Henry rarely made appearances in front of the media, leaving most people unaware of his true identity. They might have heard the name Henry Williams, but it was just that—a name. His only notable public appearance was when he attended a book signing event in London a few years back for his work, "Harry Potter." However, over the years, his appearance had changed significantly, making it difficult for anyone unfamiliar with him to recognize him.
However, for the Governor of California, Henry's identity was not a secret. As soon as Ted Lynch entered the hotel, he inquired through his assistant, "Has Henry Williams arrived?"
"Yes, he's currently eating in the corner of the lobby," the assistant responded.
"Eating? Did he not have dinner before coming here?" Ted Lynch remarked, astonished. "It's already eight o'clock in the evening. I would have thought he'd eaten by now! Hehe, genius really is different from ordinary people. While everyone else is busy discussing business at the party, he is the most unconventional!" Ted Lynch was taken aback but secretly praised Henry's unique approach.
As Henry ate, he mentioned to Helen, "I went to pick you up just now, and I only managed to grab a few bites for dinner. I'm really hungry right now!"
"Eat slowly; no one will take your food away!" Helen smiled as she peeled a bowl of golden shrimp for him. Then she took an apple, peeled it, and sliced it into small pieces, placing them on his plate.
Henry was enjoying his meal when California Governor Ted Lynch approached him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Henry Williams!" Ted Lynch said as he strode up to him. "I'm California Governor Ted Lynch!"
Henry looked up to see a man around fifty years old, donned in a black suit with a purple tie. He had pronounced features, thick eyebrows, and a sharp haircut that gave him a distinguished air. Henry immediately stood up, extended his hand, and replied, "Mr. Governor, hello!"
Ted Lynch shook Henry's hand warmly and replied, "Just call me Ted or Uncle Lynch."
Caught off guard by the Governor's informal address, Henry thought, Is the Governor of California really this approachable?
Before Henry could dwell on it, he mirrored the familiarity and said, "Hello, Uncle Lynch!"
With that, Ted Lynch erupted into laughter at being called that. "That's more like it!" He then settled beside Henry as if they were old friends, leaving Henry feeling a bit bewildered.
"Henry, here's my business card with my personal phone number on it. If you ever need assistance, just call me!" Ted Lynch said as he handed Henry his card before taking his leave.
Henry examined the card thoughtfully.
Helen leaned in and whispered, "It's strange; Ted Lynch is usually quite aloof with people. Why is he treating you so warmly?"
"Who knows!" Henry shrugged. "It doesn't seem like a bad thing!"
On the other side, Ted Lynch enjoyed a glass of wine before turning to his assistant, "Is Murdoch here?"
"Yes, he's in the private box."
"Good, let's meet him," Ted Lynch replied casually.
"Understood!" the assistant nodded, then hesitantly added, "Mr. Governor, I've heard that Henry Williams has backed Clinton's presidential campaign quite openly. Can we win him over?"
"I have over a year left; I'll make sure Henry Williams changes his mind!" Ted Lynch responded confidently.
The assistant fell silent, processing Ted's words.
---
With Helen catering to him, Henry's dining experience was nothing short of indulgent. She poured wine, fed him grapes, and the treatment felt wonderfully regal.
Suddenly, the hall grew quiet.
Then, Ted Lynch and Murdoch emerged together from the crowd, followed by a dozen attendants.
Ted Lynch took to the microphone and announced, "Welcome to tonight's charity gala! This evening, we aim to share our love with disabled children! We have arranged a charity auction, and all proceeds from tonight will go toward assisting disabled children!"
Applause erupted throughout the audience!
Ted Lynch smiled, pleased with the enthusiastic response, and continued, "Ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin our charity auction, and Mr. Andrew, the head of Fusubi Auction House, will be your host for the evening!"
Henry reclined with his legs crossed and watched the stage with interest. He took a sip of juice and remarked to Helen, "I want to figure out something now."
"What is it?" Helen asked, taken aback. "What do you want to discover?"
"Haha, have you noticed Murdoch? The older man in the white coat with a red rose embroidered on his chest standing next to Governor Lynch? That man is a colossal figure in the media business in the U.S. He holds tremendous sway! Seeing him side by side with Lynch leads me to think that Ted Lynch may be eyeing a presidential run..."
"So, he wants to win you over too!" Helen murmured. "Murdoch is the media tycoon, while you are the king of the Internet, wielding significant influence over public opinion! With your backing, Ted Lynch could gain a massive advantage in his presidential ambitions!"
"Exactly!" Henry nodded with a smile.
"But you supported Clinton before, right?" Helen asked, curious. "Now that Ted Lynch is aiming for you, who will you choose?"
Henry grinned as he popped a piece of apple into his mouth, and began to speak through a mouthful of food. "Hehe, I'll support whoever has the best chance of winning and provides me the most benefits!" In truth, Henry had already considered the implications. Ted Lynch's unexpected move to run for President was a plus. Although he would support Clinton, he wanted to make him a little anxious. Otherwise, if it became a given that he would back Clinton, it would feel as if he was obliged to help him! He wanted to make it known that there were other contenders at play!
If you want support from me, you better show me some benefits, or I'm changing my alignment!
Helen wasn't privy to Henry's inner thoughts but agreed with his philosophy about supporting whoever offered the most advantages.
"Let's wait for the right moment, don't you think?" Helen smiled at Henry. "You're quite clever!"
"Cleverness pays off!" Henry chuckled and playfully tapped her nose.
At that moment, the auction was ready to start. Henry felt compelled to help disabled children, while also recognizing that this event was a pivotal opportunity for Ted Lynch to boost his image. By supporting him, he might just make Clinton sweat a little. Time to seize this moment!
Not only would he be doing a good deed, but he could also send a message to Clinton—what was not to like about this?
It was time to witness how extravagant the wealthy could be!