Chapter 17: The Room Fills
By late afternoon the salon was full in the way only a good party can be full, with laughter near the quartet, conversation near the photo board, and the smell of coffee drifting over everything.
"Rosa," Mara said, joining her near the door, "how is the guest list holding up?"
"Beautifully," Rosa said, clipboard in hand. "Henry has talked to everyone twice, Jaz has shown the coupe to at least ten people, and Miriam has stopped three guests from giving Henry a speech longer than three minutes."
"Three minutes is your rule," Mara said, smiling. "Not mine."
"It is everyone's rule now," Rosa said. "Henry's friends respect it the way they respect Henry."
Across the room, Henry stood beside the Solstice with two old colleagues, gesturing at the long hood the way a man gestures at a child he is proud of.
"He looks happy," Mara said.
"He is happy," Rosa said. "You gave him that. Do not forget it."
The front door chimed, and Rosa glanced up. Her smile tightened, just a fraction.
"They are here," she said quietly. "Marcus Reid and Sofia Lindqvist. Main salon, as booked. Staff present, no private room, no paperwork."
Mara followed her gaze. Marcus entered first, shoulders back, suit sharp, smile wide, as if the room had been waiting for him personally. Sofia walked beside him, elegant and observant, her eyes moving over the showroom the way a person reads a contract: slowly, and all the way to the end.
"Rosa Vega," Marcus said, striding over with his hand out. "Wonderful to see you again. The room looks magnificent."
"Thank you, Mr. Reid," Rosa said, shaking his hand briefly. "Welcome. You and Ms. Lindqvist are our guests this afternoon."
"Guests," Marcus repeated, as if tasting a word he did not like. "Well. We are here for the Solstice, of course. A private viewing, as arranged."
"As arranged," Rosa said evenly, "you are welcome to view the Solstice here in the main salon, with our staff present, alongside our other guests."
Marcus laughed, a short practiced sound. "Of course, of course. The more the merrier. Sofia, darling, look at this room. This is how a flagship should feel."
Sofia looked at the room, and then at Rosa, and then at Mara, who stood a little behind Rosa in her simple dark dress, a glass of water in her hand.
"Hello," Sofia said to Mara, with polite curiosity. "Are you with Vantara?"
"She helps with events," Marcus said quickly, before Mara could answer. "Very capable. We met her earlier, did we not?"
"We have not met," Mara said calmly. "I am Mara. I help out around here."
"Charming," Marcus said, already turning away. "Sofia, come and see the car. Look at those lines. Look at that finish. That is not a car, that is a statement."
Sofia walked to the Solstice and stood before it for a long moment, saying nothing. Henry noticed her and came over, wiping his hands on a handkerchief.
"She is something, is she not?" Henry said.
"She is," Sofia said. "Who designed her?"
"I did," Henry said, with modest pride. "With a great deal of help from very good people. She is my farewell piece. One of one. Never for sale."
"Never for sale," Sofia repeated, glancing toward Marcus, who was now telling two guests about his portfolio in a voice just loud enough to carry.
"Mr. Reid seems very certain he can buy her," Henry said quietly.
"Mr. Reid is certain about many things," Sofia said, and there was something careful in her voice, like a person holding a thought until it is fully formed.
Rosa moved through the crowd, murmuring to her staff, keeping them in the salon as promised. Jaz appeared at Mara's elbow, her eyes wide.
"Ms. Winters," Jaz whispered. "That is him, is it not? The man from the phone call?"
"That is him," Mara said softly. "Stay near Rosa, Jaz. Watch and learn. This is what a showroom looks like when the truth walks in wearing a rented suit."
Jaz nodded, though she did not fully understand, and slipped back toward the coupe.
Marcus raised his voice again, gathering a small audience near the Solstice.
"At Northgate, we move quickly when we see value," he announced. "Cash. No fuss. That is how serious buyers operate."
Mara watched Sofia's face as he spoke. Sofia did not smile. She watched him the way she had watched the room when she arrived: slowly, and all the way to the end.
"Rosa," Mara said quietly, "keep the staff close. And keep Henry near me."
"Already done," Rosa said. "The room is full, Mara. Whatever happens next, it happens in front of witnesses."
Mara nodded, set down her glass, and waited, steady as a compass needle, for the evening to turn.