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CHAPTER 2

The small auditorium is packed. A large gathering of reporters, cameramen, and other media members fill every seat and nearly every corner available. On stage sits a small table with three microphones. To the left of the table is a podium.

A chorus of cameras flash as four executive members of the Bass Foundation enter the room. Three of them - Gordon Chambers, Edward Lau, and Michelle Caine - take their seats at the small table on stage.

The fourth executive, a 34-year old black male named Jerrod McNally, stands at the podium. Beaming with a wide, ridiculous smile, he leans into his mic and speaks, his articulate voice breaking through the idle chatter.
MCNALLY
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I’ll be moderating this little shindig. Before we begin, I’d like to thank you all on behalf of the Bass Foundation for coming out. We're looking forward to another exciting season of Project M-Verse. For those who don't know me, I'm Jerrod McNally, director of communications. I know you have a lot of questions and we'll get to as many as we can. We’ll start with John from the Daily Post. Is John here?