One of the riser sections is giving us a wobble second from the left. I'll look at it, he said. He fixed the riser in 12 minutes. Loose bolt in the lower brace. Simple clean done.
He stood up and looked at the stage from floor level. The podium was centered. The lighting was warm. The room was arranged to hold approximately 200 people with camera positions for six media outlets along the back wall. This was where it would happen.
Whatever it was, he went upstairs. Victoria's office was busy in a controlled way. Clare moving with focused precision. Two members of the legal team in the small conference room adjacent her CFO at the table going over presentation materials for the fourth time. Victoria herself was standing with her back to the room, phone to her ear, speaking quietly.
She turned when Marcus came in. She held up one finger. Give me a moment. He waited. She finished the call, clicked off, looked at him with the expression of someone who has been running on adrenaline and strategy for 72 hours and is still standing by choice.
Not because it's easy. How does the room look? She asked. Good, he said. Riser wobble is fixed.
A/V is clean. You're ready? She nodded. Then lower. Are you ready?
He understood she wasn't asking about the building. Yeah, he said. I'm ready. She exhaled slowly. The alternative term sheet is complete.
My CFO is confident in the numbers. Adrienne Park confirmed this morning that she'll second the motion to table Hawthorne's proposal and call for an immediate vote on the alternative structure. She paused. Three board members are committed. I need one more to get the majority.
Which one are you working on, Thomas Burl? She said he's been non-committal. He's not in Hawthorne's pocket the way the others are, but he's risk averse, and the optics of rejecting the larger deal make him nervous. What time does he arrive? He's supposed to be here by 10:00 for the pre-event reception.