Free Web NovelAs one of the major financial backers behind the presidential campaign, the President held Lynch in very high regard.
Unlike other wealthy backers he knew, who would start demanding political favors even before signing a check, Lynch asked for nothing. No difficult conditions, no manipulative attitudes—he simply handed over the money, all at once, without asking for anything in return. This left a strong impression on the President.
Other donors not only made unreasonable demands, but their funding came in installments—based on time intervals or campaign milestones. While this approach made financial sense and avoided waste, it implicitly signaled distrust, which the President found offensive.
In contrast, Lynch’s generosity stood out even more. On top of that, he was a close friend of Truman, making him feel like “one of us.”
That kind of insider status is subtle but powerful. The President raised his hand, halting the entourage. With a smile, he walked up to Lynch and extended his hand.
“When did you get back?”
“Just two days ago.”
It was idle small talk. The more meaningful conversations weren’t suitable for this setting.
The President glanced at Katherine, who was standing beside Lynch. He recalled hearing something about her being Lynch’s ex-girlfriend—but clearly, they were still in touch.
There was no need for doubt. If they weren’t still connected, would Mr. Truman have personally spoken to him about her? After all, intern slots at the presidential palace were hand-picked by the President himself. Without his approval, not even backdoor connections would work.
“You’ve been doing excellent work. Truman told me. Let’s arrange a private meeting sometime. As for now…” He smiled politely, then looked at Katherine again. “Perhaps I should let this young lady leave work early.”
The nearby interns were filled with awe and admiration. None of them had ever thought to compare themselves to Lynch. They hadn’t even taken over their family businesses yet, while Lynch had already built a business empire.
Blackstone Capital had begun to show its strength. Major financial groups held it in high regard—especially Blackstone Security, formed in partnership with the Department of Defense and the military. It had become the largest military contractor in the Federation.
Just this fall, Blackstone Security recruited 2,000 young people. Even more astonishing, they began receiving full military training immediately upon employment—something rarely seen on domestic soil.
Lynch was able to pull this off because around 80% of the recruits came from the military. It was a unique collaboration: Lynch funded the elite training, and in return, the military gave him maximum autonomy. Reportedly, their confidentiality agreements allowed for the military to mobilize Blackstone personnel if necessary.
Lynch had found a way to bypass the brutal domestic capital wars, rising swiftly abroad and then reinvesting back home. At this point, trying to block Blackstone Capital was incredibly difficult—and probably suicidal. No one would be foolish enough to try.
With someone like Lynch, how could ordinary young people even dare to compare?
Katherine herself was a little stunned. She always knew Lynch was capable, but not this capable. Even the President was willing to let her off early just so they could go on a date.
That kind of influence… was overwhelming.
But Katherine didn’t move. She had learned something over time—what you hear isn’t always what you’re meant to hear. So she stayed still.
The President gave her another amused glance, smiling. “Go change. This is a special exemption from me. If anyone questions it, send them to me.”
Lynch nodded. Only then did Katherine thank him and head to the dressing room, while the President and Lynch stepped aside.
“There’s a charity gala in a few days—you must attend,” the President said quietly. There were no onlookers nearby, no hint of political maneuvering.
Lynch nodded. “What’s it about? What do I need to prepare?”
“It’s related to orphans. In recent years, the birth rate has increased, but so has the number of abandoned babies.”
“My wife is organizing this gala. We’ll auction off some items to fund the building of orphanages and secure legal protections for these children.”
During the Great Depression, people clung to cheap sources of joy. At the same time, dire financial conditions made abortion unaffordable.
In the Federation, both medical and surgical abortions are extremely costly and heavily regulated. In some states, abortion is illegal; in others, it’s legal but requires complex agreements. As a result, many children were born unexpectedly.
Unprepared parents often abandoned their newborns. It became a common occurrence.
At the end of the year before last, a photographer captured a haunting image titled Baby on the Garbage Hill, which went on to win several major awards.
In the photo, a deceased baby lay on a pile of trash, eyes open, silently staring at the sky.
The image was described as soul-piercing. The photographer won many awards, but also fell into severe depression and is still undergoing treatment.
Abandoned babies had become a serious social issue. Hosting a charity gala at this time would greatly boost the President’s campaign.
Everyone wants others to be good people—just not themselves. If the President and First Lady could demonstrate a sense of social responsibility, they’d gain emotional support from the public.
Since it’s a charity event, there would naturally be donations and auctions. If Lynch was to attend, he’d need to prepare something to donate.
These charity auctions were usually short, but meaningful.
Typically, participants donate something, then buy back their own donation—yes, it sounds silly.
But that’s exactly what makes it work.
It’s a clever way to avoid any criticism, show goodwill, receive generous tax breaks, and dodge anti-wealth backlash.
Lynch nodded in agreement. After confirming his attendance, the President shook his hand again. “I’ll have someone send you the invitation. Be sure to bring a date!”
He patted Lynch on the arm, then left with his entourage.
Not long after, Katherine came back changed. As the two exited the presidential palace, she sighed, “I feel like the whole world is your friend. I’ve been following the news lately—they say you’ve got close ties to the Gephra royal family, especially the princess.”
If it were just a normal rival, Katherine wouldn’t be worried. Even back in school, Lynch was popular and pursued by rich girls—but in the end, she was the one who won him over.
But if a powerful foreign princess joined the picture, her confidence wavered.
Lynch opened the car door for her and smiled. “It’s for work.”
“Work, my ass.”
Katherine burst out laughing. “You really are very busy.”
Lynch didn’t feel awkward at all. “Yeah, it’s been pretty busy.”
Once they got in the car, the playful tone gradually faded, and Katherine brought up the dinner they had shared that evening.
“Ms. Tracy’s uncle just won his bid to become Archbishop, which means she now effectively controls about five million votes from church members. That voting bloc has always been one of the most important every election year.”
“She’s planning to get involved in various political reform efforts. With support from her uncle and her father, if she decides to enter politics, she’ll start at a very high level—probably as a governor or a state senator.”
“On top of that, she’s extremely well-connected. That kind of network will benefit your future.”
“My future?” Katherine was surprised. “What kind of future am I supposed to have?”
Lynch turned to look at her. “Female politician. Do you like the sound of that?”
Katherine looked confused. “I’m not sure. Is being a female politician really a good thing?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never thought about taking that path. I don’t know.”
The future was still too uncertain for her. She couldn’t see what lay ahead, but she knew it wouldn’t look anything like what she had imagined before.
As Lynch became wealthier and more influential, many things were starting to change.
He took her hand, looked into her eyes. “Everyone’s running forward. So am I. If you don’t want to be left behind, you’d better keep up.”
“I’m not trying to force you to do anything you don’t want to. I’ll respect your choice. If you don’t want to run, I won’t make you.”
“Whether you want a calm, ordinary life, or an exciting but exhausting one—I’ll give you that choice.”
In the end, the girl didn’t say she wanted to give it up. Opportunities like this didn’t come often—and rarely landed in your lap.
She could tell Lynch wasn’t trying to use her for anything. He was just trying to give her a better position, an advantage.
As for why he was doing it, or what that advantage might lead to, she didn’t know yet. But she believed one day she would understand—and she wanted to be there to see it for herself.
