CHAPTER
30
CHAPTER
30
‘We’re almost ready Mr. Zelig.’ The production manager said, and smiled encouragingly. ‘You’ll hear the announcer make the introduction, then he will turn to you and thank you for coming in. He’ll give the viewers a quick bio extract of your qualifications and experience, then he will put the first question to you.’ She smiled again, ‘How are you feeling?’
‘Fine. I feel a little silly wearing makeup, but apart from that I’m feeling ok.’
‘Good. Just relax and be yourself. Try to keep your eyes on the presenter and now and then just pick a spot on the back wall, just a tad above the heads in the people in the audience and focus on that. You will look like you’re making eye contact, but you’ll really be reducing your stress levels.’
‘Thanks. I’ll try to remember to do that.’
Within minutes the camera was trained on him and he was responding to the first question. It was all over in twenty minutes and from the noise in the studio he could tell it had hit the right cord.
When the cameras shut down and the lights faded, Jason walked over to him and gave him a pat on the back. ‘Well done my friend. The media circus has just begun. I think we should make a hasty exit before you get caught in the stampede.’
They exited through a rear door and got into a waiting taxi that took them to a large shopping mall. ‘Need to buy new jocks?’ Christoph asked with a grin.
‘Not today. I just thought it safer to change cabs. We don’t want the press finding you just yet.’ He hailed another taxi and Jason signalled him to leave the talking until they were back at the apartment. Cabbies are like news magnets. They can smell a celebrity as soon as they open the door.' The driver dropped them off a couple of blocks from the office and they walked the rest of the way. ‘Well, you should be very proud of your performance my friend. I had no idea you have such remarkable thespian qualities. Your performance is worthy of an Oscar.’
‘That good hey?’
‘Superb my friend.’
‘I was worried about the accent.’
‘No need. It made you sound more credible.’ Jason chuckled. ‘Gave you a certain authenticity; a sort of Albert Einstein, Rudolf Steiner mix.’
Once they were back in the apartment Christoph turned on the TV and switched to the news channel. ‘If my guess is right, reporters will be swarming around Angus about now. He’ll hate the fact they caught him in his loafers. Poor, Angus. The fact he didn’t dress for the occasion will embarrass him more then the questions they’ll bombard him with.’ Christoph said.
‘Poor Angus my arse.’ Jason snapped, ‘He deserves to be mauled, eaten and spat out. And I hope the media tears him apart.’ He looked across at Christoph, ‘By tomorrow Angus will be as well known as Brad Pitt, only his story won’t be fantasy. It’ll be real life.’ Jason poured coffee and handed a mug to Christoph, ‘and Kappa Insurance will be a household name. Only its stocks won’t be soaring, they will be sinking into the rising seas.’
‘So how do you proceed from here?’
‘Good question’ he paused ‘and one I don’t have an answer to right now.’ He smiled, ‘Let’s just wait for a while. Let’s get a feel for the public reaction then we can work on plan B.’