Martin leaned forward.
"Who gave you access?"
Eleanor continued.
"Your manufacturing portfolio has deferred necessary equipment investments. Your insurance exposure is increasing. Employee turnover in three operating divisions is significantly above your own targets."
Victor set down his tablet.
"Where did you get that information?"
"From the materials your company provided."
Daniel shook his head.
"That's impossible."
Eleanor looked at him.
"Would you like me to identify the relevant documents?"
Richard's confidence flickered.
"Who exactly are you working for?"
Eleanor folded her hands.
"Brooks Capital Partners."
Richard waved dismissively.
"Yes, yes, we know the name."
"Do you know the company?"
"We're familiar with the proposal."
"That wasn't my question."
Martin looked toward Victor.
Victor had already opened a search page on his tablet.
Eleanor noticed, but she did not stop speaking.
"Your board is seeking a major capital infusion because several lenders have declined to extend the existing facilities on their current terms."
Richard's jaw tightened.
"Confidential."
"Correct."
"Then you should understand why we're not comfortable discussing it with just anyone."
Eleanor nodded.
"Of course."
She took another document from her portfolio.
"This is the preliminary investment framework your board approved last week."
Richard stared at the heading.
His face changed.
"How did you get that?"
"I participated in drafting it."
Martin looked sharply at Richard.
Daniel stopped smiling.
Victor stared at his tablet.
Andrew finally lifted his head.
Richard spoke more slowly.
"What do you mean, you participated?"
Eleanor placed the document on the table.
"I mean exactly what I said."
Richard reached for his phone.
Before he could dial, the conference room door opened.
Patricia stepped inside.
Her expression was grave.
"Mr. Caldwell, I'm sorry to interrupt."
Richard turned sharply.
"Not now."
"It's urgent."
"I said not now."
Patricia looked at Eleanor.
Then she looked back at Richard.
"The chairman is here."
Richard froze.
"Chairman Whitmore?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Patricia swallowed.
"He said the principal investor was already in the building."
Richard's gaze returned to Eleanor.
Something uneasy passed across his face.
Before anyone could speak, a distinguished older man entered.
His name was Thomas Whitmore.
At seventy, he was Caldwell Strategic Holdings' nonexecutive chairman and one of the few people in the company whom Richard could not easily intimidate.
Behind him walked a corporate attorney and the board's independent governance adviser.
Thomas stopped in the doorway.
He surveyed the room.
Then he saw Eleanor.
His expression brightened.
"Eleanor."
He crossed the room toward her.
Richard stared.
Thomas extended his hand.
Eleanor shook it.
"It's good to see you, Thomas."
"The pleasure is mine."
The chairman turned toward the executives.
"I see you've met our prospective principal investor."
Nobody moved.
Thomas glanced from Richard to Martin.
"Something wrong?"
Richard opened his mouth.
No sound emerged.
Thomas turned back toward Eleanor.
"I trust they've made you welcome."
Eleanor paused.
It would have been easy to say no immediately.
Easy to describe Richard's behavior in front of everyone.
Easy to watch the color drain from five faces.
But she wanted Thomas to understand something larger than a single offensive sentence.
So she answered carefully.
"They've made their attitudes very clear."
Thomas studied her expression.
His smile disappeared.
"What happened?"
Richard suddenly stepped forward.
"Thomas, there's been a misunderstanding."
Eleanor looked at him.
"Has there?"
Richard ignored her.
"We weren't aware Ms. Brooks was the principal."
Thomas stared.
"You weren't aware?"
Martin cleared his throat.
"The briefing materials weren't entirely explicit."
Thomas turned toward him.
"Her biography was included in the board packet."
Victor lowered his eyes.
Thomas continued.
"Her photograph was attached. Her professional background was attached. Her authority to negotiate was clearly stated."
Richard forced a laugh.
"Well, you know how busy things get."
Thomas did not smile.
"No, Richard. I don't think being busy explains this."
Eleanor spoke quietly.
"Perhaps I should explain."
Every person in the room turned toward her.
She looked at Thomas.
"When I arrived, Mr. Caldwell assumed I wasn't authorized to represent the investor group."
Thomas nodded slowly.
"Go on."
"I introduced myself and offered my hand."
Richard's face tightened.
Eleanor continued.
"He refused to shake it."
Thomas looked at Richard.
"Why?"
Richard straightened his jacket.
"I was simply maintaining professional boundaries."
Eleanor spoke again.
"His exact words were, 'I don't shake hands with your kind.'"
A silence fell over the room so complete that the faint hum of the building's ventilation became audible.
Thomas stared at Richard.
Richard looked toward Martin for support.
Martin looked away.
Eleanor continued.
"Several members of the executive team laughed. Mr. Caldwell then suggested I might be more comfortable elsewhere in the building."