Chapter 24: The Pitch

William's question at dinner had been four words long.

"Will you sit in?"

He meant the pitch on Monday.

The buyer for the biggest home goods chain in the country was coming to see the spring blender line.

Parker Group had been courting the chain for three years.

Freddy had built the presentation himself.

Ken said yes before he'd finished his soup.

He spent the weekend reading the line's spec sheets in the blue guest room, with a red pen.

On Monday morning, the glass boardroom on the forty-first floor smelled of coffee and new carpet.

Ken sat at the far end of the table, between Jude and a board member who did not look at him.

Freddy stood at the head with a clicker and a very good suit.

He talked for fifteen minutes.

His slides were beautiful.

The buyer, a lean woman in a gray jacket, listened with her chin on her hand.

Her face gave nothing away.

"Your price is eleven percent over the competition," she said when he finished.

"The design is superior."

"Everyone's design is superior." She turned a page.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Parker. My stores sell to people who want a blender for forty dollars."

Freddy's smile did not move.

"We could discuss a volume discount."

"You could. I'd still say no."

The room went quiet.

Jude's knee found Ken's under the table.

William said nothing, which was how Ken knew he was watching.

Ken did not intend to speak.

He had been told to listen.

But the buyer was reaching for her bag, and he heard himself say, "May I ask you one question, ma'am?"

She looked down the table at him, annoyed.

"And you are?"

"Ken Bronze. I'm a student. I'm not on the payroll for this."

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