Look Closely - Laura Caldwell [43]
Cameramen steadied their equipment, their lights blinking red; reporters pushed their microphones into position.
“The Fieldings allegations,” I said, “are just that—baseless allegations that have absolutely no merit and no bearing on this case. McKnight Corporation is an outstanding company with an outstanding record and nothing to hide. We look forward to the reading of the decision.”
When I was done, I pushed through them, refusing to answer any other questions. As soon as I got into the room, I called Beth on her cell and warned her about the press.
Five minutes later, she came into the room with Sean McKnight, the sounds of reporters’ questions following them. Beth looked a little rattled, but McKnight was cool as ever in a light gray spring-weight suit and silvery tie.
“Hailey,” Beth said. “How are you?”
“Fine.” I stood and shook both their hands. Sean McKnight looked me over, as if he would have to give a report later about precisely what I was wearing that day. He seem to grimace at the red of my suit, before he took a seat and pulled out the Wall Street Journal. I shot a look of exasperation at Beth, who rolled her eyes.
At exactly ten o’clock, the three arbitrators came into the room, greeted the participants and took their seats.
“As you know,” said the lead arbitrator, an older gentleman with a rumpled suit and white hair, “once we’ve rendered our decision, it is final. However, either party may file a notice of rejection of the award within fourteen days. If you choose to do so, you must pay the statutory fee and this case will be placed back on the trial call with the federal court. Any questions?”
I glanced at Evan Lamey sitting at the opposing counsel’s table. He shook his head, and I did the same. This was it. The excited tickle in my stomach grew.
The lead arbitrator opened a folder and read, “In the matter of Kingston Marketing Company versus McKnight Corporation, we find in favor of the plaintiff, Kingston Marketing, and award the sum of five-hundred-thousand dollars.”
I let my breath ease out of my lungs, disappointed but not entirely unhappy. I had lost, just as I suspected, but the award was much lower than Kingston had asked for. In Lamey’s closing argument, he’d asserted that the company had lost millions because of the copyright and trademark infringement and asked for forty million in damages. So, essentially, this was a victory for McKnight Corporation. If they wanted to, McKnight could pay the award easily and the whole thing would go away, although I had a feeling that Evan Lamey would reject the award if I didn’t.
I turned to Beth and McKnight. Beth raised her eyebrows and mouthed the words “Not bad,” but McKnight had his mouth set in a steely line. I should have known that he would be happy with nothing but total domination.
“Let’s go back to the office to talk,” I said.
“I’ll meet you there,” Sean said, and then he was out of his seat and out the door, pushing through the reporters without a word.
Once Beth and I reached McKnight headquarters, Sean McKnight was not there to meet us as promised. Instead, Beth and I holed up in a conference room, going over the arbitration award, the effect it would have on the company if they paid it, and the pros and cons of advancing to trial. I kept looking at my watch, irritated that McKnight couldn’t be bothered to grace us with his presence, then growing more anxious than annoyed as the time crept past eleven and toward eleven-thirty. I had to leave for the airport by twelve at the latest. Even then, I was giving myself probably only thirty minutes to get through security and on the flight.
“So what do you think, Hailey?” Beth said, interrupting my thoughts. “Pay it or play it?”
“It’s not a bad judgment,” I said for the third time that day.
I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince myself or Beth. The award was minimal compared to the millions the company had, but while paying it could get McKnight Corporation and its CEO out of my life, it