Chapter 3: The Riddle of Self
A corner of Martin's mind records the layout of the back-of-house spaces, just in case he ever has to hustle a client out of this place. That subprocess is quickly sidelined by if Jasper is this worked up about it, we are fucked, shortly followed by ah, domestic trouble: yes, we are indeed fucked at a very high level.
Still, as client-involved scenes requiring impassivity go, this isn't nearly the worst one in which Martin's found himself. Stokes is clearly off-balance, which is not going to help anyone. But this is at least somewhat familiar ground, albeit the first time Martin has been more than a junior expendable meatshield on some VIP's detail (assuming Jasper hasn't quietly placed some or all of this team in the "expendable" column). So, first task: re-center the poor guy.
"Well, sir, if it helps, think of us as... subcontractors." Martin engages his corporate-English dictionary and flashes a slight, neutral smile as he crosses the room. "You've engaged Jasper to help you solve a problem. Jasper has a stable of talent which he taps as appropriate to the job. For your current issue, he's selected us." He gives Stokes a moment to process that and focus on him, then extends a hand when he judges the moment is right for Stokes to feel like the handshake is his own idea. "I'm Martin Lowell. I work personal security." Which raises the very interesting question of what a multi-million-eurobuck athlete is doing in the wild without his own watchdog. "My colleagues: Mister Takanori, medical services; Mister Cruz, mobility and technical services; Miss Orlova, also personal security," he manages without smirking, "and Miss Fletcher, confidential investigations."
He glances at the liquor selection and regretfully bypasses the Buffalo Trace. If Stokes is offering wine first, then wine it is, at least for him. He pours himself a glass, silently offers the same for Cipher and Lube, checks Stokes' own conversational lubricant level, fixes Nyx's vodka, and only then sits.
"So, Mister Stokes, we're the working group that your prime contractor has put together. You can think of this as the initial project meeting. To answer your question: how this usually works is that the client tells us his concern and his desired end state. We'll probably have some questions for you to elicit further details and to clarify your goals. But, please, let's start with what you're comfortable sharing with us."