Free Seduced By The Candidate (The Candidate, #1) by Beth Klein Page A

the
knowledge to successfully deliver and defend family values...I say that I’m the
Republican candidate and that I have the support of the wonderful Evangelist
movement. What more backing does he want? Nothing, NOTHING is more important to
me than family. It is the bedrock that we all base our lives on and without it
we would never have the strength to grow and develop. Without a solid family
unit, our dreams would remain just that...something to be hoped for, but never
attained.
    When I was recovering from my injuries in 2003, I had given up
hope and very nearly the will to live. There was one thing that gave me to the
strength to carry on, one thing that made me realize that I still had a life to
live and something to offer my fellow man. Without the love and support of my
father, I might not be standing before you today and in six weeks when we
celebrate a successful campaign, I think it is
important for you to know the debt of gratitude that I owe him...a debt of
gratitude anyone who votes for me owes him. He is the strongest man I know, not
because of how much he can lift, but because of the belief in his convictions
and the love he has for his family. President Morton, if you think I have
little concept of family values, or the understanding and ability to promote
and uphold them, I suggest you give General William Goulding Senior a call.”
    This time it took at least five minutes for the applause to die
down and it gave Goulding a chance to look at is campaign team and judge their
reactions. John Lyndsey watched on in awe and even though he had helped
Goulding write the speech he could never have envisaged the power and the
effect that their words would instill. He gave Goulding a
thumbs up and desperately hoped that he could close out the speech in as
much of an enigmatic fashion as it had begun.
    Charlotte was also spellbound and had finally managed to dab
the tears from the corner of her eyes without them spoiling her mascara. Now
she understood why so many people were willing to put up with the mood swings,
the insults and the general bullshit attitude. It wasn’t the impressive
salaries, it wasn’t his charm or good looks, it was
the power that he exuded. He was a gladiator of his chosen arena, a young pretender
to the crown that had all of the talent and prestige to back up the boasting
and the hype.
    At that point, she knew without a question of a doubt that she
was looking into the eyes of the next President of the United States and his
power had ensnared her completely. She knew in that moment this was the man she
wanted to give herself to. This was the man that she wanted to take her
virginity and make her a woman and as innocent and inexperienced as she was,
she burned with the intensity of her volition.
    Goulding raised his hands and quieted the crowd. He was ready
to close this speech and forever cement himself in Memphis history.
    “Please ladies and gentlemen, you’re too kind. I have a few
last things to say. Your faith in me is humbling and I want you to know that I
will never do anything to make you think that it was misplaced or ill-advised.
Like the rest of you, I have to answer to man’s rules on a daily basis and I
embrace that fully as a law-abiding citizen of this great nation, but that
isn’t the highest power that I answer to.
    Even the people that I continue to serve with my very heart and
soul cannot over-shadow the omnipotent power and glory of our ultimate
enforcer. First and foremost in everything I do, I answer to God and it is only
through his strength and good will that I stand before you today. He had a plan
for me and it wasn’t to die in Afghanistan. It wasn’t to succumb to fear and
depression when faced with my injuries. It wasn’t to fail in my rise through
the political ranks.
    It was to sit at the head of this great nation and lead its
people forward into a tomorrow filled with promise and possibility. It was to
lead you all into a period of never before seen