Chapter 503 - 233: Early Coronation
Monroe couldn’t make sense of it.
He was the Vice Governor, after all—the second-in-command of the State Government and a core member of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party’s Establishment Faction.
And Leo Wallace? He was just a local Mayor.
So what if he controlled that so-called Industrial Revival Alliance? It still operated within the legal framework of Pennsylvania. It still had to answer to the State Government.
The very fact that Leo was now here, asking him for help to pass a bill, proved that Leo’s power had its limits. It proved he needed a nod from Harrisburg.
But the young man’s demeanor was not that of a supplicant at all.
He looked like the one calling the shots, as if *he* were the Governor.
This dissonance made Monroe extremely uncomfortable.
But beneath that discomfort lay an even stronger greed.
’Governor.’
’The Governor of Pennsylvania.’
Controlling a budget of tens of billions of US Dollars, commanding the National Guard, wielding the power of pardon. A king in his own right.
Sensing Monroe was tempted, Leo dangled the bait.
"There’s one more thing."
"Pennsylvania is a Swing State. Whoever takes Pennsylvania takes the ticket to the White House."
"If you become Governor, if you successfully implement this healthcare reform and make it a model for all of America..."
"Then in the presidential election six years from now..."
Leo turned back and gave Monroe a meaningful look.
"You could very well set your sights on the highest office."
"After all, the man who can cure the chronic disease of the American healthcare system deserves to occupy that White House."
’President.’
That one word shattered Monroe’s psychological defenses.
His hands started to tremble slightly under the table.
It was a reaction to the surge of adrenaline.
Monroe glanced around his desolate office.
Ever since he lost the party primary for Senator, the place had been deserted.
He had been marginalized.
The Democratic National Committee now saw him as a failed investment and was no longer funneling any resources his way.
He could even sense that within the State Government, someone was deliberately purging his faction, transferring the people he’d placed in key positions away, one by one.
If he didn’t find a way to break out of this situation, he wouldn’t even have a ticket to the dance by the time the gubernatorial election came around in four years.
The young man before him—the very architect of his political Waterloo—was now his only lifeline.
But that’s politics.
As long as there are common interests, yesterday’s enemy is today’s ally.
He wanted power.
Real, absolute power.
"...Are you sure you can deliver the Rust Belt?"
Monroe’s voice was hoarse.
"I’m sure," Leo replied. "You just have to light the match, and I’ll make sure the fire spreads across the entire state."
Monroe closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
A few seconds later, he opened his eyes.
"Give me the draft."
Monroe extended his hand.
"I need to take another close look at it."
Leo smiled.
He slid the document across the table.
"Mr. Vice Governor. Oh, my apologies... I meant, our future Governor."
"A pleasure doing business with you."
Leo turned and walked towards the door.
"Leo."
Monroe’s voice came from behind him.
"If... if we lose."
"If we fail to force the Governor’s hand, if the insurance companies bury us both."
"What then?"
Leo stopped, his hand on the doorknob.
"We won’t lose."
Leo didn’t turn back.
"Because we have a hostage."
"What hostage?" Monroe asked.
"The thirteen million lives in this state."
Standing at the door, Leo looked back at Monroe.
"Get your speech ready, Mr. Governor."
"This time, you’re taking center stage."