In the Lexington Prophet column, two different answers to Leslie's problem appeared.The first was a long editorial in praise of Governor Oliver Russell, ending with the line: "Oliver Russell will one day be President of the United States, and anyone in Kentucky who knows him will Wouldn't be surprised."
The next page of the column reads: "Henry Chambers, formerly a resident of Lexington. Five years ago his 'Lightning' horse won the Kentucky Great Series. He and his third wife, Jessica, have Divorced. Chambers now lives in Phoenix and is owner and publisher of the Phoenix Star."
Newspaper deterrence, that's real deterrence, and her Washington Post once ruined a president.
Here she found a definite answer.
Next, Leslie spent two days investigating Henry Chambers' situation.Interactive web analysis provided some interesting information: Chambers is fifty-five years old and a philanthropist.He inherited a fortune from a tobacco company and devoted his life to philanthropy.It wasn't his money that Leslie was interested in him.What actually interested her: He owned a newspaper and had just been divorced for the third time.
Half an hour after meeting with Senator Davis, Leslie came to Jim Bailey's office. "Jim, I'm leaving."
He looked at her and said sympathetically, "Of course you need to go on vacation. When you get back we can—"
"I'm not going to come back."
"What? I—I don't want you to go, Leslie. Escape won't solve—"
"I'm not running away."
"Have you made up your mind?"
"deal."
"We don't want to lose you. When are we going?"
"I'm already on my way."
Leslie Stewart thought many times about ways to meet Henry Chambers.The possibilities of meeting were endless, but she ruled them out.What she considered was that this matter must be carefully arranged.Then she thought about Senator Davis.Davis and Chambers have the same background, move in the same circles, and of course know each other well.Because of this, Leslie decided to visit the Senator.
Leslie arrived by plane at Phoenix Airport, and she walked impulsively to the newsstand at the exit.She bought a copy of the Phoenix Star and read it carefully, with no luck.She bought the Arizona Tribune, and then the Phoenix Gazette, and sure enough, she saw Zoltey's astrology section.I don't believe in astrology, it's all bullshit, my mind is way smarter than that stuff.but……
Outside the airport, the driver and a limousine were waiting for her.
"Is it Miss Stuart?"
"I'm."
"Mr. Chambers greets you and asks me to come and see you to your hotel."
"Thank you for his kindness." Leslie was a little frustrated because she expected him to pick her up at the airport himself.
"Mr. Chambers would like to know if you are free to dine with him tonight."
OK, great.
"Please tell him I'd love to go."
Leslie had dinner with Henry Chambers at eight o'clock this evening.Chambers seemed a pleasant man, with an aristocratic face and gray-brown hair, warm and kind.
He eyed Leslie enviously. "Todd really meant it when he said he was going to do me a favor."
Leslie smiled and said, "Thank you."
"Leslie, why do you want to come to Phoenix?"
Leslie knew he didn't really want to know about it. "I've heard a lot about this city, and I think it's a good place to live."
"It's a nice place, you'll love it. Arizona has it all—deserts, mountains. You can find anything you want here."
Leslie thought: I've found it.
"You still have to find a place to live. I believe I can help you with some settlement work."
Leslie knew in her heart: the money around her was only enough to support her for three months.But it turned out that she achieved her plan in just two months.
The bookstores are filled with books on how women get men, with vulgar psychological knowledge on everything from "trying to please" to "luting them into bed."Leslie didn't do that at all, she had her own: she teased Henry Chambers, but only mentally, not physically.Henry had never seen a woman like her.He was a man of stereotypes who believed that a blond woman who was beautiful was in all likelihood a bit dull.The women he's interested in have always been good-looking, but not very smart.Leslie was a revelation to him.She is intelligent, quick-witted, and has a wide range of knowledge.
They talked about philosophy, about religion, and about history."I think she was reading a lot to catch up with me," Henry confided to a friend.
Henry Chambers especially enjoyed being with Leslie.He took her to show off to his friends, put his arm around her as if she were a trophy, took her to the San Francisco Hotel, to the Festival of Fine Arts, to the Theater of the Stars.They watch the Phoenix Suns show at the American West arena.They also went to the arts and crafts center and symphony hall in the city of Scottsdale in the central state of the state, and also went to the small town of Chandler in the south-central city to watch the lively scenes.They also went to watch the Phoenix Roadrunners play hockey one night.
After watching the hockey show, Henry said, "Leslie, I really like you. I think we're so good together. I want to have sex with you."
She put his hand in hers and said softly, "Henry, I like you too. But the answer is no."
The next day, they agreed to have lunch together.Henry called Leslie and said, "Why don't you pick me up from the Star? I want you to stop there and take a look."
"I'd love to," Leslie replied.It was exactly what she had been looking forward to.Phoenix has two other newspapers, the Arizona Tribune and the Phoenix Gazette.Only Henry's paper, the Phoenix Star, was losing money.
The Phoenix Star's offices and production space were smaller than Leslie imagined.Henry showed her around.Leslie looked around, thinking: It's hard to beat a governor or a president in a place like this, but here's a stepping stone.She already has plans to use it.
Leslie was interested in everything she saw.She kept asking Henry this and that, and Henry kept referring the editorial director, Leary Bannister.Leslie was amazed: Henry seemed to know nothing about the newspaper business, and didn't seem to care.Therefore, she made up her mind even more: she will learn as much as possible of everything that can be learned.
Once, they had dinner together in a restaurant called Bojiata.The hotel is quite like a castle, surrounded by the flavor of the old Italian countryside.The food is extremely rich.There's lobster soup, veal carpaccio in an egg-and-butter sauce, white asparagus with savory sour sauce, and the famous soufflé.Henry Chambers was a lot of fun and a great guy.It's a beautiful night.
"I love Phoenix," Henry was saying. "Just fifty years ago, it was an unbelievable population of sixty-five thousand. Now it's over a million."
Leslie was curious about something and asked, "Henry, why did you leave Kentucky and move here?"
He shrugged and replied, "Actually, it wasn't me who decided to move here, but my damn lungs. The doctors didn't know how long I would live. They told me that the climate in Arizona was the best for me." .That's how I decided to live the rest of my life here—whatever it means to live, to live it to the fullest."
He smiled at her, "We've all come here." He took her hand, "They say how good this place is to me, but they don't know it. You think I'm too old for you, right? Isn't it?" he asked eagerly.
Leslie smiled and replied, "Very young, really young."
Henry looked at her for a long time: "I'm not kidding. Will you marry me?"
Leslie closed her eyes momentarily.She could see the handwriting on the wooden sign on the long walk in the interstate park: Leslie, will you marry me? ... "I'm afraid I can't assure you that you're marrying a governor, but I'm a decent lawyer."
Leslie opened her eyes and looked at Henry. "Ken, I'm willing to marry you." This was what she wished for.
Two weeks later, they were married.
Senator Todd Davis perused the wedding announcement in the "Lexington Prophet" section of the newspaper.It sounded in his ear: "I'm sorry to bother you, Senator Davis. I don't know if I can see you. I need your help... Do you know Henry Chambers? ... If you can I would be very grateful for introducing me to him."
If that was all she wanted, there would be no problems in the future.
If only she could wish for so much.
Leslie and Henry honeymooned in Paris.Everywhere they went, Leslie wondered if Oliver and Jane had been there before, walked down the same street, ate at the same restaurant, shopped in the same store.She pictured them together, making love together, and he repeated in Jane's ears the same lies he had told her.For those lies, he has to pay dearly.
Henry loves her very sincerely, and often makes her happy by forcing himself.In a different situation, Leslie might have returned his love too.But something deep in her was gone: I will never trust any man again.
A few days after returning to Phoenix, Leslie called Henry out of the blue and said, "Henry, I want to work at the newspaper."
He laughed. "why?"
"I thought it would be interesting to work there. I used to be executive director of advertising operations, and I might be of help to you in that."
He objected, but finally gave in.
Henry discovered that Leslie read the "Lexington Prophet" column of the newspaper every day.
"Are you looking for an old acquaintance in your hometown?" He teased her.
"Somewhat." She smiled.She read every word about Oliver.She wants him to be happy and successful.Happier and more successful...
When Leslie pointed out to Henry that the Star was losing money, he laughed and said, "Honey, it's just a drop in the bucket. I have sources from places you've never heard of. Losing money doesn't matter."
But it's not indifferent to Leslie, it's a matter of great importance.Due to more and more contacts in the management work of the newspaper, she seemed to feel that the biggest reason for losing money was in the factory. The machines used to print the Phoenix Star were outdated, but the factory refused to replace them with new ones.They said that as soon as the equipment is updated, some workers in the factory will lose their jobs.They are currently negotiating with the Star for a new contract.
Leslie talked to Henry about the situation, and Henry said, "Why are you bothering the staff like that? We'll just play our game."
"I'm just having fun with you," Leslie reassured him.
Leslie meets Star lawyer Craig McAlister.
"How are the negotiations going?"
"Mrs. Chambers, I hope to bring you good news. But the current situation does not seem to be optimistic."
"We're still talking, aren't we?"
"On the surface. But Joe Riley, head of the Printers' Union, is a tough guy, a—a tough guy, and he won't give an inch. In ten days' time, the printer's contract is up. Ray Li said that by then the union would not have a new contract and they would leave."
"Do you believe what he says?"
"Believe. I don't want to give in to the unions, but here's the reality: we wouldn't have a paper without them. They could make us close the paper. More than one newspaper has closed because it tried to fight the unions."
"What are they asking for?"
"All the usual requests: shortened working hours, increased wages, and protective measures in future automated operations..."
"Craig, they're screwing us. I'm disgusted."
"Mrs. Chambers, this is not a question of sentimentality, but a very practical one."
"Then your opinion is a concession?"
"I don't think there is a choice."
"How about I talk to Joe Riley?"
The conversation was scheduled for two o'clock in the afternoon, and Leslie was late because she had gone back to lunch.When she entered the drawing room, Riley was already waiting, talking to Leslie's secretary.The secretary was Amy, a pretty young woman with brunette hair.
Joe Riley was an Irishman, about forty-five, thick-eyed.He has been a printer for more than fifteen years.Appointed union chief three years ago, he has a reputation as one of the most tenacious negotiators on the job.Leslie stood for a moment, seeing him flirting with Amy.
Riley was saying, "...then the man turned to her and asked, 'That's easy for you to say, but how do I get back?'"
Amy laughed. "Joe, where did you hear that?"
"My dear, I asked. How about dinner tonight?"
"My pleasure."
Riley looked up and saw Leslie. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Chambers."
"Hello, Mr. Riley. Come in, please?"
Riley and Leslie were sitting in the newspaper conference room.
"How about some coffee?" Leslie asked proactively.
"No, thank you."
"Drink something strong?"
He smiled wryly. "Mrs. Chambers, you know that it is against the law to drink alcohol while on the job."
Leslie took a deep breath. "I thought we'd talk alone, because I've heard you're a very reasonable man."
"I try to do that," Riley replied.
"I hope you understand that I have a lot of sympathy for unions. I think you workers should have certain rights, but your demands are unreasonable. Some of their habits cost us millions of dollars every year."
"Can you be more specific?"
"I'd love to talk. They're working less and less of their regular hours, and they're finding ways to work extra hours for overtime pay. Some are trying to work three shifts back to back, even on weekends. I think, they Call it 'on a windmill and spin'. We can't afford it anymore. We're losing money because the equipment is obsolete. If it can be produced on newer equipment—"
"Absolutely not! You want to replace our workers with new equipment, and I don't want the machines to throw our workers into the street. Your bloody machines don't want to eat, my workers need to eat." Riley stood Get up, "The contract expires next week, either agree to our request, or we go."
That night, Leslie told Henry about the meeting, and he said, "Why do you get into this business? Organizations like trade unions, we all have to get used to them. Take my advice, Baby. You're new to things here, and you're a woman, let the men take care of it. Let's not—"
He stopped suddenly, out of breath.
"Are you okay?"
He nodded. "Today I saw that stupid doctor who thought I should have an oxygen tank."
"I'll make arrangements," Leslie said, "and I'll get you a nurse so if I'm not here—"
"No! I don't want a nurse. I—I'm just a little tired."
"Come on, Henry, I'd better help you to bed."
Three days later, Leslie called an emergency board meeting.Henry said, "Honey, you go. I'll stay here, take it easy." The oxygen tank helped, but he was weak and depressed.
Leslie called Henry's doctor: "He's so weightless and in pain, you've got to do something."
"Mrs. Chambers, we are doing everything we can. Let him rest as much as possible and keep taking his medicine."
Leslie sat there watching Henry lying on the bed coughing.
"It's a pity about the meeting," said Henry. "Leave the board to you. Anyway, there's nothing anyone can do about it."
She just smiled.
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