Page 194 of Promising You
“Like what?”
I take a moment to think, forcing my tired brain to work. “Like what if you weren’t so popular with people anymore? Would this group still want you to be president?”
“They’re going to make sure I’m popular. That’s part of the plan. They build on the popularity I already have. So if people online say I seem trustworthy because of the way I smile, then they’ll make sure I’m smiling in every photo, at every event. Yesterday they said people think I’m loyal because the fake me hasn’t cheated on Ava. Older people said I seem responsible because I’m not seen at clubs and because I have short hair and don’t have tattoos. This group plans to use stuff like that to make me even more appealing to voters.”
I pace the floor hoping it will help me think better, but it doesn’t. My cell phone dings and I pull it out of my pocket. “I swear I turned this thing off.” As I go to shut it down, I notice more texts from Harper.
Text 1: Kyle Andermeyer just got booted from the airport.
Text 2: Still waiting for our flight. We’re sooo bored.
Text 3: My dad called. Said Kyle just lost a movie role worth $4M!
Text 4: Finally getting on the plane!
“What are you reading?” Garret asks.
“Just some texts from Harper. Some actor delayed their flight because he was being an ass. She said he just lost a—”
“Lost a what?”
An idea hits me and I feel a rush of energy as I think of the possibilities.
“That’s it,” I say.
“What’s it?”
“I think I have an idea.”
CHAPTERFORTY-FIVE
I hold up my phone.“These texts from Harper about this actor. That could be you, Garret.”
“You want me to be an actor?”
“No. Well, kind of, but not like you’re thinking.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Just go with me here. You know Kyle Andermeyer, the guy who stars in all those kid movies? Anyway, he was being a total ass on the plane and they couldn’t take off. Everyone was delayed at the airport for hours. Harper said one of the passengers got video of the guy and posted it online just minutes after it happened. Within the hour Harper said the story was all over the Internet. Social media. Celebrity websites. Fan blogs. And now Kyle just lost a huge movie role. All because the public turned against him.”
“Yeah? So?”
“The public turned against him, Garret. He lost a big acting job because the studio thinks people won’t go to the movie if he’s in it. Do you see what I’m saying?”
“No, but I’m kind of slow right now.”
“If we could generate the same type of bad publicity for you so that people turn against you, don’t trust you, maybe even hate you, then there’s no way you could even be considered for this plan.”
“Huh.” He pauses to consider it. “But by the time I run for office people will have forgotten about what I did when I was 19.”
“Not if you do something people won’t forget. We’re not talking about losing an acting job here. We’re talking about the presidency. People expect more from a president than an actor. A few bad things may be all it takes for people to decide that you’re not presidential material. The point is that the organization won’t want to take a chance on you if the public doesn’t like you or can’t forgive you. You’ll lose the starting base they think they have to build from.”
“I don’t know, Jade. They seemed determined to make this work.”
“It’s not up to them. The public will decide your fate. If they hate you, there’s no way they’d vote for you, even 20 years from now. And if you ended up running and winning the election with little public support, it would draw attention. Reporters would be all over that. So even if that group messed with the voting machines to make sure you got elected, they wouldn’t get away with it. Too many people would be looking into how you won.”
“And how am I going to get people to hate me? Or lose interest?”
