Chapter 18
Mahe was the only part of the country that wasn't touched by the devastation of the war, even when father had gone ahead to overthrow the President of Seych.e.l.les, it only took the bare minimum of effort to do so. He'd taken it as the capitol not only for its stable infrastructure but also for the stable minds of the people around him.
"Fewer people grieving a loss," he'd said.
But it did hold true, at least to an extent. Good leaders don't need to physically see the troubles of their people to know it exists. And so, without the brutal imagery of disaster breathing down his neck but with only the knowledge that they exist, father quickly made moves to industrialize as much as he could, with the limited resources the most he could do…had done, was bring in the oil and gas sector.
The same oil and gas that would be the running point of my brainwas.h.i.+ng propaganda, once I publicly took office tomorrow.
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I was dragged out of my musings as I simultaneously felt my phone vibrate and heard my name, and t.i.tle being called out on stage. I take my time to blink out the daydreams and soon I could hear the soaring round of applause that followed my name call.
I rose from my seat, joining the entire crowd who'd already been thrown to their feet by the melodic tunes of the composed Presidential Anthem. I smile and wave, b.u.t.toning up my suit with one hand as take a slow walk towards the podium, where I spy Niaina grinning at me. Lord knows I heard not one word of her speech.
I walk past many dignitaries, familiar faces from the House of a.s.sembly and provincial Governors who'd come from their stations to attend this dinner party.
Finally, at the podium, I give Niaina a handshake and whisper of thanks before taking my place in front of the podium. I smile at the still clapping crowd and even more, as I see the notes I'd prepared on key focus points for the little freestyle speech I was about to give.
With a wave of my hand, the music and applause gradually begin to die down. I take in a quiet breath, looking across the room filled with men and women in various arms of MY government, men and women that still undoubtedly saw me as nothing more than an orphaned child trying his hardest to fill in the big shoes of his dead father.
I close my eyes, widen my smile and tap into the years of public speaking I'd gone through thanks to my rebirths and soon, these men and women are simply uneducated children begging to be taught a good lesson.
"Today, my friends, we have made history," I nod, making sure to browse the room with my eyes, "Today we have made our one and strongest ally. Now perhaps it is too soon to be counting our blessings when the dust has barely settled,"
I raise my fist up shaking it as I say, "But I am proud and delighted to celebrate this achievement it this most trying month," I look through the crowd again, making sure not to make eye contact with anyone but simply look over their heads, "I am certain many of you still bereave the loss of our greatest leader, my father, your President for always, and the best thing that has
As I nod, affirming my own words I notice some of the rather strict faces loosen up with sympathy and their expressions show support, I continue,
"Now while I know everyone here has difficulties of their own, challenges and hurdles to overcome, I want us all to realize that we wouldn't have attained this brilliant success we have achieved here today; if we didn't all work hand in hand, putting aside whatever differences, and whatever political loyalties we may have."
I laugh, easing the mood and preparing my audience for what I was about to say,
"I am also aware that I am not thought as the greatest subst.i.tute for the radiance my father brought to Schelar, but I am here, here to give my all just as my father did and with the help of his blessed spirit guiding me…us, from beyond. I promise we will achieve even greater things, and as we do so the…" I pause for a bit here, looking directly into one of the filming cameras, "enemies that stand just outside our doorsteps will never find means to overcome the glory we will continue to attain…"
"Glory to Schelar!" I shout out with my fist pumped in the air, my audience eagerly does the same, repeating the mantra as I step off the podium with an even louder round of applause resounding behind me as Niaina continues with my outro.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the Federal Republic of Schelar!"
Calmly walking back to my seat I exchange much friendlier words than I had when moving up to the podium, the men and women I stopped to shake hands with wore more genuine looking smiles as well, I let that reflect on me, giving them an even brighter smile.
Once at my seat, the applause finally stops and I can see Niaina up on the stage with the Russian Amba.s.sador, together they addressed the reception on the brief but informative sounding details of what they hoped to accomplish here in Schelar and in Russia.
Again, I didn't pay much attention to it. In truth, it would be a speech filled with empty words and plenty delusions. This wasn't the audience to give actual promises we mean to keep.
I whip out my phone and scroll through the hundreds of unread messages that had I'd received in the past month. I was meant to turn in this phone to my security personnel for reconfiguring, the basics, eliminating suspicious contacts, making the number more obscure and unreachable without the right permissions, etcetera. But that was more or less a bit boring.
I'd asked for a state-commissioned mobile instead, one I could differentiate work from play with. The phone I held in my hand now was play.
Believe it or not, I still let myself be in departmental and project group chats from when I was back in school. I should probably leave one of these days, or pay a visit to my university.
Actually no.
I smile at the messages I picked the phone up to read. It was Miss Leriva. We'd been communicating back and forth, usually when both of us were free enough to answer social calls at the same time. Our chat history was very short as a result, despite seeing each other in person very often.
'When will you invite me over to your table? ^_*" it read, the emoji's had come as a surprise to me. She was very animated with texts.
My table was where Luciano and Matthias had seated, as well as Niaina but she was acting as host most of the time, so there was a seat left vacant.
This was the last event of the day, I look at my watch and sigh, it had almost clocked midnight. I hadn't gotten much done today. My smile returns when the phone vibrates again,
'I see you ignoring me L'
I cover my mouth to prevent a laugh from escaping me. I feel Luciano give me a strange look and shake his head but ultimately leaving me be. Matthias had already held him back from commenting on my rather strange behaviour at the table earlier tonight.
I punch in a reply as I hear Niaina finally give closing remarks, 'Come dance with me.'
'I would but the music is terrible ;~:' she replies fast.
The music being played was one you couldn't dance in any form to, perhaps a step-to-step but that would only look awkward.
I keep my smile and I send to her, 'Come take my hand.'
As I hit send, I rise to my feet and tuck my phone away in a very obvious manner, if she could really see me-which I had no doubt she could- she'd know another reply wasn't coming. Still, I feel the phone vibrate, I ignore it.
I set off to the now open s.p.a.ce, the tables had been taken away and now dignitaries, senators, the million buck suits and Governors of state now mingled amongst themselves as well as the Russian Amba.s.sador and his entourage.
A few dared come up to me but I put on a polite smile immediately excusing myself as they barely introduce themselves. I move rather briskly to what I felt was the centre of the open floor. I stand stalk there like a tree and wait, with the smile on my face facing the direction I see her walk towards me from.
The party around me began to take an aura of confusion as I stretch out my hand towards her and the men and women in her way part, letting her through without fuss.
Finally, I feel her hand in mine. She looked stunningly beautiful tonight, I tell her so,
"Well, you look just as charming, Mister President,"
I smile as I take her looks in, she wore a black off-shoulder dress that blossomed into a shade over purple as it went down past the beginning of the slit that exposed the seductively long and smooth legs she possessed.
I return my eyes to hers, just as the music changes according to my unspoken will, music fitting my needs.
"Please, call me Hasina."