And the transaction documents gave her authority, as the designated buyer-side representative, to withhold final approval pending clarification.
She wasn't planning to create a spectacle.
She intended to inspect the aircraft, ask for the records, and sign if the answers were satisfactory.
That was all.
Then she entered Crestline's magnificent hangar.
And the billionaire began laughing at her dress.
The first ten minutes after the payment screen turned red were unlike anything Crestline's executives had experienced.
The billionaire stared at the display.
The figure remained unchanged.
Eight hundred million dollars.
The red status remained.
PAYMENT BLOCKED.
The chief financial officer was already speaking urgently into his phone.
“Check the closing platform.”
He listened.
Then said, “What do you mean the authorization was withheld?”
The CEO watched him.
The younger executive stood near the aircraft stairs, looking as though he might faint.
The billionaire turned toward her.
“You can't cancel the transaction because I criticized your dress.”
She held his gaze.
“I haven't canceled the transaction.”
He pointed toward the monitor.
“Then what is that?”
“A hold on the funds release.”
“That's the same thing.”
“No.”
She spoke calmly.
“The closing remains conditional. The required buyer-side authorization hasn't been granted.”
The billionaire looked furious.
“You're playing games.”
“I'm following the agreement.”
He stepped closer.
“I want to speak to your chairman.”
The CEO almost smiled.
“I'm the chief executive.”
“Then your board.”
“They're aware of my authority.”
The financial officer approached.
His expression was strained.
“Perhaps we can discuss this privately.”
The CEO turned toward him.
“That would be appropriate.”
He gestured toward the executive conference room.
But the billionaire interrupted.
“No. We're going to settle this here.”
He pointed toward the documents on the floor.
“You show up dressed like that, embarrass me in front of my employees, and now you think you can threaten my company?”
The CEO looked toward the papers.
Then back at him.
“I arrived for a scheduled closing inspection.”
She paused.
“You threw the documents onto the floor.”
The billionaire's face reddened.
She continued.
“And you haven't answered the questions that caused me to bring them.”
The financial officer became very still.
The billionaire looked between them.
“What questions?”
The CEO opened her portfolio.
She removed the independent technical review.
Then placed it on the signing table.