Only when the progression of speakers reaches Ida Moulay does Spencer evince any interest in the proceedings.

Lighting a fresh cigar, he addresses her. “You’ve been in contact with the SFL Owners’ Association.” It’s not so much a question as a declarative statement of fact.

She rises, clutching a thick writing tablet, completely filled with notations. “Yes. I have my findings summarized here. If it’s all right with you, I’ll brief you on them verbally now, and follow up with a typed report later this afternoon.” She’s dealing from her most valuable strength, a profound understanding of what makes Pierce Spencer happy. She could easily have presented him with a typed report here at the meeting. She’s been around him long enough to know he detests written reports. Not so much because they’re time-consuming. Because he can’t skin a report open on the spot, humiliate it for its nakedness, and tack its bloody hide to the wall. So Ida forgoes by choice the detached safety of the printed word in favor of the direct verbal gamble. To her, it’s an even tradeoff. She lays her self respect on the line in return for a high six figure income.

Spencer waggles his cigar at her, a sign that she takes to indicate his acquiescence.

“I approached the Owners’ Association with your suggestion that they double the number of SFL franchises to sixty four and play games on Fridays as well as Sundays. I explained that in such an eventuality, we would cover both days’ games live, and rerun Friday highlights on Mondays, Sunday highlights on Wednesdays.” She flips to her second sheet.

“I’m still not sure we want to go through with this,” Harry Deutsch interjects. Around IBC it’s an open topic of debate, as well as the subject of more than one betting pool, as to just how much longer Pierce Spencer will tolerate Harry Deutsch. “I’ve mentioned this before, and I want to reiterate it now. I question whether there’s the viewership potential to make a second night of football profitable.”

Spencer saves Ida the trouble of answering. “Deutsch, if we show enough blood, we could make a twice weekly lecture on butterflies profitable.”

Around the conference table Spencer’s statement gets the hearty chuckle its origin commands.