Hi. I took a hatchet to this story because I thought I lost my grip on the plot. If it is too political, find another story. Enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-Five:
They were in Orlando practicing debates. The convention had cut Lang's lead down to five points. Reid was watching Miranda and he could see she was getting frustrated. She attacked every question with vigor and showed up the various stand-ins that were used. At one point, she paused made eye-contact with him. She felt like she had lost.
Her campaign manager sighed impatiently.
"You're doing fine Miranda," Fleming said. "Just one more round of questions."
Miranda glared at her. "It doesn't matter WHITNEY!" I've already lost," she said furiously. "Five points is too much to try to gain in this length of time."
"So, are you going to just give up?" Fleming said. "A lot of people have dedicated a lot of time to this campaign."
"I'm just tired," she said.
Then it hit Reid. It was a risk, but was what his wife needed to hear.
"Miranda," he said. "What about the King's Gambit?"
She looked at him thoughtfully. Then she smiled.
"I love it," she said.
"Really?" Reid asked.
"I'm tired a being a pawn," she said fiercely. "I'm done playing games."
"Would someone care to explain what you two are talking about?" Fleming said.
"I'm going to sacrifice everything," Miranda said excitedly. "Everything for you."
"We'll see where life takes us from there," Reid said. "It is time to make new rules."
"For how to win?" she asked.
"What winning means," Reid said.
"I'm still waiting for an explanation."
Reid turned to Fleming. "We're going to play the King," he said with a smile.
…
Lang was quickly reviewing notes before the first debate. His chief of staff was with him in a prep room.
"She's going to play it fierce Sir," Roderick said. "You need to look calm and treat her with respect."
He nodded. "I know."
An assistant appeared. "Sir, Reid's camp has a new energy to it. It is kind of surprising."
"She's probably just having fun," Lang said. "Reid ran a great campaign. It promises to be a great show."
The assistant didn't look convinced. "We'll see."
A producer appeared. It was time.
Lang got on stage and saw Miranda. The assistant was right. She was glowing with a new level of energy. They both stepped forward and shook hands as camera flashes went off.
"Good luck Miranda," he said with his signature smile.
"You too Sir," she said with a little more energy.
They took their positions behind podiums and the microphones were turned on.
"You will each be given two minutes for your opening remarks," the moderator Tim Barber said. said. "Mr. President, we'll begin with you."
"Thank you, Tim. And thank you, Octavian University for being such a terrific host for this historic event. I believe America has never been stronger. Our path to greater growth has never been clearer. I feel I have done my best to be the leader you need me to be and I think I am the only choice going forward. Give credit where it is due in that Congresswoman Reid ran a terrific campaign. But I believe my record shows that I am the person who can do the most in guiding this country through and good and bad times during the next four years. Thank you."
"Your turn congresswoman," Barber said.
"First I'd like to echo the acknowledgements made by the President. It feels great to be here and I am glad to have you Tim as our moderator. This is indeed a historic moment," she paused and took a breath. "Because I am going to share with you an ugly truth about politics that Lang nor I want to acknowledge. I want edto run for president but not against President Lang. But William Snyder "the King of the Hill," wanted me to. He threatened to ruin my ability to push legislation if I didn't run. By admitting this I might be losing your vote, but polling shows I already have. It is time to make a difference. President Lang, I will not accept your credit because I am not done running the campaign and you have not seen fierce from me yet."
Lang looked into Miranda's eyes and saw it. The fury of being stuck in a no-win situation. She willing to risk angering the king to finally gain some choice in her future. It was a risk and he admired her for doing so despite himself.
"Mr. President the first topic is the environment. You have one minute."
"Staying on topic," he said with a warm smile. "I think we can do better and I have plans and that more feasible and well-rounded than what the congresswoman is proposing. Measures that are more likely to be implemented by congress. Yes, we need to invest in clean energy and we have and will continue. We will also continue to monitor the effects of climate change. We are doing everything we can at this point."
"You're turn congresswoman."
"When people die while your president, you mourn them. But who mourns the Iberian lynx or the Sumatran Orangutan? You made a deal with Congressman Coyne to use climate statistics from Barwell communications, whose CEO you golf with on the weekends to back your case to not further limit our eco footprint. In the three year since you made that deal these animals have gone extinct. You may have not killed those animals but you played a role in their deaths."
"I'm not an animal killer!" Lang shouted before he could stop himself.
"Every time you refuse to do something meaningful about the environment you are slowly killing some form of life Sir," she said confidently.
Lang was angry now. He deserved more respect. He demanded it.
"Are you really here to commit political suicide because you can't win against me?"
"I plan on changing what it means to win Sir. The business projections were positive even before you came into office. You promised to "give" an executive order to the finance chair if he used his influence to burry and dispute these projections until after you won."
Barber looked like he wanted to intervene but Lang wouldn't have it.
"You're going share ever dirty secret about the hill aren't you because you can't win. How petty."
"What is petty is that we make these deals that affect our country in ways that only work to OUR advantage. Not the people. Yes, I am going to figuratively burn down Capitol Hill. It is time to start fresh. Let the people the decide this election!"
Miranda turned demurely to Barber. "I'm sorry Tim, about the interruption. Where were we?"