Dutch and Gina: The Power of Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

has to charm Loretta King.”
    “And that’s the point,” Robert agreed.   “The First Lady cares about her friend’s well-being, that’s a fact in every report we looked at.   Dutch’s wife will see me as a great catch for her friend and I’ll make certain that her friend agrees.”
    “But why would she view you as such a catch?” Shelly asked.   “You aren’t even all that great looking.   You’re no Dutch Harber or Crader McKenzie or nobody like that.”
    Robert smiled.   “But I have twice the charm of both those guys.   And twice the cash.   Women think they’re doing me a favor by dating me, by falling for me.   Falling for me and my billions, that is,” Robert added with a chuckle.  
    “That’s what they’re really charmed about,” Shelly interjected.
    Robert went on.   “Just trust me, Shell, all right?   This Loretta King person will be eating out of my hand before the night is through.   And then, when they’re back in DC, I’ll go see the First Lady, give her my song and dance, and our plan will have officially begun.”
    Shelly Pratt, however, was still unconvinced.   “But there are so many variables in this plan of yours.”
    Speaker Brightman disagreed.   “It’s a good plan,” he said.   “You have just got to be patient.   If we remain patient, and let it play itself out naturally, we can’t fail.”
    “Jed is right,” Robert said.   “If we rush things, it could blow up in our faces.   But if we do it right, which I have every intention of doing, it will work like a charm.”   Robert smiled.   “Like my charm.   They will think I’m coming at them in direction A, then direction B, when I’m really coming in direction C.   It’ll be a misdirection of a misdirection.   But they’ll be so focused on A and B that they won’t even realize C was on the radar screen.   Until it’s too late.”
    “And Dutch Harber will be destroyed forever,” Shelly said, which was really his goal.
    “I can’t guarantee his destruction,” Robert said, “but I can certainly guarantee that he’ll resign.   That’s the least he will do.   He and that black family of his will leave Washington with their tails between their legs.   And that’s all I’m after anyway.”
    “You want him to go down because he has a black wife?” Shelly asked as if he found the mere thought disgusting.
    “Of course not!   I don’t care if the bitch was blue.   I want to be the top guy, and Dutch Harber stands in my way.   He has got to go.   That’s all there is to it.”
    “It’s all about the power with you,” Shelly said.   “Isn’t it?   Even if it means backstabbing your own friend.”
    Robert smiled.   What a loser, he thought.   “Of course it’s about power.   That’s what it’s always about.   Money or power or both.   I’m already rich.   Why else would I bother?”
    “Pay Shelly no attention,” Jed urged Robert.   “He wants more power too, which we will all have if we stick to the plan.   He’s just not courageous enough to admit it.”
    “Well I am, gentlemen,” Robert said with a booming laugh that the Speaker shared.   “I am.”
     
    Less than an hour after his conference call with the Speaker and Vice President, Robert walked across the patio of his massive beach house and handed a glass of wine to Dutch Harber.   It was nighttime across the island and Dutch was seated in one of the numerous chairs around the patio.   He was watching the chef and his assistants grill steaks and burgers and attend to the every need of the White House contingent.   Many in that contingent, namely the young aides from Dutch and Gina’s staffs, were playing Frisbee on the beach.   Dutch’s daughter Jade and her husband Christian Bale were seated on the far opposite side of the patio.   By their mouth movements and hand gestures, Dutch could tell that they were arguing again.   It was becoming standard fare with those two and it was beginning