6
Lis Mooring took the podium, having just come from the President’s office. Calming down the Executive Office Press Corp she began, “Three days ago the President, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Finance were summoned to the headquarters of the Republic Power Company in the jungle. At this meeting the Board of Directors, lead by the company’s CEO James Kompco, informed the National Government that without immediate financial and legal assistance the company would default on its obligations and be forced into bankruptcy court and up for dissolution as predicated by law. Noticing this to be a potentially disastrous situation, the three government officials, lead by Prime Minister Zhang, crafted a plan that was then issued to the Parliament for approval. The emergency resolution number 37PMT R4, which was in fact signed by the President just moments ago authorizes the Minister of Finance to establish a line of credit to the RPC at a drastically reduced interest rate of approximately six billion dollars. Furthermore the Parliament has nationalized the authority to determine the price setting, releasing the Villaggio City Council of their authority of pricing control. The RPC is technically a permitted monopoly, it is required by public policy that a government entity control their ability to set the rates in which they charge their customers. Minister Sensado has been placed in charge of monitoring the RPC as they navigate a recovery and determine the best path back to profitability,” she paused looking at the hands, “Claude.”
“Lis, did the President have any idea the RPC was in such bad shape?”
She shook her head, “The President only knew that the company had been struggling for the past couple years but he did not know it was to this extent. Dolores.”
Dolores stood, “With this assistance plan for RPC, are we seeing a policy shift from the President and the National Parliament such that every time a business is on the verge of collapse they will step in to help?”
“Dolores as you know I am not paid to speak about the policies of the Parliament, but I can assure you the President has not changed his policy view towards capitalism and the free market. I believe we all can see how this situation is a rather unique one, and one that required immediate steps to be taken to assure the security of our homeland,” checking the clock, “Ok that’s enough. Thank you.”
7
Rachel Rove found herself often enjoying the occasional absent-minded stare at Ponchertrain through the rain-drenched windows of her office. Her favorite part of the city was the oldest district, around the University of Virtagwalla. Chapel Silo was one of the first buildings built on the newly claimed land of Ponchertrain more than a hundred years ago. It was the tallest building in Ponchertrain until the National Government was moved there and Capital Tower was erected. Although massive steely skyscrapers would eventually dwarf it, Chapel Silo continually stood as a beacon of man’s ability to combat the force of gravity. The majority of the original buildings were squat, wide structures since there wasn’t much depth of earth to lay a foundation. ‘It wasn’t till much later, when materials were better developed, and brilliant solutions were served, would Ponchertrain reach its silvery fingers into the sky,’ she could remember one of her professors telling her as a graduate student. She laughed to herself, rolling her eyes, and swirling her wedding ring around her finger as she sipped on a staling cup of coffee. Glancing at the clock, she realized she must hurry or she would be late for the University Senate meeting being held in the auditorium across campus.
Grabbing a black umbrella, Dr. Rove darted from building to building as she made her way over the lush green quad. Her curled blonde hair, and thin frame complimented her rain jacket well as she stepped into the auditorium. A good portion of the faculty had already arrived for the meeting, entertaining one another as most academics do: by flaunting their recent projects and achievements. Rachel had been working for the University just shy of a decade and was above the politics. Sighing, she pushed her way into the main hall, taking a seat next to a gangly math professor she had taken while a student at the University.
“Good afternoon Dr. Rove,” he said picking his jacket up out of the seat and laying it in the chair on the other side of him.
Taking off her trench, “Hello Mackasee,” finally getting it off, and draping it over the back of the chair in front of her, she spat, “Are you ever going to call me by my first name? I mean I had you twenty years ago and you called me Ms. Potters, my maiden name, and now you call me Dr. Rove. We’ve been colleagues for a long time Mackasee,” she said with a certain attitude.
He gave a sheepish laugh, “Sure Rachel, whatever you like. How is the Enviro Engineering department treating you?”
Adjusting her hair as she settled in the chair, “A major pain my ass, that’s how it is. I wish someone had told me being a department chair is the most painful job on this campus. I am getting sick of dealing with everyone’s silliness and excuses,” she growled overdramatically, “Some members of the faculty are worse than the students.”
Mackasee gave his sagely laugh again, “Oh I know. I was the chair of the math department for fifteen years.”
“I am so glad my term is almost done,” she said fanning herself and looking at her watch.
The auditorium began to fill, the professors and administrators filing in to find their usual seats. Much of the chatter subsided when the President of the University Senate took her post at the podium. Rachel always thought the President looked very similar to the actress Glenn Close and had mentioned it to her on multiple occasions. The President never found it to be a flattering compliment.
“Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, we will be delaying the start of our meeting by just a few moments. I was just informed Chancellor Chamberlain is running a bit late. I apologize for the postponement, but thank you for your unwavering patience,” she politely commented laying the gavel down and moving away from the lectern.
The doors in the back of the room swung open loudly. The massive form of Sylvester Chamberlain filled its void and proceeded to waddle his way down the aisle. Waving his hands as if he were a celebrity on a talk show, “I am so fantastically forlorn to clasp this congregation up, but I found myself ambling intensely through the heart of an astoundingly vitalitarian video call with the President of the University of Hawaii discussing enrollment stratagem. I am lucid in your mind our ears have not all been damped to discern how the University of Hawaii has improbable enrollment practices,” he smiled at everyone, “I diminish pilfering a diminutive from our contiguous neighbor could only acquiesce optimistic outcomes,” he turned towards the Glenn Close look alike, “Madam President you may herald.” He took his seat, in a special chair set out for him.
‘I really hate that man. Ugh, and I even more loath the fact that I agree with Xavier in that appointing Sylvester Chamberlain as Chancellor of the University was one of the worst decisions his government had ever made,’ she thought to herself, ‘Typical Xavier, ruining the one thing I enjoy in life,’ her poisonous thoughts blotted out the proceedings around her. The meeting was more than averagely boring - it was remarkably painful. Most of the voting was simply symbolic; the decisions had been made long before their silly vote. When Chamberlain spoke, Rachel always entertained herself by catching him using the English language incorrectly. He enjoyed hearing himself speak but he couldn’t string an intelligent, articulate sentence together. To those who didn’t listen, he sounded brilliant, peppering jargon and his abundant vocabulary over everything. ‘Too bad he doesn’t know what half of those big words mean,’ she sighed to herself.
As was usual his speech was dramatic, long winded, and completely over the top. At one point he was comparing the race to land a man on the moon, and the upcoming Hawaii versus Virtagwalla football game. Although it was weeks away, it clearly was the only thing Chamberlain had on his mind. The meeting was finally closed before an entire hour had exhausted. Walking up the aisle to exit the auditorium, Rachel was slipping her jacket on just as her name was called. She stopped, rolled her eyes, and turned plas
tering the fakest smile she could muster on her face.
“Chancellor Chamberlain, what a brilliant and motivational address this afternoon,” she remarked walking towards him.
Holding out his hands, he replied, “I am elated you could charm us with your company Dr. Rove,” taking her hand in his, he kissed it softly. “I am even more ecstatic to perceive we can lug you from the throngs of academia to get you more implicated in the University.”
She simply shook her head, “Well it was good talking to you Sylvester but I do really need to be running. I need to pick my son up from soccer practice. You know with this weather, one can not be too sure it will go the entire time,” she said pulling her keys out of her purse.
Chamberlain made a gesture up the aisle, “Please before you go, stay for some of these astonishing indulgences I had prepared for our assemblage today. I had them disposed outside the lecture hall so that afterwards the faculty would be flabbergasted. I know how simply riveted they get when food is tendered,” he smiled wide toddling behind her up the ramp.
After sipping on some punch, and attempting to further get away from Chamberlain, he asked, “I hear you are not thriving in your station as Chair of the Environmental Engineering department. This disconcerts me. What can I do to enhance your experience?”
Just as Rachel was about to open Pandora’s box, Chamberlain’s cell phone began ringing. He hastily scooted away excusing himself. Wanting to continue their conversation, Rachel grabbed one of the cookies, and bit into it. The stale shortbread, she thought, nearly cracker a couple of her teeth. Disgusted, she threw it under the table as Chamberlain waddled back.
Excitedly he pointed to his phone, “You will never presume who just telephoned me?”
Rachel rolled her eyes, “I haven’t the slightest of clues. Anyways about this chair thing-”
Cutting her off, and laughing asthmatically, “It was your husband, you know President Xavier Rove,” he said pointing to the phone, all the while going very flush in the face.
‘Oh god,’ Rachel thought grabbing her purse and preparing herself to dash away. The sight of Chamberlain heaving though fascinated her, so she naively stood around. He caught his breadth, “By no means would I have ever projected the President of this nation to be calling me personally, but I guess he desires something from me or the University. He wishes to meet with me in three days time,” he beamed, “Wow, one of the most admired Presidents in history – calling me,” he looked at Rachel who had an expression of absolute disgust on her face, “Oh, my repentance Dr. Rove, what were we just conversing over?”
Rachel slammed her heel into the stale cookie, “Nothing, I was just saying good bye Chancellor Chamberlain,” she pointed towards the door and sighed angrily, “I need to be getting to that soccer practice now.”
8
Xavier Rove had come into the office early, and sat reminiscing about his life prior to the Presidency while sipping on a piping cup of coffee and watching the sunrise. He thumbed through a photo album of his time at Harvard, his father’s painful death and funeral, the times when he and his younger brother Anthony ran their father’s old store, and even how he had met his wife in graduate school. He snickered at the pictures of a young Hampton Ray, a mere student at the UV when he was brought into help turn the store around. After a few very successful years, under Ray’s watch, they sold the store and the three men went their own ways.
Xavier’s peaceful romanticizing didn’t wane until Hampton Ray, dressed in his tailored suit and fine silk tie busted through the President’s doors and asked, “Mr. President, what is this personal appointment with Sylvester Chamberlain at eleven, I see you have added to your schedule?”
Shutting the album, Rove stood up, “I do believe ‘personal’ means that I do not have to tell you” he smiled at Ray who didn’t flinch. Laughing Xavier explained, “I called him the other day. I want to have a little chat with our good friend over at UV.”
“What do you want to talk to him about?” Ray inquired further.
“I am curious to find out what is going on with this rumored Villaggio expansion,” he explained mischievously.
Ray rolled his eyes and went for his desk in the right corner of the office, as Rove put the album back and went for more coffee.
The morning was a rather standard one for Xavier full of meetings and briefings. At ten fifty he wondered back into his office and prepared himself. At eleven o’clock exactly there was a knock on his door, and Kay Lyons threw open the two doors.
“President Rove, Mr. Chamberlain,” she turned to him and said slowly, “The Chancellor of the University of Virtagwalla is here for your 11 o’clock appointment?”
“Oh yes let Sylvester in,” Rove said standing up, straightening out his suit.
Chamberlain toddled proudly into the President’s office, sticking out his hand, “Oh Mr. President, it is a gratifying epitome to assemble with you today. My ears have not been dampened recently by news from your office, nor have I been ever so quaintly privileged to grace your presence in such a long time,” he bombastically stated, staring around the office. There was a little cough at the door, and Rove looked to see someone he had not expected.
“Prime Minister, can I help you with something? I must apologize because if you couldn’t tell, I already have a prescheduled meeting with Mr. Chamberlain,” Rove nonchalantly mentioned pointing to the rotund man.
The Prime Minister strolled into the office with his hands behind his back, “Rove, Chamberlain has invited me to join him with you in the meeting, I hope that’s alright,” he said flashing his menacing smile.
Rove nodded his head, his heart cautiously skipping a beat, “Sure, if that is Mr. Chamberlains wishes than I would be more than happy to entertain the both of you.”
“That will suffice,” Zhang said sitting down on one of the couches, getting comfortable, “I wouldn’t want to miss a meeting of two of my favorite people, now would I?”
Rove flashed a hollow smile as he showed Chamberlain to the sofa. He then moved to the door, he whispered to Lyons quickly, “Figure out a way to get Zhang out of here, I need Chamberlain alone.”
She nodded and stood to shut the doors. Rove took a deep breath, and turned to the two men sitting on his sofas, “Well my Chief of Staff Mr. Ray tells me I don’t have much time to talk to the two of you, so I will just get to the point.” He sat down on the sofa, Zhang’s eyes bore into him, as Chamberlain looked at everything as if he were a fat kid in a candy store, “Early last week I met with Kel Goldberg, you know the Mayor of Villaggio?”
Chamberlain nodded his head, “Oh yes, Kel Goldberg, superb chap. Acquaintances we have been for such an elongated time. You know we went quail pursuing in concert a couple years back on the periphery of the jungle. Superb enjoyment.”
Zhang nodded seeming bored now, “Yes we know Kel, get to the point Rove.”
Rove leaned back, “Well our friend Kel,” he nodded to Chamberlain who smiled, “informed me that a short time ago a parcel of land near their town square had been acquired and fenced off. Do either of you know anything about this land acquisition?”
Chamberlain, who was scanned the room gleefully, didn’t quite listen to the President. Zhang on the other hand had heard every word, but didn’t respond right away. After a few moments of silence, Zhang waved his hand and responded in typical political code, “I vaguely remember reading about a land acquisition in Villaggio a short time ago. Why would you have us come here just to ask us about some real estate deal across the island? I am sure you can look into the Villaggio Office of Deeds to find the owners of the land.”
Rove coughed, “I was actually asking Sylvester, Artimus, seeing as he was the person I wanted to meet with. But I guess you can help me to understand why you wouldn’t be familiar with this land acquisition since, according to the Office of Deeds, it was purchased by the University of Virtagwalla.”
Chamberlain nodded his head, “Oh yes, our Villaggian-” however he never finished
his statement because Zhang cut him off sternly.
“As I am sure you are aware, Rove, all land acquisition for the University can only be executed through the Board of Trustees of the University of Virtagwalla. Of which the three of us are members. The parcel of land you are speaking of, correct me if I am mistaken Sylvester, was a real estate investment made as part of the endowment of the University more so than any potentiality of actual expansion. Much like the University invests in bonds and stocks; its decision to invest in real estate, not for operating purposes but for financing reasons, is not something that needs to flow through the board, but rather the Vice Chancellor of Business Affairs for the University,” Zhang finished, again with that tone of a father telling his son not to touch the stove, again.
Rove didn’t respond right away, “So you are familiar with the real estate acquisition,” he glared at Zhang, “But why wasn’t this issue brought before the Board at our last meeting?”
Chamberlain geared up to speak, “Its quite clear, Mr. President-” but was again cut off by Zhang.
“Rove don’t make me repeat myself,” he said getting irritated, “it was meant as an investment. It was not acquired for the purpose of expanding. I clearly indicated that before. If that is all you wish to know than I think your time would be best served moving the meeting forward or ending it so you can prepare yourself and your speech for your photo op at the airport.”
Just then there was a firm knock at the door. Kay Lyons with Hampton Ray entered, “Mr. Prime Minster, General Thomas Laurels is waiting for you in your office.”
Zhang looked surprised, “I don’t remember having an appointment with the General.”
Kay smiled politely, “Well he is there, and your secretary wanted me to let you know that.”
utopia unraveling (The Virtagwala Series Book 1) Page 4
