“That’s right, sick boy, so you’d better get a statement ready or we’re all going to look like idiots. And then you and this sidekick of yours will be out on the streets!”
“I’ll get right on it, sir,” Nick nodded then darted into his office.
“And you go make yourself useful,” Bongero said to Jerry. “Try staying awake.”
“Hey, Nick, I saw you on TV,” Bella said.
Nick rushed past her desk. As soon as he sat down Bella’s voice came over the intercom. “Shelly is on line five.”
“Oh, crap,” said Nick. He hit the hands-free button on his desk
phone and leaned back in his chair. “Hi, Shel!”
“Hi, Nick. Um ... are you aware there are satellite news trucks
pulling up to the hospital?”
“Trucks?” Nick asked. “How many?”
“At least three from what I’ve heard,” she said.
Bella tapped on the door and walked in on her toes. “Marie from the hospital board is on line six,” she whispered.
Jerry walked in a moment later closing the door behind him.
Nick closed his eyes. What a morning. “Shelly, I have to go. We’ll get through this. Just tell Wall that someone at the MGM leaked my speech without my knowledge.”
Nick punched line six. Time to put out some fires, and he might as well start at the top. All of his crisis management training was about to pay off. Within ten minutes, Nick had the hospital’s Executive Board calm and was prepared to meet the media. The press conference of a lifetime that he planned to work on over the next few days or so had been pushed up—to today.
Bella’s voice again sounded over the intercom, announcing Sal
Harris on line twelve.
“This day just keeps getting better and better,” said Jerry as Nick hit the flashing button for line twelve.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Hey, son. You been watching the news?”
“Yeah, kind of. I just found out. The AV crew at the hotel must have leaked the story to the press.”
“Leaked it? Hell, I told them to!” “You what?”
“I told them they could. It’s free PR, right?”