But that was all Young had to smile about for the next few minutes.
Peterson began his conversation with the ambassador in a congenial manner. The two men discussed their families, and Peterson mentioned how difficult it was on his wife to be traversing the country at so many political rallies.
“But it’s worth it,” Peterson said. “And she knows that. She wants to make America an even better country and knows I’m the man to help set that in motion.”
“I’ve only spoken with your wife on a couple occasions, but I believe she’s right,” the ambassador said. “However, I would also add that I think you’re also going to be a good leader for the entire world. We need some men like you to restore faith in government.”
Young sneered as he witnessed the exchange.
Why don’t they just kiss already?
“I appreciate your willingness to speak with me today,” the ambassador continued. “As you know, we are behind in some areas of technology, though you will never hear anyone in our government admit that. We are also ahead in other area. Ultimately, I believe we need each other. I know that you have become a successful businessman in your own right, but deep down you are still a technologist at heart. I want to know if you think there are ways our countries can partner together to increase technological platforms all over the world and bring more learning tools to people in less developed nations.”
Peterson smiled and nodded knowingly. “This is one area I’m excited about. We need good partners who are committed to making investments in foreign nations so that we level the playing field, so to speak. I think it’s important for someone toiling away in rural Zambia without access to schools to be able to gain an education in some other shape or form. Or even the child in Haiti who can’t afford the burdensome cost of school—how will they learn? There are great tools being developed right now that can address some of those issues. We would love to have some nations partner with us on a venture like this. Instead of exporting our brand of democracy to the world through warfare, I’m excited about sharing knowledge in a peaceful manner. This could really bring about the kind of peace the whole world desires right now.”
Young felt his stomach sink as Peterson struck the right note in his conversation with the ambassador, one that voters, who had tuned in to watch Peterson fail spectacularly, witnessed in what appeared to be a voyeuristic venture. If this was how Peterson acted in private with foreign dignitaries, he just closed the deal with the American public. According to Blunt, the nature of Peterson’s conversation with the Russian ambassador was supposed to be about forging allies to control their respective governments, not a groundbreaking summit. The fact that such a meeting was illegal could be seized upon by Young, but it’d just make him look like a political buffoon in light of how the conversation unfolded. Young sighed and shook his head, unable to deny that his slim chance to direct the narrative of the last few weeks of the campaign had all but vanished.
Then Peterson nearly obliterated every shred of goodwill he’d just engendered in a jarring display of bravado. He shook hands with the ambassador and watched him exit the room before Peterson walked right up to the camera. Looking directly at it, he delivered a fiery message for Young.
“I don’t know how many people are watching this live stream, but I suspect it numbers in the hundreds of thousands,” Peterson began. “And you all tuned in today because my opponent, Noah Young, worked behind the scenes to set me up. He abused his power and position to navigate the dirty back channel waters of politics to attempt to expose me as some kind of political neophyte orchestrating a sinister plot with our supposed enemies. However, the truth is Noah Young is the one being exposed today as the same old tired bureaucrat that our country has grown tired of, the kind of man who bullies his way to power.”
Young’s eyes widened as he watched Peterson excoriate him personally in such a public manner.
“Earlier today, officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigation informed me that someone with political ties to Young rigged this very meeting room with hidden cameras in an attempt to live stream what you were all privy to today. But as you can see, this wasn’t what was advertised. You likely came here to see me strike some under-the-table deal on terrorism with Russia, but instead you found out the true reason for this meeting—for the betterment of the world.
“And that’s what my presidency is going to be about. We’re not only going to make America strong, we’re going to make the world stronger by doing things that benefit all of humanity instead of just one country. Meanwhile, Noah Young and his campaign will likely deny all this. Their plan is to continue to do more of the same that will leave us more susceptible than ever to terrorist attacks and at the mercy of those who seek to do harm to us all. It’s evident we need each other more than ever in the world today, and that’s what you’re going to get with me.
“Noah Young hoped to expose me as a traitor, but the real traitor is already temporarily sitting in that Oval Office. Let’s make sure it’s very temporary. I’m James Peterson, and I approve of this message.”
The feed went dark.
Young’s phone started to buzz with texts from political allies. His secretary buzzed him with calls from his lawyer. He turned on the television in his
