by Taylor Lee
“What I don’t know, and the reason I asked to speak to you both, is whether you are up for what lies ahead. I want to hear from each of you if you want to continue with this campaign. If you do, I am with you one thousand percent. If you don’t, I will be as adept as anyone can be at crafting an exit strategy.”
With that, Tom sat back in his chair, lit a cigar, and waited to see who would speak first.
Wyatt continued to sit back in his chair. He knew why Tom had called the meeting. He decided that he would let Lei speak first. If she decided that she didn’t want to go forward, he would understand. And if she didn’t, he would quit the race. It was as simple as that for him.
Lei knew that intentionally or not they both had decided to let her speak first. She doubted that they had arranged it. They both were so similar in their thinking. She thought with a slight smile to herself that the reason she understood them was that she was a lot like them. She thought the way they did.
She looked at them both and then responded in a quiet, even tone.
“I think Grant Forrester is an evil man. He should not become governor of this state. I also know that Wyatt will be the best governor this or any other state could have. I will do what I can to help him get elected.”
Tom nodded. “Okay, thanks, Lei. How about you, Wyatt?”
Wyatt smiled, humbly for him, and said, “Thanks, Lei. I didn’t know how you would feel. Yeah, Tom, with Lei on board, I want to go forward.”
When she refused to look at him when he spoke, Tom caught the flash of pain in Wyatt’s eyes. He didn’t know why it surprised him. The guy was obviously deeply in love with her. How could he not be?
“Okay. As your campaign manager, I add a consenting vote, which means we have unanimous approval. While, I think our chances are better than fifty/fifty to win, it is far from a sure thing. You two know the prejudice that is out there. You know the issues we are facing. I happen to think Wyatt, that you are the most accomplished politician and candidate that I have known. But you have a hell of a lot of baggage. If anyone can overcome it, you can. Lei, you also have baggage. Unlike Wyatt, you didn’t create yours, you were born into it. We have known all of this from the beginning. What we didn’t know in the beginning was that Grant Forrester not only would be a corrupt governor, but that he is an evil man. He needs to be beaten and beaten soundly.
“One more thing before we meet up with the others. All of this personal turmoil you are going through is affecting everyone around you, including me. We can’t operate effectively in this personal crisis mode. I need you both. Moreover, I need the way you strategically feed off one another. The issues we face are big ones. I need the best from you both and you are at your best when you are working together. Understand?”
“Christ, Tom, is that really what I sound like? But yeah, I hear you. You are dead on.”
Lei nodded, again without looking at either of them.
“Before we go, Lei, I want to talk to you about what happened with you and Alono the other night.”
Lei gaped in surprise, her face flushed. Wyatt’s expression tightened. His eyes hardened like steel.
Tom went on undeterred. “I take it that was your first proposition.”
He grinned and corrected himself.
“I mean this was the first time you made a proposition to someone.”
Wyatt’s voice was ominous. “Be careful, Tom. This isn’t any of your business.”
Tom raised an eyebrow with a glimmer of a smile.
“I’m always careful, Wyatt.”
Tom turned away from Wyatt and looked at Lei.
“We all know that Alono loves you, Lei. He would give his life to protect you and Wyatt; even to protect you from yourselves.
“Unfortunately, he conveyed a different message or an additional unintended one to you the other night. It is a message that I want to dispute - put to rest. I’ve been told that you left that encounter believing that you aren’t a beautiful and desirable woman.”
Lei glanced away and then closed her eyes as if the memory smashed a hole in her reserve. Her cheeks flushed. Tears rolled silently down her cheeks.
Tom took in her obvious pain. It was hard to keep the catch out of his voice.
He ignored Wyatt, but didn’t miss the protective frown or the obvious concern on his face as he stared at Lei. A flicker of surprise darkened his eyes, as though he didn’t understand what Tom was saying.
Tom continued, his voice was mildly amused, but gentle. “Let me put it this way, Lei. I think you chose to throw yourself at the one man in five million who would say no to you, for the most honorable of reasons.
“As a representative of the other four million, nine hundred and ninety nine thousand I want to tell you every one of us would crawl across broken glass on our hands and knees if we thought you were interested in us. Even knowing that the only person you love and will ever love is this son of a bitch here.
“Not that I’m recommending that you do any more propositioning, you understand. But if you did, there is not a chance in hell that whoever it was would turn you down—if he thought he could have five minutes with you.
“The only thing that would keep him from doing it wouldn’t be honor, as it was with Alono; it would be because we all know that this son of a bitch would kill us.”
Lei sat immobile, her cheeks flushed, tracks of tears on her face. Tom glanced over at Wyatt, who had sat up in his chair and was peering at the table, his face stiff with emotion.
Tom got up to leave. He said to Wyatt, “Listen you asshole, either you swallow some of that pride and go to her, or I will.”
Wyatt shook his head.
Lei’s eyes flared. She stood up. With tears still streaming down her face she walked to the door, her chin firmly raised. In a dismissive voice, she said, “No, neither one of you will. Don’t bother to get up. I’ll show myself out.”
Wyatt surged toward her. His voice was stern. “Lei, come here.”
She shook her head and walked out, closing the door behind her.
Tom shook his head in amazement.
“God, even when she’s hurting, she’s haughty. How could she get any sexier?”
Wyatt sunk back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “You have no idea, Tom.”
“No, I don’t, Wyatt.”
“Who told you what happened the other night?”
“Joey and Chief. Apparently, Lei confronted them and Wan. She wanted them to know what happened with Alono. None of them wanted to hear it, but she didn’t give them a choice.
“She was devastated, Wyatt. She feels guilty, mostly for hurting Alono. It was you she wanted to hurt, not Alono. She thinks she is a dishonorable person. But the thing that the Chief took away most was that she had asked Alono to fuck her and he refused. Her conclusion being that even when she tried to be unfaithful to you, she failed.”
Wyatt grimaced, his brows contracted in a rigid frown. He shook his head, as if in disbelief.
“Yeah, I know. Crazy, huh? And there was more. Sorry, old boy. In addition, she took on Wan and lumped him in with you. I presume you already know how she feels about your womanizing, but apparently she has never said it to Wan. I understand she let him know how much she hated the bevy of eager women around him. She said something to the effect that the two of you can wiggle your little fingers and women beg you to fuck them. I guess all you have to do is glance at someone across the room and they’ll spread their legs for you. This is probably true for both of you. But Lei threw a little salt in the wounds for her father. She said that Wan must have gotten all the sex appeal genes because she can’t even get someone who loves and respects her to fuck her. She also added that maybe you and Wan could muse about her sexual shortcomings over bourbon and good cigars while comparing your various conquests.”
Wyatt was visibly shocked.
“Lei can’t really believe that!”
“What? That you and her father discuss your many leg-spreading women, or that she isn
’t the sexiest fucking woman that ever walked this earth?”
Wyatt shook his head, his face pale and taut.
Tom said in mock astonishment, marveling at the state of affairs. “Christ, in Washington we thought you guys only fucked sheep for entertainment and sat around campfires at night spitting tobacco.
“By the way, Wyatt, not to keep interfering, but Chief said that Lei told you that Alono refused her—before you attacked him.”
“Yeah, she did. But I was crazed. At the moment I guess I didn’t believe her. I didn’t think anyone would turn her down. Christ, Tom, you have no idea what’s she’s like. There’s more fire under that cool exterior than ….” He just shook his head and didn’t continue.
“No, you’re right, Wyatt, I don’t. You’re the only one who knows. The rest of us can only imagine and live out our lust in wet dreams thinking about her. You get to have her. Goddamn, you are one lucky son of a bitch.”
Wyatt flushed as pain crossed his face.
“Yeah, I know I am. I guess I couldn’t imagine Alono could turn her down. I know how much he loves her.”
“You’re right, Wyatt. Apparently, the only person he loves more, is you.”
Tom was startled by the look of agony that flashed across Wyatt’s face. He understood that Wyatt was devastated he had attacked Alono. For the first time, he saw how anguished Wyatt was by the rupture between them.
~~~
Lei waited until Wyatt had read to the children and tucked them into bed. As he left the room, she came in to kiss them good night and passed by him without speaking. He hesitated, debating whether he wanted to confront her or, better yet, put his arms around her and hold her. He decided to do neither and went to the meeting room to join the others.
~~~
Chapter 27
Wyatt greeted Chief and Joey, who were talking with Tom when he arrived. They quickly caught up on ranch business. They waited for Wan and Lei, ignoring what happened on Monday evening. Wyatt knew both Chief and Joey would demand an explanation. They also knew him well enough and were kind enough to know that at the moment he didn’t have one.
Wyatt and Wan had not seen each other since Wyatt had blown the campaign apart with his indiscretion. Wan entered and nodded to the others and then walked up to Wyatt and looked him in the eye. He paused as if debating how or whether he would speak. Wyatt met and held his gaze, his face impassive.
“We can talk after the meeting, Wan. I owe you an apology and an explanation. Not likely that I can come up with one,” Wyatt said with a slight smile, “but I will do my best.”
“You owe me nothing, Wyatt,” Wan said, his face and voice grim.
Wyatt nodded, and went to his seat at the head of the table.
“Regardless, I want to talk with you—after this meeting,” he said, as if that closed the matter.
Wan looked at him with an expression that was hard to read, it was so far beyond anger. He simply nodded and moved to a seat at the far end of the table next to Chief, who offered him a glass of bourbon. Wan accepted it with the barest of nods.
Tom watched this exchange and thought to himself, Holy Christ, and this is my campaign committee. As if to underscore what he was up against, at that moment, Lei entered the room with an expression that was at least as frozen as Wan’s. It was not hard to see the family resemblance. Tom wondered how many hapless adversaries had confronted these two before they were eliminated.
Tom greeted her and guided her to a chair at his left across from her father, next to Joey. He decided he needed to take control of the meeting now or lose it forever.
Without preamble, he said, “I met with Lei and Wyatt earlier. They each confirmed that they want to go forward with the campaign. I need to hear from each of you where you stand. I recognize that we have some challenging personal issues, but I need to know if we are all on the same team.”
“I presume you are talking about me, Tom,” Wan said. “Simply put, I am here because my daughter is.”
Tom nodded, and said, “I understand that, Wan. But that is not a good enough reason. We need a team here that believes in Wyatt. To put it more accurately, that believes in Wyatt’s candidacy.”
“As I said, I am here because Lei is,” Wan said with a puff on his cigar, a dismissive gesture that Tom noted was remarkably like Wyatt.
Tom’s cheeks flushed slightly. He glanced down and then up at Wan with a determined expression on his face.
Before he could speak, Wyatt raised his hand and broke in with an easy smile.
“Tom, I understand what you are trying to do. I appreciate it. Unfortunately, you are only somewhat familiar with our history. A long time ago, Lei correctly pegged Wan and me as two roosters who constantly circle one another watching and waiting for an opening to strike. Given that we have somehow managed not to kill each other in the past three years - which doesn’t mean we didn’t try - I think the best you can expect from us both is, that in addition to the unpleasant traits that we share, we both love Lei intensely. We are both here because of her. If she had said she did not want to participate, this campaign would have been over at that moment. I am also here because she is.”
Before Tom could answer, Chief smiled at him, and said, “Tom, we are all crazy. It will help if you understand that. But we love these two people or we wouldn’t be here. Of course, we all love Lei. In our own ways, we love and admire Wyatt as much. Whether he chooses to admit it or not, that includes Wan. The challenge Wyatt and Wan face, Tom, is that they are so goddamn much alike that it is hard to separate them. Ask Lei.”
Joey said with a soft chuckle, “Just concede, Tom. As I say to my kung fu students, the best weapon a fighter can have is to know when he has met his match. Accepting that, I think you will find this group to be the most talented you have worked with. God help anyone who tries to cross us. At the moment, that includes Grant Forrester and anyone who supports him.”
Tom sat back in his chair. He looked around the table at each of them and whistled in appreciation. He put his hands in the air, conceding defeat, then bowed low in admiration.
With an exaggerated sigh, he said, “Jesus fucking Christ. I would not want to meet any one of you in a dark alley. Or ever be considered your enemy. However, I am delighted to know that I have the smartest, most intimidating campaign committee a manager could ask for. Welcome to you all. Now let’s get down to business.”
“Here are the three issues I want to discuss tonight. In the ascending order of their importance:
“The first is Lei and Wyatt’s relationship–the fact that they are unmarried and living together.
“The second is Wan’s relationship and that of the Tongs to our campaign.
“The third is the one that needs our best creative thinking. Thanks to Wan’s connections, we know Grant is one of the principles in a prostitution ring that brings young Chinese girls to this country against their will. Knowing that without irrefutable proof is without value. With that proof, we can end his campaign.
“Let’s go to the first issue. In the last Afton meeting, Wyatt was asked why he isn’t married and living with someone who is not his wife.”
Wyatt broke in, “Please Tom, let’s not go there.”
“No, Wyatt, you took a tough question and handled it brilliantly.”
Turning back to the group, Tom continued, “Wyatt confessed to living a profligate life. He described his infidelity and the pain it has caused. He then asked the women in the audience for their advice for what he called ‘a wandering guy who only wants to be with his one special woman for the rest of his life.’ The responses were dramatic. Soon, Wyatt brought the audience into his corner. I’m sure the guy who asked the planted question wished that he had not.”
Lei looked up with a dismissive smile.
“Sounds charming.....and practiced.”
Wyatt looked down and Tom saw the flush on his face. Once again, he saw the power Lei had to hurt Wyatt.
Tom looked her in the eye, and said, �
�No, Lei, it wasn’t. It was spontaneous and heartfelt. If you had been there, you would know that. That’s why I am repeating this story for all of you. Wyatt responded to an ugly question posed by a Forrester supporter. It is a question that any one of us can expect to get either publically or privately. You can do worse than respond as Wyatt did.”
It was now Lei’s turn to look away with an embarrassed flush on her face. Chief caught Tom’s eye and with a raised eyebrow and slight shake of his head acknowledged what they were up against.
Tom continued with a smile.
“Well, since I did so well handling the first issue, let me step right out there in front of the next firing squad. As you know, the Forrester campaign and some of the press are having a field day, Wan, with your leadership of a Tong. The more the Tong wars fill the national press, the more vulnerable our campaign has become to attacks of guilt by association. Let’s face it. The fact that Lei is your daughter makes it hard for us to break the association. Any recommendations?”
Before Wan could respond, Joey spoke up.
“I don’t know if you know of my association with the Tongs, Tom. I have been involved in a peripheral way most of my life. I was an active member as a boy and young man. I was called a poo tow choi or “hatchet boy” because of our preferred weapon of choice. We left them in the skulls of our adversaries as a calling card.”
He grinned at Tom’s widened eyes and went on, “I’m not sure it does much good to detail the positive things the Tongs have done for the Chinese immigrant community. No one in the white community cares. The violence will always overshadow the good. We acknowledge the best way to sell newspapers is to whip up white fear with pictures of the “yellow peril.” I think the best we can do is continue to have the Sing Leon make it clear to the other gangs as violently as possible the price of taking on Wan and, by extension, Wyatt. It isn’t pretty, but the harder and more violently Wan responds to even the slightest provocation, the more likely it is that the other gangs will continue to back down. Even today, those hatchets make an impression, right, Wan?” He winked at Wan.