His last two statements made plain his intentions.
It would seem that he meant to retain the office of the Presidency, the seat of power, within the Daviers and the Crosses indefinitely.
Nathan appeared calm on the surface but he was sneering inside.
To think that after his failed run at the Presidency, Clifford would still harbor wild ambitions of assuming the highest office in the land.
A pity for him then that Nathan would never allow himself to fall in with the likes of them.
Clifford watched in jittery anticipation as he awaited the Chief Military Governor's response.
The silence in the room deafens.
Nathan took his time, and lifted the glass to his mouth once more.
Only this time, he offered up no praise. “This wine has lost its flavor.”
That drained the color from the faces of the Daviers.
A frown, too, formed between Clifford's eyes.
“Chief Military Governor?”
“I've posited my stance on this issue before and I'll reiterate it again for the last time, just so we're clear. I'm already married to a woman who I love. Thus, I cannot agree to a marital union with your family. Kindly do not bring this up again,” he stated.
What?The Chief Military Governor's married?Why haven't we heard about this before?An excuse!It must be.A lie he weaved to turn down the proposal from us.
Clifford was a little flummoxed by the Chief Military Governor's refusal. The strong aligning with the strong to take the reins of the state of affairs and share the seat of power between themselves throughout the ages. Would that not be a wondrous thing?
Shae, whose eyes were transfixed upon the Chief Military Governor, dreamed of her own Cinderella story coming true.
She was profoundly agitated to hear that the man was already married.
The woman, too, did not want to believe it to be anything more than an excuse.
She was even more anxious than Clifford and could not restrain herself. “We've never heard of you mentioning this before, Chief Military Governor. Might it be because you think that I'm not good enough for you that you must come up with this excuse to turn us down?”
“The one who wishes to marry you is me, Shae Davier, and not that wanton woman Sophia. I implore you not to be mistaken that every girl in my family must be like my sister. I've admired you for so long, Chief Military Governor. Could I ask for you to give me a chance? To try to get to know me before you come to a decision?”
Everyone present was stunned at Shae's lack of reservation in promoting herself.
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