As he walked across the parking lot, Rob felt the phone in his pocket vibrate against his thigh. He shifted his keys and his backpack to his left hand and dug into his pocket. Although he could use the extra cash, he was hoping it was not the hotel calling to ask him to fill in this evening. His Master's thesis was due in less than a month and he wanted to integrate the changes that he and his advisor had just discussed while they were fresh in his mind.
Looking down, Rob saw the symbol for a voicemail and he realized he had the phone in silent mode during his meeting in his advisor's office so the call must have gone straight to voicemail. Rob didn't recognize the incoming phone number so he took the time to put his bag in the back seat of his car and start the engine to begin to generate some heat against the lake-effect cold of January at the Northwestern University campus.
As he settled and waited to feel the heat from the engine, Rob selected the voicemail function and touched the icon to hear the message. He was surprised for a second to hear the connection aloud but realized the Bluetooth was still active from his drive to campus earlier in the day.
"Rob, this is Penny Huntington..., I hope you remember me from our girls-weekend at the hotel."
It took Rob only a second to remember the stunning mature red-head from the weekend, the previous month, at the hotel and the sports fundraiser. He smiled as his memory drifted back and he felt his cock stir as his mind generated images of Penny and her friends and the erotic situation of the events.
"I hope you don't mind the call, but my husband and I have a business proposal that we would like to discuss with you."
Rob's curiosity piqued as would any graduate student struggling to pay tuition.
"If you are available tomorrow afternoon we would like to invite you to our home to discuss the proposal."
Rob was working the evening shift at the lounge tomorrow but if the meeting was early enough he could make that work. As his mind played ahead he heard Penny's voice provide a call back number for the Huntington's personal assistant for him to work out the details.
After scribbling down the number, Rob selected the phone keypad and dialed the number. After two rings a woman answered. Rob had expected to have to explain his reason for calling but the cheerful but professional woman immediately said, "Mr. Thompson, it is so good of you to call, Mr. and Mrs. Huntington are looking forward to meeting with you, will 2 o'clock tomorrow fit with your schedule?"
The assistant went on to give Rob an address of a high-rise along the lake-shore. She provided parking instructions and told him the security staff in the lobby would be expecting him and they would direct him to the Huntington's apartment.
Rob's mind flew through the details and he was pleased that this would allow him to listen to the proposal, without the pressure of being late for his shift.
His only problem now was to focus on his paper and put the unexpected meeting out of his mind for now.
Rob waited in his car in the well-lit parking garage under the beautiful apartment building. Rob knew the area was well-known for the expensive residences that enjoyed the beautiful lake-view but this was the first time he had driven to the area, much less to have business here. Not wanting to be late, he allowed plenty of time and was now waiting the 20 minutes he needed to fill until he could walk to the lobby. He was curious to find out what the Huntington's had in mind and why they would offer something to someone who had no prior association with them. When his mind flashed back to the encounters with the unique group Penny seemed to lead, he was embarrassed to think of now having a business arrangement of some type.
Still, struggling graduate students couldn't turn down opportunities and he laughed to himself as he rationalized that the meeting would be good experience for what was ahead after he earned his MBA.
At exactly 1:50, Rob stepped out of the garage elevator into the bright, marble-tiled lobby. To his right, he saw a reception desk with a uniformed security guard. Rob walked toward the desk and introduced himself to the guard.
"Rob Thompson, to see the Huntingtons," he said.
The guard looked him over professionally and then checked a page in the open binder in front of him. Without responding to Rob, he picked up the phone handset and dialed a two-digit extension. After a pause, he herd the guard announce Rob to whomever was at the other end of the phone.
The guard listened, hung up the phone, looked at Rob and said, "Someone will be down to greet you in a moment."
Rob thanked him and the guard went back to his internet surfing.
A few minutes later Rob heard a ping from the elevators beyond the reception desk and a middle-aged woman in a fitted knee length dress stepped from the elevator cab. She was attractive in a professional way and as she saw Rob she smiled and walked toward him.
"Mr. Thompson, my name is Andrea," she said. "I am the Huntington's personal assistant, we spoke on the phone yesterday."
Rob smiled, took her outstretched hand and noted the pleasant smell of expensive perfume.
"Thank you, it is nice to meet you," he responded.
"Please follow me," she said and as Rob turned behind her toward the elevator he noted a pleasantly, rounded curve.
The elevator rose quickly and Rob knew they were going to the upper floors as he swallowed to equalize pressure in his ears. The elevator slowed gently and stopped. With a soft ping the door opened in to a bright hallway with one door to either side with gilt numbers 2500 and 2501. Andrea stepped quickly out of the elevator and Rob followed as she walked the few feet to the left door, 2501. Andrea pulled a keycard from her pocket, waved it by the lock. Rob heard a click and she opened the door and stepped aside to allow Rob to enter.
As Rob stepped inside he saw the foyer had two steps that lowered into a large living area. The over-riding view was a sweeping view of both the Chicago skyline to the left and Lake Michigan to the right. The proverbial "million dollar view." Before Rob could orient himself, Andrea swept past and Rob followed. They walked down a short hall and Andrea knocked softly on a closed wooden door.
A male voice cheerfully said "Enter," and Andrea led Rob into an office with a smaller but still impressive view of the skyline. Seated at a desk was a tall, grey-haired man in a polo shirt and dark slacks. As he slowly rose to greet Rob, Penny, who had been seated at another desk, un-noticed by Rob as he entered.
Penny quickly moved beside the distinguished man and helped him to his feet.
"Oh Rob, dear, we are so pleased you could join us this afternoon." Turning toward the man, Penny continued, "This is my husband and partner in everything, Edgar."
Rob stepped closer and Edgar extended his hand to Rob and smiled warmly. Rob noted he was the kind of man you liked instantly but should not underestimate.
"Penny told me that you helped her group have a great, safe time on their weekend adventure last month." "I look forward every year to her story and I can't decide what she enjoys most, the success of the charity work or the time with her girlfriends," Edgar said.
Edgar turned to Andrea and said, "Andrea, would you be kind enough to see if Rob would like something to drink?" Andrea stepped to a small well-stocked bar and looked at Rob.
Rob said, "Just some ice water, please, if you don't mind."
Andrea pulled two glasses from the rack, put ice in each, filled Rob's from a bottle and then poured a splash of Scotch in the other from a crystal decanter.
Edgar, stepped toward two leather armchairs and motioned for Rob to sit in the other. Edgar's movement was steady but slow and stiff.
Andrea placed the drinks on low tables by the chairs and then quietly left.
Penny said, "I will let you boys get acquainted and discuss our proposal," and she followed Andrea out and closed the door.
