Once Upon an Empire by Chuck Fleischmann

John A. Kinley is a forty-two-year-old disillusioned United States Congressman from Indiana. Following John's retirement, an old friend introduces John to a mysterious group of investors. Their proposal stuns him--they want to provide a trillion-dollar budget for John to found his own country from inception to fruition. Though D.C. has made him skeptical, John hasn't given up on his dreams of creating a great nation. John accepts this task naively, with no idea of the strings attached to their deal.

Along for the ride, his loyal companion Mary is as supportive as ever, though with power and money comes temptation from his acquaintance Carlene, a tantalizing brunette with whom John shares a history.

Not only does John need to determine how to best run a country, starting from the ground up, but he's also determined to share his new life with the right person--though the wrong choice may have dire consequences.