“Jordan’s had campaign experience—he was inside President Samuel’s re-election campaign. I think at least two of you have never worked a POTUS campaign before, am I right?”
Three of them nod.
Elliot’s not finished. “He’s also had experience with planning real-time strategy. More than some of you in here have had. He’s spent plenty of time with Kevin Markos—who happens to be a friend of his—and others, and learned his way around how to interpret polls, craft messages, and design and write speeches. In fact, every speech you write for me goes through himbeforeI set eyes on it, and if he tells you to change something, it gets changed. Deal with thatnow, because if you can’t? Then this campaign isnotthe place for you.”
There are more head nods and apologies as Elliot surveys everyone who’s gathered. Tom looks like he wants to crawl under the carpet, he’s so mortified.
Elliot smiles down at me and squeezes my shoulder before he releases me. “Thank you for being here, Jordan. I really appreciate you doing this for me. I can’t do this without you.”
I’m nearly speechless but quickly find my voice. “I’m happy to be here, Mister Vice President. It’s an honor and a privilege to work for you.”
That’s not a lie, either. It really is. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe that.
“And he doesn’t work for the campaign,” Elliot tells them. “He works for me, for the office of VPOTUS. But because he has control of my schedule, and organizes everything for me, that’s why everything goes through him for final approval. That way, it’s not a conflict, he can be your point of contact with my office, and it’ll save everyone scheduling headaches. That’s another reason why he’s not your coffee boy, and why he receives deferential treatment. Oh, and I want him to have a campaign phone, laptop, and tablet, so we don’t have any conflicts.”
Great, just what I wanted. One more set of fricking electronics and passwords to keep track of.
Except Elliot’s absolutely right, and he’s always been cautious. Which is why no one’s ever been able to trip him up with petty bullshit.
He introduces everyone to me before making one of them give up the chair closest to where he’s going to sit at the head of the table, forcing them to bring another chair in.
Yep—Iabsolutelybelong here.
As we get down to business and I start taking notes on a legal pad, so I don’t have any record on my government cell phone, I also realize there’s no place I’d rather be than right here.
Elliot needs me and wants me here.
Like hell will I let him down.
