America 1982-Chapter 531 - 105: No Cubans_2
Whistles and crude laughter burst forth all at once, with a veteran in the front row shouting in satisfaction, "Just that look alone is enough for me to support Jeff ’til the day I die!"
Gina let out a delightful laugh, like the chime of silver bells. She spun in place, her steps light, causing her skirt to flare and revealing her round and toned legs. She then quoted the words Marilyn Monroe said when entertaining the troops, "Happy belated Valentine’s Day, boys! I’ll see you all back in America!"
With that, Gina put two fingers to her lips and blew a kiss to everyone before hurrying after Jessica, leaving behind a group of veterans savoring the moment.
Backstage in the makeup room, Marcus personally touched up Jeff’s makeup to ensure his face looked more rugged on camera. Jeff, eyes closed, repeated lines under his breath—clearly rehearsing the script Tommy and Martin had drilled into him. Martin stood blocking the makeup room door, his back to the corridor as he watched Jeff and said:
"Just like during rehearsal, relax, Jeff."
"Where’s Tommy?" After silently running through a section of his script, Jeff opened his eyes and, seeing only Martin, asked.
"I’m always with you, Jeff," came Tommy’s voice in his ear just as he asked.
...
Page pushed open the door, carrying a glass of water. She placed it next to Tommy, who stood silently by the window enjoying the night view with his hands in his pockets.
"Jim called to say there has been some upheaval on KeyBank’s board. They think removing Odelia now, along with Jim’s job shift, is your plan to find a scapegoat and escape after gutting KeyBank. Jim said he didn’t explain it, but once Stephen heard, he went over to smooth things out with them himself. He convinced them with his family’s credit and told Jim not to disturb your vacation. Jim says you owe Stephen one."
"Stephen trusts that I won’t harm him," Tommy replied, taking a sip of water. "It’s not time to explain yet, just wait a little longer—it’ll be soon. Besides, let’s focus on tonight’s little game for now."
After saying so, he turned around to survey the room’s layout. The room could practically be considered a miniature broadcasting studio. There were six televisions on, all opened to the sound and picture, each displaying a different angle from one of the six cameras in the studio. During the live broadcast, the cameras would switch to a close-up of whoever was speaking or capture audience reactions in real-time for the TV viewers.
While Jeff in makeup had only Martin and Marcus for company, Tommy’s current location in an office on the second floor of WLRN-TV had more protection. Outside, Page would lean against the corridor wall napping, while Martin’s three brothers stood guard—one on each side of the door with arms crossed, another with a bandage wrapped around his head, standing at the stairwell entrance to ensure no one disturbed Tommy.
This office was provided by Rosario Kennedy. Before marrying David Kennedy, her former husband, Gustavo Andrew, was the news director for this Miami TV station.
Through the television, Tommy could clearly see and hear the host had taken his seat, announcing the rules for this live primary broadcast. At the same time, he was reminding the audience in the studio to keep quiet, hold back from clapping or talking casually, so as not to disrupt the candidates’ performances or introduce irrelevant noise that could prevent the TV audience from focusing on the candidates.
There were seven podiums set up for the seven Democratic Party candidates who would officially appear tonight. After announcing the rules, the host signaled for the audience to welcome the candidates with applause. For the voters in the Eighteenth District, except for two or three wealthy candidates they had previously seen on television, newspapers, or billboards, they might be seeing the rest for the first time. Therefore, the host would introduce each candidate’s basic information in turn.
Tommy, however, already knew all about these seven individuals by heart.
The candidate leading the party’s internal polls, former Vice Mayor of Miami, Rosario Kennedy.
Ranked second in the party’s internal polls, the niece of former Congressman Claude Pepper, Joanna Pepper.
Ranked third in the party’s internal polls, an attorney from Milton Law Firm in Liberty City in the Eighteenth District, founder of the North Miami Black Community Coalition, Gerard Richman.
Ranked fourth in the party’s internal polls, a pipe maintenance worker from Miami’s East District in the Eighteenth District, a veteran, Jeff Raven.
Ranked fifth in the party’s internal polls, Chairman of the North Miami Black Employment Opportunity Committee from Little Haiti in the Eighteenth District, an insurance agent, James Meg.
Ranked sixth in the party’s internal polls, the owner of a furniture store from North Miami in the Eighteenth District, Raoul Wright.
Ranked seventh in the party’s internal polls, a lifeguard, a model, and an actor in adult films from Miami’s East District in the Eighteenth District, Andy Hogan.
As the seven candidates took their positions behind their respective podiums, the host cut to the chase and opened the envelope in front of him, saying:
"The issues for tonight are the key concerns of the voters in the Eighteenth District. I am honored to represent them and ask these questions. I promise not to let them down, to inquire earnestly, and I hope that the candidates will respond directly and clearly, allowing the voters in the Eighteenth District to understand your visions and values. The first segment deals with economic and employment issues in the Eighteenth District, very practical concerns that all residents care about. Let’s proceed with our Q&A starting from left to right and giving precedence to the ladies. We’ll begin with you, Mrs. Kennedy. Why do you believe you can bring change to the Eighteenth District’s steadily declining economic environment, as well as provide employment opportunities for its residents?"
