22...23...24...
As I watched the numbers rising on the elevator display pad, I checked my appearance in the chrome doors. My brown skin felt clean and smooth after a hot shower followed by lotion and light cologne, and my dreads were oiled and lay evenly around my face. I wasn't sure of the dress code, so I decided to play it safe and dress museum professional; black suit, white dress shirt, and a black-and-white striped tie.
35...36...37...
I checked my watch. The invite was for 9:00 and it was 9:10, I hate to be late, but with traffic and it being the weekend, I didn't feel so bad.
48...49...50. The car stopped gently and the elevator doors hissed open with a chime, revealing a marble hallway with monogrammed, frosted glass doors at the other end. I crossed the hall and opened one of the doors, and was greeted by a tuxedoed maître d' holding a clipboard. I gave my name and that of my party, and he directed me to the bar.
The bar was occupied by two people at the near end, one of which I knew. Angela was a lawyer I met at the gallery, tall, blonde, 40-ish with tanned skin and a gym trained body. We'd casually hooked up a few times early in our acquaintance but had settled into a relaxed friendship.
"Hello, handsome," she said, giving me a hug and a peck on the cheek before introducing me to her companion, Mike, a large man with a firm handshake and a tight smile.
"So, what's all this about?" I asked.
"I have no idea," Angela said. "Roger called and said to meet him here."
"Me too," Mike said. "I got the same message."
"So did I," I said, and ordered a glass of wine. "I didn't even know he was back from Europe until he called me. Where is he anyway?"
Angela shrugged. "He's probably waiting to make his entrance, you know how he is."
Roger was a businessman I met when he and a group of his clients came into the museum where I work and requested a tour guide. I took them around the exhibits and I guess I impressed him, because he gave me his business card and told me to call. We hit it off, and hang out socially when his schedule allows it. I'm not sure what his actual business is, but it's an extremely lucrative one, from what I can tell.
We all chatted and sipped wine and before long, Roger glided into the room, tanned, silver haired, elegant in a charcoal grey pinstripe suit and open-collared white shirt. He spotted us at the bar and came over.
"Hello!" he said, kissing Angela and shaking Mike and I by the hand.
"There he is!" I said, genuinely glad to see him. "How was Europe?" I asked.
"Oh it was incredible, one of the best trips I've taken. Actually...the trip is what inspired me to get you all together."
"So what's the occasion, Roger?" Mike asked.
"Let's discuss it over dinner," Roger said.
He nodded to the maître d, who ordered a waiter to guide us through the darkened room past candlelit tables humming with conversation, to a large alcove near the restaurant's center wall. The table inside was surrounded by a gathered drape that could be pulled across for privacy. We took our seats across from a breathtaking view of the city skyline outside the window wall on the other side of the restaurant. I looked around and recognized faces from local television and city hall amongst the diners. This place was as fancy as it gets, and I would never have thought to come here if Roger hadn't invited me. I sat opposite Roger. Angela was on my left, Mike on my right. Once seated, I noticed one place more than we had people, near Roger's place at the head.
"Roger," I nodded, "Why are there five place settings?"
"There's one more guest who'll be joining us later," he said.
Our waiter filled our wineglasses, and at a nod from Roger, left after drawing the privacy curtain closed.
"I guess you're wondering why I called you all here," Roger began. "Well, it's because I'm starting a new venture. I'm creating a non-profit to place art in public places across the city and I want you all to be a part of the project."
We all congratulated him and he smiled.
"Angela, I'm going to need a general counsel to deal with the city. So far things are going well but you never know when a legal snag may turn up."
Roger produced a small note pad and a silver pen from his jacket pocket. He clicked the pen open and wrote out a note.
"Now I know you're busy with your practice," he said, "but I'll make it worth your while."
He tore the sheet out of the pad, folded it, and handed it to her. Angela opened it and nodded her head.
"I accept," she said.
"Wonderful!" Roger replied, flashing his smile.
Angela smiled back, and then a strange expression came over her face. Her eyes widened, then closed and she was moving in her seat. A low sound came from her throat and for a moment I thought she was choking, but remembered we haven't been served yet.
"Are you OK?" I asked.
"I-I'm fine," she answered, and poured herself a glass of water. Apparently whatever happened passed.
"Mike," Roger said, "I spoke to your old boss."
"Uh-oh," Mike replied, "what did he say?"
"Very good things. He told me you were one of the most efficient business managers he had." Roger's pen flew across the notepad again. "I could use a business manager to handle the day to day business while we indulge my creative goals." He passed the folded note to Mike. "How about it?"