Her simple statement met with approval to most who asked. Others pushed but not to the point of annoyance. Many of the guests wore sugary sweet façades. The popular designer wanted her to wear her dresses because that would equate to sales. The producers wanted a friendly face in the governor’s seat so they could cut through the political red tape and film productions could stay on time. Everyone had his or her own agenda.

The room held many powerful people. She searched the crowd for a friend. Eliza found Carter across the room and waited until the weight of her stare made him turn around. When he did, he smiled in her direction and then questioned her with a look.

She shook her head to indicate she was fine and continued to talk to the woman by her side. Only when Samantha arrive and found her way to her side did Eliza truly relax.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Carter drank his water and washed down the filet. Eliza sat by his side and charmed their hosts. Max and Sally sat at a nearby table—Blake and Samantha at another. Over three hundred guests finished their dinners which cost them anywhere from five-thousand to fifteen-thousand a plate. Only Hollywood could demand such a price. Every one of them would use their dinner as a write off on their taxes and several more would find critical connections to make them more money. Attending dinners like this secured votes and paid for commercials. His hosts expected that. What they didn’t expect was how Carter and Eliza were going to manipulate the spotlight to rally allies for Eliza’s safety.

Jay walked through the tables and whispered in Carter’s ear. “Are you ready?”

Carter cast a glance over his shoulder to Eliza. She nodded and dropped her napkin on the table.

Tom and Marilyn led the two of them to the podium on the small stage. Behind them, Max and Sally followed and in their wake, Blake and Samantha.

Carter nodded at Neil who spoke into a small microphone dangling from an earpiece. Beyond the tables of people, Dean and James stood at opposite corners of the room.

A hush fell over the room as Tom and Marilyn stood together to introduce their guests of honor.

There were several invited reporters at the dinner and two camera crews. There wasn’t a live feed, but that didn’t mean every word Carter said wouldn’t be heard. There were times when he needed Jay to help him with some of his speeches, but this wasn’t one of those times.

“Thank you all for coming tonight,” Tom began. “Your generous contribution to Mr. Billing’s campaign will go a long way to helping him win in Sacramento.”

The crowd applauded and Carter felt Eliza lift her hand from his to clap along with them.

He kept her hand clasped in his and lifted it to his lips to kiss. At least one bulb flashed and captured his gesture. Her thumb rubbing the backside of his hand was the only outward indication of her nerves. She did well under pressure, he realized. He just wished she didn’t need to be so strong.

Tom dropped a few names within the crowd and bantered with Marilyn about their choices in the menu. After a few laughs, Tom released the microphone to Carter.

The guests remained seated, and Carter stepped forward to give the attendees his attention.

“Thank you, Tom and Marilyn. Everything about tonight has been perfect.” Again, the crowd clapped.

“I’ve had a very tight schedule in the past few months, but it always feels great to drive to the event instead of flying.”

“It’s a long drive from Sacramento,” someone called out.

Carter laughed and nodded. “It is. But in order to make positive changes for this state I’m willing to make that drive. So many of our jobs, your jobs, are being shipped elsewhere. It’s time to work through some of the bureaucracy and return our jobs here.”

He paused for applause.

“Shipping our families out of state to put bread on the table shouldn’t be the default suggestion for Southern California’s second largest economic contributor. If all of you, Hollywood’s elite, left Hollywood, then our number one largest employer, tourism, would drop. Our state parks are some of the finest in the world, and yet we close them because of budget cuts. We have cuts because state revenue is spent elsewhere to produce movies and television shows.”

The guests murmured in agreement.

“I understand our problems and if elected, I’ll do everything within my power to shift our jobs back here where they belong.”

Again, the crowd applauded.

“Unlike any other time in my personal life, I’m more vested in making California a home for my family.” He glanced over his shoulder. Eliza’s cheeks grew red. “In case you didn’t know, I signed a pretty big deal last weekend.” While the audience laughed, Carter extended his hand to Eliza. “I’d like to introduce you to my lovely wife, Eliza Billings.”

Eliza turned to the lights and offered a wave.

“I think she’d make a great first lady of the state. Don’t you?”

He paused for a moment and waited for the planted questions to come from the media. It was time for the real show to begin.

“Your opponent suggested that your wife isn’t a legal immigrant.”

A few people gasped at the comment. Some hushed the reporter.

“It’s okay,” Carter told the crowd. “Eliza and I knew questions would be raised about her past.”

“According to my research, Eliza Haven’s wasn’t born here.”

Carter lifted his hands to the crowd to settle them. “My father was part of the police force for over thirty years. His motto on the job was simply this... “Believe none of what you hear, and half of what you see.” Your research, and that of my opponent, has found a dry trail in relation to Eliza’s birth and background. Of course you’d assume she immigrated to this country. With immigration topping political forum, it’s easy to point fingers and cry foul.” Carter lifted his eyes to the audience.

“There are reasons beyond immigration for which people have a need to hide…to change their names. Eliza’s story would make a blockbuster film if it weren’t so painful.”

The room went quiet as everyone listened.

“Up until a month ago, Eliza hid herself from the public eye because she has lived the majority of her life under the witness protection program.”

The eyes in the room shifted to her. Flashes snapped in rapid fire and Carter grasped Eliza’s hand hard.

“Is that true, Mrs. Billings?”

Eliza leaned forward and spoke into the mike. “It is.”