tax
profits. All three men have labeled the accusations as ridiculous and vowed to
fight any charges that are brought against them.
 

We hope to bring you the
full story and a more detailed update of events shortly and understand that
several of the nation’s newspapers will be running the story in their early
print editions tomorrow. Whatever the truth behind this story, it would seem
that there are still plenty of awkward questions to be answered and we will
continue to monitor events closely.

Now we return you to the
scheduled program and the run in for the 2012 presidential election.”

* * *

“Well, well, well…looks like Brian actually did it,” thought
Goulding with a smile and considered ruefully that for the first time in a long
time he would be more than willing to share the limelight and the headlines
with someone else!

The weight that he had felt on his shoulders for so long had
finally been lifted and he felt like his whole life lay ahead of him,
glittering and full of promise. Goulding rose from behind his desk, switched
off the television and adjusted his tie, so that once again he was the
immaculate face of the Republican Party. Satisfied that his appearance
reflected that of his position, he opened the inner office door and went out to
join his loyal campaign team.

Goulding slowly navigated the room, shaking hands, clasping
shoulders affectionately and even embracing a slightly embarrassed John Lyndsey
with real warmth and affection. As he graciously accepted a warm round of
applause, the room suddenly fell silent and all eyes turned to the big screen
that had been erected in the corner of the office. He had been so pre-occupied
with the events of the past four months that he had completely lost track of
the time and now everything that he had ever worked for would culminate in a
single moment of truth.

He had the woman of his dreams and the most powerful position
in the civilized world in the palm of his hands, and God willing, with his
acceptance speech he would introduce Charlotte to the world. He would address
the criticism and bad feeling and slowly but surely demonstrate that a piece of
paper and a ring were merely material goods, and that the sanctity of
commitment and love were all that actually mattered.

Overcoming horrendous injuries and emerging better and stronger
had been hard, rising through the political ranks and winning the presidency
had been harder. Could he take on the values of the religious masses and
persevere? Was he strong enough to change a two millennia old dictate? Of
course he could, after all he was William Goulding and overcoming ridiculous
odds was what he did best!

Although he watched the glamorous anchor woman, he was
completely lost in his own thoughts and he didn’t actually hear the name when
she announced it, not that it mattered. The room erupted in a cacophony of
noise that was so loud and violent, it was almost oppressive. As the initial
roar died down, Goulding could make out exuberant cheering and raucous applause
and he knew that he had done it. He was the next President of the United States
of America, the most powerful man on the planet and there was nothing that he
couldn’t do.

The Candidate Book #2

Book #2 will dig deeper into the relationship of William and
Charlotte. Can they make it as boyfriend and girlfriend in the white house?