America 1982-Chapter 524 - 102: Making a Pact_3
The crafty Bill had been quietly observing the two all along, not intervening even when their conversation took on a slightly explosive tone. It wasn’t until he was sure David took a step back that he moved forward with a hint of regret and deftly changed the subject.
He actually had been looking forward to Tommy enraging David, and then to David teaching Tommy a lesson in Miami, because then the old man would owe him another favor.
Unfortunately, the sly old dog saw through his and Diane’s little schemes. Indeed, he was irritated by Tommy’s response, but once he realized that neither he nor Diane had stepped forward immediately, he keenly sensed that Tommy’s latter words could very well be a trap they had set, meant to provoke him into making the situation worse, and then, of course, he would owe the couple yet another big favor. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
Thinking of this, Bill felt somewhat vexed with Tommy; the guy was too mature, his earlier conversation not befitting a youthful spirit, so even a slight shift in emotion could easily alert the old foxes. It wasn’t like when Stephen and the couple performed their double acts before, where every time, a politician would be fooled by an enraged Stephen and end up owing a favor.
Seeing that David Kennedy didn’t lose his temper, Tommy quietly passed an apologetic look to Bill and then went over to Odelia, inviting his girlfriend to dance with him on the dance floor.
Once Tommy had left, Hillary approached with Stephen, talking while they walked. Only then did David turn to the couple with some dissatisfaction and said, "Even if it was one of your little tricks, that young man’s attitude was too arrogant. I forgot when was the last time I encountered such a boastful country bumpkin."
"Of course, it was me. I’m a country boy too, remember?" Bill said with a smile. "But you’d better watch your own arrogance, David, because Tommy is stronger than you think he is."
"Is that so?" David laughed.
Stephen, who had remained silent up to now, wrapped an arm around Gina and said casually, "Yes, if you want to try and start trouble with him, let me tell you the first hurdle of the game: Bill, Diane, and many influential figures from the military Democratic Party will be the first ones to have a chat with you about the tens of millions, or even more, in compensation you’ll have caused them to lose."
"That’s an exaggeration, Stephen. He’s not you." Upon hearing Stephen’s words, David laughed. He was quite familiar with Stephen; after all, starting from Stephen’s grandfather, the Binn Family had been major donors to the Democratic Party, Stephen’s father even serving as Assistant Secretary of Health during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Nearly every Democrat serving in Congress had received campaign donations from the Binn Family, including David Kennedy’s own boss, former Florida Governor and current Senator Bob Graham.
So even if Stephen was young and brash, it seemed justifiable to David. After all, anyone who had that many senators and representatives as their strong-arm men had the right to be arrogant.
Stephen downed his drink in one gulp and then, holding Gina, headed to the dance floor: "Of course he is not me, Mr. Kennedy. The second hurdle is me; the game’s second round would have me stopping all donations to the Democratic Party this year, and then you’d need to go to the Democratic National Committee and explain in detail to all those Democratic members of Congress who hadn’t received donations why Stephen Binn had stopped the substantial contributions to the Democratic Party. That is, of course, assuming you haven’t committed suicide or met with an accidental death by the end of the first round."
David Kennedy’s face changed color, and Stephen turned back to look at him, laughing: "Just a joke, a lesson I learned from Tommy. That guy always likes to scare people like that."
After saying that, he slid into the dance floor holding Gina.
Hillary smiled and repeated Stephen’s words: "Just a joke, David, don’t take it to heart."
"What else can I say? Of course, send the liaison secretary over and have Rona’s team follow their instructions." David Kennedy sighed and spread his hands: "No wonder the guy didn’t want to talk about anything else but for the liaison secretary to join his team. Now I get it—it’s because of you and your husband playing his advocates, arrogantly tossing Rona the leftovers."
