Damien said yes.
Not because he trusted the President.
Because he trusted himself.
And the war against the cartels entered a new phase.
But before that, something unexpected happened.
The President offered him more than power.
He offered him the future.
---
The second call came on a Wednesday.
Not from an aide. Not from a secretary.
From the President himself.
"Mr. Moreau."
"Mr. President."
"I've been thinking about our conversation."
"Have you?"
"I have."
"And?"
"I want to offer you something. Not a job. A position."
Damien was quiet.
"What kind of position?"
"Advisor. To the Cabinet. On cartel enforcement."
"That's not a position. That's a title."
"It's a start."
"A start to what?"
The President was quiet for a moment.
"A start to your political career."
---
The room went silent.
Christabel was in the doorway.
She had heard everything.
Damien looked at her.
She nodded.
"I'm listening," Damien said.
"I'm not going to be President forever. In four years, I'm done. There will be an election."
"You want me to run?"
"I want you to consider it."
"I'm not a politician."
"You're a leader,you are the type this country needs, am a politician but i know you are a package deal and i know you can make america great. With your own money you help secured more than 2500 people proving you have people welfare at heart.i needed money climbing the ranks so i tied up in debts to those who funded my rise. You wont have the problem so yoi cant be comprised or bought. Do it for the millions oflife you can change with you ideas and psychological mindset. Please run fkr president and save this country from brain rot."
The call ended.
Christabel walked into the room.
"He wants you to be President?"
"He wants me to consider it."
"Are you going to?"
"I don't know."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't trust politicians."
"You trust him?"
"I trust i can do a lot of good in position of power lile presidemt i can affect amd chanfe lives of millions".
That night, Christabel put Lena to bed.
Not Damien. Her.
Lena was full of questions.
"Mama, why is Papa so serious?"
"Because the President wants him to do something big."
"Like what?"
"Like help the whole country and help your dad run for ruler of a country so he can help all of america.
Lena thought about that.
"Is Papa going to be President?"
Christabel laughed.
'
"Soon my daughter"
Damien appeared in the doorway.
"She's asleep?"
"She's dreaming of her dad becoming president of the united states"
He walked to her.
Took her hand.
"The President is sending a private jet."
"When?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"Where?"
"Washington."
"What are you going to do?"
He was quiet for a moment.
"I'm going to listen."
---
The private jet arrived at dawn.
Not a small plane. A luxury jet. Leather seats. Marble floors. A bedroom in the back.
Damien and Christabel boarded together.
"You didn't have to come," he said.
"I wanted to."
"trust is a big word and i cant just give it to anyone"
The flight was smooth.
The sky was clear.
The world was far below.
Damien was nervous.
Christabel took his hand.
"You're shaking."
"I'm not shaking."
"You're shaking."
"I'm thinking."
"About what?"
"About the future."
---
She kissed him.
Not softly.
The way she kissed him when she wanted him to remember who he was.
"I love you."
"I know."
"I love you in ways I didn't know I was capable of and i do anything to make you happiest man ever"
He touched her face.
"I know. Because I love you the same way."
The bedroom in the back of the jet was small.
But it was enough.
They made love as the sun rose over the clouds.
Not the desperate kind.
Not the hungry kind.
The kind that came from certainty.
From knowing that nothing could separate them.
Afterward, they lay tangled together.
The sky was pink.
The world was waiting.
"I'm scared," Damien said.
"Of what?"
"Of becoming someone I don't recognize,cos ppwer corrupts amd i might not remember who i am anymore"
"You won't."
"How do you know?"
"Because I'll be there to remind you,i be your anchor"
The plane landed in Washington.
The tarmac was crowded.
Reporters. Cameras. Security.
Damien stepped off the plane.
Christabel beside him.
The cameras flashed.
The reporters shouted.
"Mr. Moreau! Is it true you're meeting with the President?"
"Mrs. Moreau! Are you considering a political career?"
"Damien! Over here!"
He didn't answer.
He just walked.
The meeting was held in the Oval Office.
The President was waiting.
"Mr. Moreau. Mrs. Moreau."
"Mr. President."
"Thank you for coming."
"Thank you for inviting us,its an honour"
The President explained his plan.
A new task force. Federal resources. Military support.
Damien would have access to intelligence. To armies. To power.
Not as an employee.
As a partner.
"You'll have more power than any private citizen in history," the President said.
"That's not what I want,but power is currency the world understands so am forced to use it.
"What do you want?"
Damien was quiet for a moment.
"To save people,amd make theor loves better"
The meeting lasted hours.
Agreements were made.
Hands were shaken.
When it was over, Damien walked out of the White House.
Christabel beside him.
The cameras flashed.
The reporters shouted.
He didn't answer.
He just walked.
That night, they flew home.
The jet was quiet.
The stars were bright.
Christabel held his hand.
"You did it."
"We did it."
"You have power now and we can make a lot of good for people of america"
The news broke the next morning.
"Moreau to Advise White House on Cartel Enforcement."
"Billionaire Takes on Washington."
"Is Damien Moreau the Next President?"
Damien read the articles.
His face was calm.
Christabel watched him.
"You're famous."
"I was already famous."
First Line of Chapter 179 (Teaser):
"The one hundred thirty-fourth week, the cartels responded. Not with violence. With infiltration. They had people inside the government. Inside the task force. Inside Damien's inner circle. And the hunt for the mole began."