BAD WINE CRAPPY CHOCOLATE

CHAPTER SIXTEEN-1

The people who had crowded into the large ballroom of Chicago's Commodore Hotel waited anxiously for their candidate to appear. The large, sparkling chandeliers overhead paled in contrast with the effervescent faces below them. Jesse Cane, the senator-elect from Illinois, approached the podium to the sound of enthusiastic applause. She had defeated her opponent in the 2090 election with the promise of a return to prosperity. The majority of voters were inclined to believe the energetic young woman because of the man who was her adopted father and mentor. Jesse acknowledged him at the beginning of her speech.

"The challenges facing our country are enormous. We are burdened with a monstrous national debt and the rising sea is assailing our coasts. I promise to address these issues immediately. Though no first term senator could possibly know everything about the inner workings of this great nation's government on her first day in office, I have someone to turn to for advice. Senator Chris Cane!"

Chris, who was seated on the dais behind her, stood up to acknowledge the crowd. He was immensely proud of Jesse, and whispered words in her ear to that effect. The incumbent senator had suggested that he stay away from the victory celebration, due to his concern that his presence would take some of the limelight away from the senator-elect. Jesse had convinced Chris to attend the gala event.

"I'm going to be very nervous," she told him. "Your presence there will give me confidence."

Her parents had died of a rare autoimmune disease when she was very young. Jack Ruderman invented a cure for the Grables' condition before he lost Cori Fitzgerald; after time had been altered and she disappeared, Jack left the Dixie Drug Company before producing the drug.  He accepted an offer from another pharmaceutical company in Michigan, and fell in love with a woman there.  Jack was here tonight because his employer had asked him to represent the company at the ball.

"Congratulations, Miss Cane," he said to Jesse after her speech was over. "My name is Jack Ruderman. I'm with Cortland Pharmaceuticals."

"I've met your company's president, Preston Nigh. He tells me you're very gifted. I understand that you invented that vitamin supplement people are raving about. Can it really give a person a longer life?"

"The company I used to work for started that rumor. They wanted to market it as a life prolongation agent. One of the principles even suggested that I give Vitala the ability to alter people's genes in order to prolong their lives.  But I believed that was dangerous, so I moved on."

"Really? What was the company's name?"

"I'd prefer not to say. I decided to develop my idea elsewhere after hearing their plans for it. And I'm glad I did. Vitala will make you healthier—that's what it was designed to do. But it's not the fountain of youth."

Jack introduced Jesse to his wife Sara. After the senator-elect left, the couple danced to the live music with the rest of the jubilant crowd.

"I thought you left Dixie Drugs because a woman there jilted you," his wife said playfully as he guided her across the dance floor.

"That was the luckiest day of my life," Jack said with a smile. "I never would have met you if I stayed at Dixie. I just wish the people at Cortland would let me develop something significant. I'd like to find a cure for one disease in particular. It could help people all over the world."

"You'll get your chance, I'm sure. But for now, dear, let's just enjoy tonight. How often do I get to go dancing?" 

Jack smiled. Sara always seemed to have the right answer. He did enjoy that night, though at times Cori Fitzgerald still occupied his thoughts. Discussing his experience at the Dixie Drug Company had brought her to mind.