He looked up and smiled. "I'm guessing that you want to do this."
"Well," she said casually, "only if it makes sense, of course."
He turned to me. "How desperate is she to do this?"
"Moderately desperate, but not foolishly so," I said, and we all laughed.
"It sounds fine to me," he said. "It's good money for a few hours work. I assume you have no problem with public speaking."
"No problem at all."
"I didn't think so."
"Do we try to dicker?" she asked.
"I'd say yes and no. The money itself seems fine. Leave that alone. I'll have them send me their standard contract and rider. The rider is where we'll negotiate. Transportation, for one. Food backstage. Availability to the press, including student press, and to the students themselves, before and after the speech. How long you'll answer questions. Hotel rooms for you to stay in, since it will end late and you may not want to drive home at that hour. Will it be just you and Marshall? What about security? What about security at the event? You're a bit more controversial than the average best-selling novelist, for example."
I could see him working his mind through this as he talked.
"What do you think is the possibility of doing this at more schools?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Fairly good, I would think. I could make a few calls, see what interest there is."
previous || about || home || next
