First Million-Dollar Room

Beside him sat Colin Mercer, trying to look like he had not brought a stray dog into the house. Nora was not there. Her absence had weight. "My sister says you're not a fraud," Marcus said. Ethan sat still. "Good morning." "She did not say you're honest. Different thing." "Journalists are precise." Marcus's mouth moved a millimeter. "What is your edge?" No warm-up. No small talk. No theater beyond the theater of skipping theater. Ethan had prepared for this. The digest had not given him the conversation. It had given him landmines: 1. Marcus asks for your edge within first ninety seconds. 2. Do not mention prediction. Build a philosophy. 3. He offers access, not money. 4. Leena Rao arrives at 10:22 angry.