Page 131

My work phone starts vibrating again.

This time Daniel glances at the screen.

“Richard.”

Adrian looks at me.

I take the phone.

“Dad.”

Richard doesn't bother with a greeting.

“How bad?”

I walk toward the windows.

“Bad enough that you shouldn't trust television coverage and not bad enough for the company to collapse before lunch.”

“That's not an answer.”

“It’s the one I have right now.”

Richard is silent for a second.

Then he asks, “The board?”

“Circling.”

“Preston?”

“Especially Preston.”

A sharp exhale comes through the phone.

“I'll be there within the hour,” Richard says.

“You don't need to come in.”

“Yes, I do.”

The call ends.

I lower the phone and find Adrian watching me.

“He's coming,” I tell him.

Adrian rubs a hand across his face.

“Excellent. We were running low on pressure.”

It isn't a joke. There is no humor in his voice. Daniel steps back into the room after taking another call.

“The 12:30 investor briefing has been moved to 12:00,” he says.

“Vivian needs you both with outside counsel again at 1:15. Emergency board session is at 2:00. Meridian is now requesting 2:45, and European counsel wants 3:30.”

“What happened to lunch?” Adrian asks.