Across town, Harrison Whitmore sleeps soundly in a $4,000 bed. His phone is on silent. He does not know about the video. He does not know about the 4 million views. He does not know that his daughter, Sophie, at Stanford has been awake since 2:00 a.m. shaking, watching the clip over and over.
He will not know until 8:15 the next morning. By then, it will be too late for anything except what is already coming. At 7:00 Wednesday morning, Whitney is back at her 30th floor office. Black coat, charcoal suit, same pearl studs. She has not slept.
Nobody can tell. Theodore is already there with two cups of coffee. How are you? I am ready. The car is downstairs.
We leave at 10:40. Theodore? Yes. Whatever happens in that room, I need you to keep filming. Even if I tell you to stop.
Even if security tries to stop you. Keep filming. Understood. Whitney, one more thing. Yes.
My mother called me at 5:30 this morning. She saw the video. She wants you to know she is praying for you. Tell her thank you. Tell her I will need it.
By 10:30, the conference room on the 50th floor of Whitmore Industries is filling up. Bloomberg is there. CNBC is there. The Wall Street Chronicle, Reuters, 38 credentialed journalists, a live stream feed that has been promoted for 2 weeks. Harrison walks in at 10:50 wearing a new pair of white opera gloves, Italian leather from Florence.
He tells a Bloomberg reporter who did not ask, I have them made twice a year. Tradition matters. Edward Brooks is at his shoulder holding a tablet, ashen. Edward has seen the video. Edward has known since 5:30 this morning.
He has not told Harrison. He was instructed years ago never to volunteer bad news before noon. Sir, the more strategic representative is on the way up now. Good. Bring them in.
I want this signed and out the door in 20 minutes. I have a flight at 1:00. Sir, there is something you should know before they arrive. Edward, 20 minutes. Talk to me at lunch.
Sir, I really think Edward The elevator doors open. Theodore Davis steps out first. Behind him in a charcoal suit walks Whitney Moore. Harrison sees her. For a half second, his face does the thing a face does when the ground gives out underneath it.