Instead, a subtle, chilling look of absolute authority settled across his weathered features.
Reaching deep inside the heavy inner pocket of his worn olive jacket, he pulled out an old-school, heavy-duty encrypted satellite phone with an extendable antenna.
He flicked open the keypad, dialed a private four-digit extension, and brought the receiver smoothly to his ear.
Looking straight past Sterling's smug face toward the golden VIP elevator doors, the old man spoke with cold, razor-sharp command:
"I'm downstairs."
He paused as the line on the other end erupted in breathless panic.
"Tell the board not to start without me."
Chapter IV: The Descent of the Board
Sterling chuckled sarcastically, shaking his head. "Look at you, playing with an antique walkie-talkie. You think calling your drinking buddies will get you into the penthouse—"
DING.