Knight (Political Royalty Book 1) by Evelyn Adams Page B

like a world turned upside-down. Let’s flip it completely on its ass. I’ll introduce you and then you can introduce my son.”
    Secretary Johnson looked wary, and Haven stepped between the men, flashing her best reassuring smile. The governor had been on edge since the first time she suggested someone other than him should introduce the senator. But Walker had been insistent on minimizing his family legacy and she’d agreed. The secretary of agriculture had been a slice of genius. One the philandering old goat could fuck up with a few misplaced words.
    “Travis’s going to introduce the secretary, Governor,” she said, speaking slowly so she could keep the frustration out of her voice. “I’m sure you and Mrs. Walker want to be able to stand back and enjoy this moment.”
    It was bullshit. In the short time since she’d met him, she’d come to realize the only thing the governor liked more than pretty secretaries was the spotlight. And power. Hopefully he’d be able to see that the long-term power outweighed a brief time in the spotlight.
    “It’s better that way, Daddy,” said Walker, taking his father by the arm and gently nudging him to the side.
    Taking his place in front of the secretary, Walker hit him with the smile that hadn’t dimmed no matter how many times Haven saw it and offered his hand to the other man. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you, Secretary Johnson. Despite our obvious policy differences, the way you pushed to have tobacco indemnification money go to alternative energy startups was an inspiration to me.”
    It was sucking up, plain and simple, but with enough truth and genuine feeling to smooth feathers, not ruffle them. Haven couldn’t have done it better herself.
    The secretary shook his head and Walker’s hand. “You’re going to do just fine, son. What say we put this to bed?”
    Walker nodded to Travis, who walked through the door and out to the podium. One of the security detail held the door open and the roar of the crowd filtered into the alcove. Travis gave the canned two-line introduction they’d rehearsed and then the secretary of agriculture walked through the open door, waving his hand to the crowd. Haven doubted he often had a chance to speak to screaming throngs of excited people. The senator had been right when he said agriculture wasn’t sexy. Hopefully, the bipartisan uproar would generate enough interest to merit Walker more than just a mention on the morning shows.
    “I imagined most of you are surprised to see me here today,” said Secretary Johnson. “To be honest, when I got the call to do this I was a bit hesitant myself. But hunger and food security are too important to get crushed under the weight of partisan politics. By the year 2050, we’re going to have to feed twice as many people with the same amount of land. That’s not a Republican or Democrat problem. It’s not even an American problem. That’s a human problem and one we all need to be engaged in solving. The man getting ready to take the stage has done more than pay lip service to the challenges facing our country and our world. His company Aqua Biofarms has been instrumental in moving us toward a new kind of agriculture—one that supports our expanding population as well as our planet. Since then, he’s faced the challenges of government.” He paused, tipping his head to the side in a you-know-what-I-mean gesture. The crowd laughed and Haven thought for a moment he might have missed his calling. The secretary knew how to work an audience. “The senator is ready to take on an even bigger challenge and I can’t imagine anyone more uniquely qualified than he is to do it. Ladies and gentlemen, Senator William Shepherd Walker.”
    The secretary raised his arm toward the open door and the crowd went crazy, waving their Moving America Forward signs over their heads in a sea of red, white, and blue. Senator Walker looked over his shoulder, catching Haven’s gaze and holding it