The previous installments in the “Brokering a convention” series can be found here.

Cleveland’s Terminal Tower was still beaming off the display of red, white and blue Rock & Roll Convention of an elephant-opposite-a-guitar logo as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan seated themselves in the studios of Lake Effect Media on the 40th floor of Cleveland’s landmark property, next to a third, still empty chair. Their surprise and still somewhat-surprised guest sat off set, in a green room closed to media and waiting for the call to the set. “America Rising” CEO Spencer Zwick kept eye contact on Romney and Ryan and waited for their signal to bring their guest out.