***
Smith's staff could barely keep up with him as he hurried down the capitol steps. Both of them were on their cell phones, their thumbs moving rapidly across the screens.
“I want to start back channeling immediately. I don't know how Jones managed to sway the others to support this bill, but he's not the only one with a voice in Congress,” Smith said.
His personal assistant, Jake, adjusted his glasses, keeping stride with Smith. Jake stood a good six inches taller than Smith. His large frame made him stand out like a sore thumb and made him quite a sight to see in his suit, which, despite his size, always looked too big for him.
Jake had been with the congressman for more than three years now. He had played a pivotal role in his reelection two years ago, and since then he hadn't left Smith's side.
“We can set up meetings as early as this afternoon. I know a key state in the vote will be North Carolina,” Jake said.
“I'll start drafting a statement to make sure the public knows where you stand,” said Beth, Smith's chief of staff, press secretary, and legal adviser. Smith used to have someone in each position, but none of them performed to the level that Beth could.
“We'll have to watch the timing of that. Jones has done a good job keeping this quiet, and I don't want to cause unneeded panic if we're able to squash this thing before it starts,” Smith said.
Not a single strand of hair moved as Beth’s trademark blond bun slightly bounced to the rhythmic click of her high heels against the Capitol steps. The way she pulled her hair back tight displayed the sharpness of her cheekbones and chin more prominently. She had served with the congressman since his first election. She was the only other person in the world Smith trusted as much as his wife.
“You think he'll try and swing the sympathy vote for this?” Beth asked.
“People are scared, Beth. He'll use that fear to his advantage.”
“Ballsy,” Beth answered.
Jake opened the congressman's car door, and Smith stepped inside. The leather seats squeaked as he sat down.
“I have the meeting set up for two o’clock this afternoon,” Jake said.
“That doesn't give us a lot of time before the vote,” Smith replied.
“I know, but you'll be the last voice they hear right before, so make it resonate.”
Jake shut the door, and the driver pulled away. Smith looked over to see Beth smiling as she worked the screen of her tablet.
“Is it just me, or is he turning into you more every day?” Smith asked.
“Somebody has to take care of you when I'm not around,” Beth said.
“You're not going to divorce me, are you?”
“Only on the day you don't get reelected.”
Smith knew it wasn't a joke. Beth didn't have a reputation for staying with anyone who wasn't worth a damn. The fact that Beth recognized he was still useful made him appreciate her more.
“This is a dangerous move, David,” Beth said.
“It's a necessary move.”
“As your chief of staff, it's my job to inform you when your mouth is writing checks your ass can't cash, and this is one of them. You won't be able to get the votes you need to overturn this thing, and by resisting it, you're going to put a target on your back the size of Texas.”
Buildings, people, and cars all passed by them as their driver maneuvered the streets of DC. They drove past one of the trees allowed in the city by the water restrictions. The trees were few and far between, and the ones that remained barely carried any vegetation.