’Mr. President,’ Leo called out in his mind. ’What do you think?’
Roosevelt’s voice carried a hint of solemnity.
"She’s a genius, Leo."
"She understands the true potential behind this plan of yours."
"The Reconstruction Finance Corporation was the sa way back in its day. It started as an ergency relief agency and grew into a behemoth that controlled the nation’s economic lifeblood."
"She wants to be its tar."
’Should I work with her?’ Leo asked.
"Work with her."
Roosevelt gave a definitive answer.
"You have no other choice."
"Your team truly can’t handle a system that complex. If you stubbornly try to build it yourselves, it will most likely collapse due to technical vulnerabilities."
"You need her technology. You need her capital."
"As for who will control whom in the future..."
Roosevelt scoffed.
"Just get the system built first."
"As long as the kill switch is in the hands of the executive authority, as long as you are the Mayor..."
"...you’ll always have the ability to flip the table."
Leo looked at Evelyn.
"It sounds very tempting,"
Leo said.
"But I have one condition."
"Speak."
"Control of the system must be in the hands of the Pittsburgh Reconstruction Authority."
"All settlent data must be transparent to the city governnt."
"I can’t let this system beco your family’s private property."
Evelyn nodded.
"Reasonable."
"We will only provide technical services and liquidity support. We will not touch executive sovereignty."
"I understand that’s the bottom line."
She extended a hand.
It was fair and slender, adorned with a black gemstone ring.
"So, do we have a deal?"
Leo took her hand.
It was cold, but firm.
"Deal."
The mont their hands clasped, the lodious sound of a piano drifted from the banquet hall.
"Let’s go, Mr. Mayor."
Evelyn did not let go of his hand.
She looked at Leo, the corners of her lips curling into a slight smile.
"Business is concluded."
"Now, it’s ti to fulfill your obligations as a guest."
"Dance with ."
"Let all those people inside who are waiting to see you make a fool of yourself have a good, long look."
"Let them see just who the Mayor of Pittsburgh is standing with now."
Leo froze for a mont, looking at Evelyn.
’This is a political display.’
’She’s telling everyone: the Saint Claude Family has placed its bet.’
Leo straightened his tie.
"It would be my honor."
He took Evelyn’s hand and pushed open the glass door leading to the main hall.
The lights washed over them once more.
The conductor saw the mistress of the manor walking toward the center of the dance floor, and with a light flick of his baton, the orchestra’s soothing background music instantly switched to a Strauss waltz.
The rhythm was brisk, yet it carried an oppressive weight.
Holding Evelyn’s hand, Leo stepped onto the dance floor, which was as smooth and polished as a mirror.
The whispering crowd around them automatically backed away, clearing a large open space.
All eyes were now fixed upon the two of them.
Leo felt a cool sensation in his palm.
She didn’t follow Leo’s lead submissively like a typical dance partner; instead, through subtle movents, she tried to control the rhythm of their spins.
"You’re a good dancer."
One of Leo’s hands rested on Evelyn’s slender waist, feeling the firm line of muscle beneath her black evening gown.
He matched the beat of the music, leading her through a half-turn.
"Did you practice that in the bars of the South District?" Evelyn’s voice was clear and cool, right by his ear.
"I practiced in my office at City Hall," Leo retorted. "The footwork required to dodge bureaucrats trying to ask for money is far more complex than this."
The corners of Evelyn’s mouth lifted slightly.
The two spun in the center of the dance floor.
Her black gown and his dark blue suit intertwined, like two black holes wrestling for dominance.
"You seem to be quite fond of black."
Leo gazed at the face so close to his.
At this close range, her coldly beautiful aggression was even more pronounced.
Every other woman in the room looked as if she wanted to wear a rainbow to attract attention, but she alone was like a sharp, black dagger plunged into a bed of flowers.
"It reminds of a solemn funeral, or..." Leo paused, his tone lightening as he joked, "...or the set of so kind of Vampire movie."
"Black absorbs all spectrums of light."
Evelyn replied quickly, completely ignoring Leo’s joke.
Her gaze passed over Leo’s shoulder, as if she were surveying the layout of the entire banquet hall, yet also as if she were seeing nothing at all.
"It doesn’t need to reflect light to please others. It is an existence in and of itself."
She drew her gaze back, refocusing on Leo’s face.
"Besides, it improves efficiency."
"Efficiency?" Leo was a little surprised by her answer.
"I have thirty identically tailored black gowns in my wardrobe," Evelyn said calmly. "When I get up every morning, I don’t need to waste a single second thinking about what to wear, nor do I need to consider whether the color sche is appropriate. I just have to reach out, grab one, put it on, and then focus my energy on what truly matters."
"For a decision-maker, trivialities like choosing what to wear are an unnecessary drain on one’s energy."
Leo looked into her deep gray eyes.
"Impressive self-discipline," Leo comnted. "It sounds a bit like the asceticism of a monastery, or the programming of a robot."
"It’s ultimate rationality," Evelyn corrected him.
The music reached its climax, the tempo quickening.
Leo had to tighten his arms, pulling their bodies closer together.
"About what happened in the hall earlier."
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