Chapter 5 - The Bait is Taken
Marcus sat at the head of the polished mahogany table in Conference Room A, trying to keep his hands from shaking with excitement.
Richard, the founding partner of Vanguard Legal, was pacing the room, his face flushed with adrenaline. "This is it, people. Sterling Global. The white whale. If we land Thomas Sterling’s account, our firm's revenue triples overnight."
Richard stopped and pointed directly at Marcus. "Sterling’s office requested you personally, Marcus. They said they’ve been following your career. You are going to lead this pitch. If you close this deal, the senior partnership is yours. The corner office is yours. Hell, I’ll buy you a new car myself."
Marcus puffed his chest out. "I won't let you down, Richard. I'll have the pitch deck perfect by Thursday."
For the next two days, Marcus barely slept. He ordered his associates around like a tyrant, screaming at interns and demanding perfection. Elena brought him coffees, massaging his shoulders in his office after hours, whispering about how powerful he was going to be.
He completely forgot about Clara. He assumed she was sulking in a cheap motel, too ashamed to come home. He blocked her number just in case she tried to interrupt his focus. He was on the verge of becoming a king, and he didn't have time for peasants.
Thursday morning arrived. Marcus wore a brand-new, bespoke suit he couldn't afford, purchased on a maxed-out credit card. He drove to the towering glass skyscraper of Sterling Global in the financial district, tossing his keys to the valet with a massive tip.
He walked into the executive elevator with Richard and three other partners, clutching his leather briefcase.
"This is the big leagues, Marcus," Richard whispered as the elevator pinged at the 60th floor. "Don't choke."
"I never choke," Marcus sneered confidently.
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They were escorted into a boardroom that looked like it belonged to a head of state. Massive floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the ocean. A long table of black marble dominated the room.
At the far end of the table sat Thomas Sterling. He was not smiling.
