18970625 12:38:17

EG-S-0680

Momence stood next to one of the chairs which the secretary offered for him to sit in while he heard his arrival being told to the auditorium's manager, Martin Leasar. The friction of his chair against the parquet floor inside echoed into the hall before he saw Mr. Leasar lean out from the doorway and wave him over to approach.
"Please! Please come in, Richard."
As he approached the doorway, Martin held his hand out to him while speaking to secretary, whom Momence didn't recognize.
"Dottie, this is Richard. Any time he comes here asking for me, you bring him to me immediately. Okay honey?"
"Sure, boss. Nice to meet you, Mister Richard..."
"Just Rick is fine." Momence said this with a smile and taking her hand to shake.
Dottie quickly withdrew from the room and shut the door with a swift slam behind her. The noise caused Momence to stare at the door with a blink.
"She needs to get some grace about her, I say. Anyway, this is unexpected! I Would have told her to look out for you if I knew you were coming. Sit, sit."
"I would, but I am busy and just need to convey this message to you directly. I understand that you just recently starting having presentations by a person named Ryan Bojack."
"Oh, him, yeah. Just did his first show last week. Brings in his own lantern and talks about those bums and whores by the factories. It's all for shock and show."
"Right. You are to disallow him from making those presentations here."
Martin stared at Momence in contemplative response. He found it seem curious for it to apply specifically to this one individual and his show.
"Really? I mean, he did draw a decent crowd for it. Did you...", Martin now leaned forward in his chair and spoke in a reduced volume, asking, "did you want a direct taste from his pull instead? Would that be good?"
"No. He cannot make that presentation here. At all."
Momence issued the command with cold rigidity and an unwavering stare. The motive for him not sitting down was clear to Martin at this point. This wasn't something to be negotiated or discussed. This was an order to be followed.
"OK, Rick. OK. I'll tell him."
"Good. See you Tuesday."
"Yeah, will do." Martin's voice was timid and soft when saying this.
Momence immediately took leave of the room and closed the door gently after he stepped out.
"See you Tuesday, Miss Dottie." As he said this to her, he continued walking on and didn't stop to look back at her as she filed her fingernails and hummed softly to herself.
 "Oh, see ya later Just Rick." Dottie said this cheerfully, but the features on her face turned dour as he left the room without so much as acknowledging her beyond that.