America 1919

Donnie understood his current status, so during the fundraising process that followed, he chose not to stand out and, just like everyone else, donated 5000 US dollars!

Normally, at such banquets, Harding, like a distinguished social butterfly, flitted from one guest to another, engaging in small talk and expressing his goodwill.

Accompanying Harding, naturally, was Florence, who, at that moment, had a smile on her face that completely belied her typically harsh demeanor.

After the banquet, Nucky was asked to stay behind.

Donnie was not among them.

"Donnie, I'm counting on you for tomorrow's affair!"

Before Donnie left, Nucky found him and said with a smile, "I'm going to play poker with Harding tonight, and it will probably last until the morning!"

During Harding's term as President of the United States, his Cabinet was also known as the Poker Cabinet, due to Harding's fondness for playing poker and often summoning his Cabinet members to play at the White House.

Looking at Nucky, who wore a triumphant smile, Donnie calmly said, "Don't worry, there won't be any problems with tomorrow's event!"

Nucky laughed, "With that said, I can rest easy. See you tomorrow!"

Having said that, Nucky turned to leave, but just then, Harry approached, greeted Nucky—who was about to join them—, and then said with a smile, "Donnie, what are you up to? Harding specifically told me to make sure we invited you to join us!"

Nucky, wearing a smile, suddenly turned around. In Atlantic City, only Nucky had been retained, which, in a way, demonstrated his status. However, now Donnie was also being asked to stay.

"Of course, I was just about to instruct my company's staff to make sure there are no issues with Mr. Harding's speech tomorrow!"

Donnie said with a laugh.

"Oh my God!" Harry said exaggeratedly, "That's the kind of thing you can leave to the staff. You mean to say they can't work without Donnie around?"

Donnie laughed heartily, "Of course not, our company's staff are all elites!"

"That's right, now is the time for us to relax properly!"

With a smile, Harry led Donnie out of the banquet hall, while Nucky followed silently.

This was a small sitting room with people of distinguished status— the future President of the United States, the future Attorney General, the future richest man in America, the current underground emperor of Atlantic City...

However, at the moment, their appearances hardly matched their prestigious identities.

Harding's hair was disheveled, the first two buttons of his shirt undone, his eyes fixed intently on his hand of cards, occasionally glancing at Donnie.

The others were also tense.

When Donnie played his last two cards, it immediately drew a chorus of groans from everyone.

"God, Donnie, you must be cheating. Why is it that you win every time!" Harding tossed his own poker cards onto the table, picked up a glass of brandy, and downed it in one gulp.

"Gentlemen, a bet is a bet. Don't make any excuses!"

Donnie laughed heartily as he drew the chips in front of everyone else into his embrace.

"Donnie, this way our future President might lose all of his campaign funds!" Harry joked.

Donnie said indifferently, "Harry, talking like that is going to put a lot of pressure on me!"

The group continued joking and playing cards, and at the start of the next hand, Harding suddenly said, "Donnie, I heard that your 'Atlantic City Post' has started circulating in cities like Philadelphia and New York?"

Donnie nodded, "That's right, the popularity of Miss America exceeded expectations, and perhaps we can take this opportunity to expand the 'Atlantic City Post' in these two cities!"

Harding laughed, "Does that mean the Republican Party has gained another newspaper?"

Donnie, getting the hint, smiled knowingly, "The day after tomorrow, the 'Atlantic City Post' will feature content about your broadcast speech, Mr. President!"

Harding glanced at Harry with an appreciative look. This was actually the reason he had invited Donnie to the room. Even though in Atlantic City, Nucky was still the king, Donnie's influence had become impossible to ignore.

Especially with the growth of the Atlantic City Broadcast Company and the 'Atlantic City Post,' Philadelphia and New York were not cities to be overlooked, but in these cities, as well as their respective states, the Republican Party's advantage wasn't as strong as it was in New Jersey.

Therefore, Harding needed more voices to speak for him.

With the addition of Harry's lobbying efforts, Harding's impression of Donnie deepened.

Nucky also came to understand everything at that moment, his gaze towards Donnie undergoing a slight change.

The most important thing of the evening was actually the conversation Harding had with Donnie. After those words were spoken, everyone returned to their poker game.

It seemed the evening would pass just like that, but then Donnie suddenly heard a commotion coming from the door.

It was Florence's voice.

She wanted to burst in, but she was blocked by Harding's bodyguard, which sparked an argument outside the room. During the quarrel, Donnie noticed that Florence actually suspected there were women in their room!

Upon hearing these sounds, the others naturally heard them too. However, Harry and the rest acted as if they hadn't heard anything at all, while Harding just shook his head in resignation.