“Governor, have there been other indications of commitment? What level of commitment has been offered?” I asked. Let the bidding begin.
“There have been offers. Signs of the trust and commitment needed,” he admitted.
“Governor, I can’t begin to determine the commitment necessary without knowing what else has been suggested.”
“Congressman, I think we’ve both been in business long enough to know I can’t simply give you a level and accept that you’ll do that plus a dollar.”
Don’t you dare compare yourself to me as a businessman, you idiot. I was eating guys like you for lunch long before I got into politics! “No, but I can make a few guesses, can’t I? I would expect the likeliest individuals, those with the assets to make such a commitment, would be able to invest perhaps $4 or $5 million. Am I at least in the proper area? I need to at least know something, Governor,” I responded.
He smiled at that. “And if you were correct in that, what would your response be?”
It was in the single digits, then. Probably all the info I would get. “I won’t get in a bidding war. I’ll give you a number. You can take it or leave it.”
“Of course.”
I rubbed my finger along the side of my jaw for a moment. This man was everything I despised in a politician, stupid and venal at the same time. Could I pay him enough to let me protect America from him? “Twenty.”
The twit’s eyes bugged out. “Twenty million dollars?” I was probably doubling his net worth.
“Of course, with that level of investment, of commitment on my part, I would be expecting an equal commitment from you. I would want to be included in all the major decisions, a chance to give you my thoughts on everything,” I cautioned.
“Absolutely, that goes without saying!”
“It won’t be a lump sum, either.”
“Oh?!” he answered warily.
“Unh, unh. Five now, five after being nominated at the convention, five after the election, and five after the inauguration.” I didn’t trust the man as far as I could throw him.
“That seems reasonable. When do you see this happening?”
“Do you have the account number?”
“What?”
I pulled out my cell phone. “Give me the account number and I can have the first five million wired to it. You’ll have confirmation by tomorrow.”
“Oh.” He thought about it for a moment. “I’ll have to get that for you.”
What an idiot! The man was not a mastermind of finance. “Tomorrow morning, then. I’ll make my preparations. You’ll get confirmation within 24 hours.”
“Excellent. I’ll call you later today.” He smiled and stood up. “Now, I think I need to make a few preparations.”
“Of course.” I stood up as well, and went to shake his hand. However, when he took my hand, I didn’t let go. “One thing, Governor, my word and my deals mean a lot to me. I’ve made a lot of deals over the years. I’m sure you heard what I told the Clinton team a couple of years ago, when they tried to break a deal. I think we can all assume I would be equally unhappy with any other deal being broken. I mean, it would show a lack of commitment, wouldn’t it?”
“I quite understand, Congressman Buckman, I quite understand,” he said, still smiling.
Don’t smile, asshole. You’ve just been had.
Chapter 127: A New Campaign
That night I had Marilyn come into my office with me and I told her what was happening. Not entirely, though — I didn’t tell her about the commitment, just that I was being selected. I didn’t do this until after the girls went to bed, but I didn’t want them to have any chance to overhear us. This was too insane to let them know. They would never be able to keep their mouths shut! Marilyn was simply astonished, since we had both come to the conclusion prior to this that I had no chance in the world of being named for anything whatsoever.
“You’re kidding me? When will this become official?”
“Not sure, exactly. I’m expecting a call from him tomorrow, and then we’ll be announcing it a few days later.”
Bush messengered me the account number the next day. I had then called Bob Seaver, who had already been warned about laundering the first five mill and who had run it into the account, although I didn’t tell him who was getting it. It wouldn’t show up until the next day (it never goes as fast as they show on the TV crime shows!) and we would make an announcement Tuesday the 11th. Bush’s people would handle that, and the details weren’t exact yet. That would give us almost three weeks until the convention.
“Well, won’t you be important then!” she teased.
“You know, us important guys have certain expectations,” I replied.
“Really? Just what kind of expectations?”
“Well, I mean, the kind of expectations that require some really serious effort to fulfill. I mean, really serious effort!”
“Oh? Just how serious?”
“Let’s just say that it might be a good idea to see if you can earn your way on to the Vice President’s staff. Remember Monica Lewinsky? I am figuring I will need to audition an intern or two!”
“Yuck! You are such a pig!” she protested.
We were in my office as I told her all of this, so once she began protesting, I grabbed her and we wrestled on the couch until I got her undressed, and then I showed her just how serious she needed to be. Afterwards, we repeated the demonstration in our bedroom.
I got a call from the Governor by lunchtime Friday that the transfer had gone through, and I had until Tuesday before the announcement. That was still being sorted out, but I would get the details Monday morning. In the meantime, I needed to make certain preparations. I called Marty and told him to shag ass to the house for dinner that evening, and then repeated the call to Brewster McRiley. He complained that he was in Chicago, and I told him I didn’t care. He needed to be in Westminster that night, and then I asked him if he wanted me to send the G-IV. That got his attention and he agreed to come, so I sent the plane. I called Cheryl and told her to bring her husband as well, and I called Millie Destrier, Jack Nerstein, and Macy Adams. Finally, we told the girls they had to stay home that evening; they couldn’t go out with any friends. They wanted to argue, but we told them it was for a serious meeting and they needed to be there as adults, which both intrigued and flattered them. They were still fifteen but not for long. They would turn sixteen before the convention.
I couldn’t see spending a lot of time cooking and playing host tonight. I called Nick Papandreas and asked him to make up a buffet platter, a big one, and I’d come over and pick it up. I left Holly and Molly with their mother to help make some iced tea and lemonade, and clean the house. They must have sensed it was important, since for once they didn’t argue with us. We expected people to start arriving any time after six, although Brewster might be the last to show.