“Not quite,” Alec told her.
“Oh, come on. Who else wants to kill me? Simone? Her husband? The teenagers?” She grabbed a long swizzle stick and slid part of it under her cast.
“Cordelia, what are you doing?” Aiden asked, looking appalled.
She pulled the swizzle stick out. “It itches,” she explained before turning to Alec again. “Who’s after me now?”
“No one that I know of, but we are going to continue to be cautious until the stock is officially transferred to you, which will be in a couple of days.”
“Julian will try to stop it.”
“He won’t be able to,” Alec assured her. “Liam has your DNA results now. He has people who can make it happen.”
She absentmindedly reached for the swizzle stick again. Aiden stopped her. “You could lose one of those in there.”
She didn’t think it was a good idea to tell him she already had.
TWENTY-NINE
Congressman Mitchell Ray Chambers was prepared to dazzle his constituents. He had set up a press conference a week before the primary to remind the good people of Fallsborough that he was saving their town by working so diligently for the past year to get the Hamilton Hotel and Resort to Rock Point.
He hadn’t signed the contract Walker Madison had FedExed to him. He had cleverly scheduled the signing for a week after the primary was over. Chambers had agreed to accept a ridiculously low offer and had, in fact, suggested the amount, but he had no intention of ever signing the contract. He still believed he could get a considerably higher price, and now that Walker Madison was involved, he was more confident than ever. It was going to be much easier to manipulate the youngest brother. All Mitchell needed to do was convince his constituents that he had been willing to do whatever it took to make Fallsborough wealthy and prosperous. Then, once he had the primary in his pocket, he would do whatever it took to make himself wealthy and prosperous. He was absolutely certain, with the Madison brothers back at the negotiating table, he could bargain his way into a sweet deal. His constituents didn’t need to know any of those particulars, however.
Mayor Green didn’t stand a chance against him now, and he was assured of a reelection victory in November. Politics was all about manipulation.
He didn’t have to worry about his cousin Lester whining and complaining or embarrassing him in front of the cameras, because he’d bought him out and was now the sole owner of Rock Point. The high price he’d paid Lester was going to be well worth it.
He dressed in red, white, and blue for the press conference: a navy suit, a crisp white shirt, and a bright-red tie. He pinned a tiny American flag on his lapel and was ready. The press conference was choreographed in his mind. He had worked out how he would make his grand entrance, where he wanted the podium placed, and, most important, where the flag would be positioned. He wanted it behind him and a little to the left so that on camera the flag would be in every frame with him. He had even practiced a couple of different expressions in front of a mirror. He needed to look humble yet at the same time stately and intelligent. He would brag, of course, but it would be veiled behind his explanation of how hard he’d worked to get the hotel. He was sure he had it all figured out.
? ? ?
The double doors were open to the campaign office. Aiden stayed in the lobby out of sight, but he could see Chambers up on a small stage. A large crowd had gathered to hear what he had to say. Microphones and cameras were capturing every word. Aiden planned to wait until the questions began before walking in. He wished Cordelia were with him. She’d be as disgusted as he was with the congressman’s antics, trying to look self-deprecating while taking credit for everything but inventing the Internet. As he spoke, he kept putting his right hand inside his suit jacket over his heart. Was he trying to look like Napoleon? Worse than his phony smile was his speech. Every word out of his mouth was a lie. Every damn word. If Cordelia were standing at Aiden’s side, she’d want to challenge Chambers with facts and figures.
As Aiden stood there listening to all the empty campaign rhetoric, he couldn’t help but think how much the congressman and Julian Taylor were alike. They were both controlled by power and greed. Julian had proven he would do anything to hold on to his empire, and the congressman was proving he would do anything to get reelected. How long had he been dealing with people like Chambers? he wondered. It made him tired just thinking about it.
The congressman was ready for questions. Mayor Green pushed forward and raised her hand. “Congressman, we are all wondering if you have signed the contract with the Madisons for Rock Point.” Before he could answer, she continued. “Or is it going to be like the last time when you changed the terms and pulled out?”
His tone was condescending when he said, “I don’t know where you got that information, but it’s wrong. You should check your sources, Mayor, before you make accusations.”
He took another question on the other side of the room, determined to avoid eye contact with the mayor. The questions were all about the hotel and resort. How many jobs did he think would be available? How long did he think it would take to build?
Aiden could see the desperation in the local residents. Spencer was right. These hardworking people needed a break. He was amazed by some of the congressman’s answers. Chambers acted as though he’d drawn up the plans for the hotel and could even give them the dimensions for each of the rooms. He spoke with such authority.
The mayor drew his attention once again. She was now in front of the crowd, demanding with her hand waving in the air that he acknowledge her. “You haven’t answered my question,” she blurted when he had to stop talking to take a breath.
“What question did you want answered?” He sounded weary.
“Have you signed the contract with the Madisons? Last time we heard you changed your mind. It was on the news.”
“You can’t believe everything you see on television,” he said.
“Answer the question,” someone called out. “Did you sign it? Are we getting the hotel?”
“Of course you’re getting the hotel,” he scoffed.
“Did you sign the contract?” the mayor demanded once again.
The smile plastered on the congressman’s face was beginning to crumble. “No, I haven’t.”
The crowd turned on him in a heartbeat. Bolstering the smile again, he put his hands up and said, “Hold on, hold on. I’ve read the contract, and everything is in order. Walker Madison and I have decided we should meet in person and both sign. It’s the right thing to do. I let Walker set the date at his convenience. I know you all heard about his terrible car accident.” He abruptly stopped, swallowed loud enough for the microphone to pick up, and finally lost the plastic smile. Eyes wide, he watched Aiden Madison walking toward him.
The look on the congressman’s face was priceless, and Aiden once again thought that, if only Cordelia were here, she would be laughing now. She would also love what was about to happen.
“That’s it for today, ladies and gentlemen,” Chambers blurted. “I’ve got to hurry back to Washington for an important vote.”
Aiden stepped up to the microphone and promptly captured the crowd’s attention. They all knew who he was.
“My name is Aiden Madison, and I have a great surprise for you and for the congressman.” He scanned all the curious faces and glanced over at Chambers before continuing. “I have the contract with me, and you’ll get to watch both of us sign. My brothers and I are anxious to get started on this project, and I know you are, too.”