Chapter 181 Scheme (III)
The room was so quiet, with only the sound of the television filling the space. The campaign team members were anxious, waiting for the election results to come out. Their faces reflected hope. Over the past three months, they had worked tirelessly, putting in blood and sweat to reach this point.
Amidst the tension, Klaus remained poker face. He sat calmly in his swivel chair, as if he already knew the outcome.
The sound of footsteps diverted their attention from the screen. Richard joined his campaign team and stood next to Klaus.
"What do you think the outcome will be?" Richard asked.
Klaus tilted his head, looking towards the gubernatorial candidate. Just like the other members of the campaign team, this man's face also showed signs of tension. "Worried you won't win, huh?"
"I'm not gonna lie. I really want to win."
"Relax. We will," Klaus replied, grinning.
Of course, Richard was surprised by Klaus's response. He didn't know where this man's confidence came from.
One of the campaign team members raised the TV volume, capturing Richard's attention back to the screen. From the news broadcast, a woman in a black shirt stood at a podium. White flashes from camera flashes showered her as she announced the election results.
"Good afternoon, New York citizens. Today is the day we've been waiting for. After careful and rigorous vote counting, we have found the elected gubernatorial candidate to lead our beloved city."
Inside the campaign room, everyone held their breath as they waited for the woman to announce the name. They were truly tense, especially Richard. He was gripping his hand tightly.
"The governor for the year 2XXX is—Richard Dickson."
In an instant, a roar of euphoria filled the entire campaign headquarters. The crew cheered with joy. They celebrated the victory, throwing papers into the air and hugging each other.
And the happiest person in the room was Richard. He shouted loudly until the veins in his neck bulged. Everyone congratulated him.
"Look! We have a governor!"
"Congratulations, Mr. Richard!"
"Governor, we're waiting for the celebration party!"
Richard laughed heartily. He and his team members shook hands one by one. After shaking hands with everyone in the room, he stood in front of Klaus with a wide smile.
Without needing to ask, Klaus understood what was on Richard's mind through the expression on his face.
Richard extended his hand.
"What's this?" Klaus asked.
"Come on, kid. Let me give you a hug."
Klaus sighed. He got up from his chair and embraced the new governor. His back felt the impact of hearty applause. Everyone was watching them.
"I wouldn't have come this far without you," Richard whispered.
No words came out of Klaus. He just nodded.
After conveying his gratitude, Richard released his hug from Klaus. He scanned his eyes across the campaign team.
The atmosphere fell silent as everyone's attention focused on Richard.
"Honestly, I don't know what to say to all of you. There are far too many things I want to say, but I'm sure a simple 'thank you' won't be enough to repay your hard work."
Richard's eyes teared up as he delivered his speech, and the campaign team could feel the surge of his emotions. These people were carried away by the feelings behind every word he spoke.
Only Klaus appeared unaffected by the atmosphere. Amidst everyone's emotional involvement, he maintained his poker face, not showing his true feelings in the slightest.
Richard wiped tears flowing down his cheeks. "Forgive me. It should be a moment of euphoria. I'm being too melancholic." He let out a sigh. And then, he changed his facial expression. "Alright, to celebrate our victory, I'll treat you all tonight!"
"Yeah!"
The entire campaign team exclaimed hooray. They jumped with joy.
After celebrating their small victory, Richard and his team held a brief press conference outside the headquarters. Dozens of reporters with cameras and microphones awaited the elected gubernatorial candidate. Richard delivered a short speech there, expressing gratitude to all parties who supported them and promising to make New York a better city.
Journalists from various media platforms reported on him. Elsewhere, Jonathan Thompson also garnered attention from reporters. Just like Richard, this man didn't say much except for expressing his gratitude.
And at the same time, the losing candidates had to swallow a bitter pill of defeat. Jose Ancelotti and Isabella Wilson, these two failed gubernatorial candidates had to face reporters at their respective headquarters even though they didn't want to.
The election results showed that Richard Dickson-Jonathan Thompson got 45% of the votes, Isabella Wilson-Victoria Carmichael got 30% of the votes, and Jose Ancelotti-Marcus Kingsley got 25% of the votes.
One could say it was a delayed victory for Richard. Of course, this achievement owed much to the brilliant plans that sprang from Klaus's mind. Without him, Richard's chances of winning the gubernatorial election would have been quite slim.
... n0vElusb.c0m
The dark sky blanketed New York City.
The gubernatorial election ended successfully, and Richard Dickson emerged as the winner. As promised, he hosted a celebration party that reverberated joy throughout the room. The venue was a three-star restaurant that exuded a luxurious yet casual ambiance, radiating perfect elegance.
The room was adorned with sparkling lights and beautiful decorations. Long dining tables were draped with clean white cloth and captivating tableware. Fresh flowers were placed in crystal vases, emitting a soft fragrance into the air. The atmosphere was filled with cheer and hope, strongly felt among the guests dressed in their finest evening attire.
In the center of the room, there was a giant round table where restaurant staff showcased the delicious dishes they brought. Starting from elegant appetizers to mouthwatering main courses, everything was served with exceptional precision. A magnificent cake with the faces of the two winners was displayed in a corner, awaiting the moment of cutting as the highlight of the celebration.
Every dining table was filled with neatly dressed campaign team members, appearing happy and slightly weary after their exhausting efforts. At the main table, Richard and Jonathan sat side by side, both wearing elegantly tailored suits.
They were engrossed in conversation, laughing, and enjoying the delicious dishes served by waitstaff who moved around the room with agility.
Richard raised a crystal glass filled with wine. "My dear friends, today is clear made us succeed."
With pride, Richard expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the entire campaign team evidence that our hard work and determination have not been in vain. Both of us are extremely grateful for your dedication during this campaign period. Without all of your hard work, we wouldn't be here."
"Absolutely," Jonathan chimed in with a smile on his face. "We both feel incredibly fortunate to have this amazing team. We all worked as one team, and that's what made us succeed."
With pride, Richard expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the entire campaign team who worked hard to achieve this victory. Cheers and applause filled the air, creating an atmosphere of happiness and pride.
Jonathan took turns mingling with the diverse guests, including loyal supporters and campaign colleagues. These people seemed so excited as they shook hands with their new city leader.
The party atmosphere grew even livelier when Richard took the microphone on the stage.
"At this moment, I want to give special recognition to someone who played a significant role in the strategy and success of this campaign. Klaus Lee, please stand up."
Sitting at the main table, Klaus raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised that his name was suddenly mentioned. He got hearty applause from everyone present as he stood up.
Klaus put on a smile, following Richard's little play. "Thank you. I feel incredibly proud to be a part of this team. We've been through a lot together." He raised his glass. "This victory is for all of us. Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
The glass bump echoed throughout the room. The guest continued to enjoy their meal at the table.
The party continued into the late hours of the night, where laughter, stories, and songs resonated throughout the room.
Amidst the merriment, Richard clumsily rose from his seat with a flushed face. He had consumed too much wine, making it difficult for him to stand.
"Sorry, everyone, I wanted to stay up all night with you. But my head is starting to spin. This old guy is too old for drinking," Richard joked.
Laughter erupted from the guests.
"Alright. I'll take my leave now. Have fun until morning," he continued.
"Yeah!"
After bidding farewell, Richard got up from the main table. Jonathan reached out his hand to help him walk out of the restaurant, but Richard gently declined the assistance.
Meanwhile, Klaus sat at his table with others, watching as Richard started to fade into the crowd.
...
The cold air pierced through Richard's bones as he stepped out of the restaurant. The redness on his face from intoxication had vanished, leaving a blank expression that gave off seriousness.
Amidst the bustling pedestrians, a black car pulled up in front of him. Richard quickly entered through the back door. Inside, a handsome young man in casual clothing awaited him.
"How was the celebration party?" the young man asked.
"Amazing, Mr. Edward."
"And what about my cousin? Did he enjoy it?"
Richard furrowed his brow. "Klaus? As usual, he never mingles, no matter who's there or what the situation is. He didn't even touch anything except a glass of water. He's truly an unpredictable person."
Edward nodded. "That's exactly how he is. I can't even read him." He sighed. After a moment, a sly smile appeared on his face. "But more importantly, New York is in our hands."
"Morning Star won't have any power left except in Queens. We've disabled Noah's legs and hands."
"Yeah, and we can control Rays of Hope from behind the scenes too," Edward added.
"New York will provide a stage for you, Mr. Edward. And then, you'll be the sole heir to LR Enterprise."
Edward grinned cunningly.
