Joel Collins was getting ready to leave his office when his phone came alive. It was his wife, Cynthia, calling. He checked his watch to make sure he wasn't running late before answering the call.
"Hi, honey," he said. "How's it going?"
"Going just fine here. I wanted to ask you more about this new boss of yours, the one you want us to host for dinner tomorrow. You said he's coming from out of state, is that right?"
"That's true, hon. He's a newly appointed branch manager that's overseeing this sector of our firm. He's here to get a layout of how things are going."
"Alright. But tell me this won't impact your job, will it, darling?"
"Not if we play our cards right, hon. He's going to be looking in on promotional changes, too. We could use the step up from the way things have been going these past couple of years. One big step up equals a sizeable pay grade."
"And you think this dinner thing is going to help persuade his mind?" she inquired. "I want you to be honest with me on this, darling."
"I'm being honest here, hon. This is sure to work in our favour," Joel said, once again looking at the time on his watch; he needed to be on the road in the next twenty minutes, or else. "Like I said, he's new in town. He's going to need someone to help show him the ropes and get him acquainted with his office. Whatever help I can render, I know it's not going to be overlooked."
"Okay, well, I just thought I should ask."
Cynthia wasn't wholly sold on things. Joel sensed scepticism in her voice, but now was the wrong time for him to enlighten her further. Not that he was going to completely; the less she knew, the better for her.
"Don't worry, babe. We'll talk more about it when I get home. I need to hurry to another meeting, and then I'll be on my way home."
"What? A meeting at five? Isn't that weird?"
"Drastic times, hon. I'll call you once the meeting is over, okay? Love you."
"Love you, too, darling."
They exchanged kisses before ending the call. Joel pocketed his phone, and grabbed his work bag, and dashed out of his office. He told his secretary goodnight before rushing for the elevator. He made it to the lobby, and from there, past the glass doors of the accounting firm where he worked, into the parking lot. Joel got to his car and threw his work bag into the passenger seat before getting inside. He started his car and pulled out of the parking space, then drove off. He didn't want to look at his watch again, but he knew well enough that he had lost precious minutes due to his wife calling him.
He wasn't going to make it on time, though he knew he had to try.
As was already apparent, Joel wasn't hurrying towards some office meeting as he had told his wife earlier. He was, of course, heading to a meeting, but not the sort that Cynthia would expect, let alone imagine. Joel doubted he could explain the type of meeting that he was in a hurry to catch. Cynthia, his wife of many years, would never begin to understand.
There wasn't much traffic on the way, so he made it to the Continental Hotel in good time. Joel parked his car, and only then did he look at his watch and saw he was ten minutes behind. He went into the hotel and hurried past the lobby to the bank of elevators. Usually, he would be worried about being observed by someone who might know him, but this time that was the last thing on his mind.
Moments later, he exited the elevator and hurried to the designated door and knocked. Seconds passed, and then he knocked again. A key turned in the lock, and then the door opened to reveal a black man standing in a white bathrobe.
"You're late, white boy," said the black man.
"I left my office as fast as I could, sir," said Joel. "My apologies."
The man opened the door further and stepped aside for Joel to enter, and then he shut the door.
"Your excuse for your lateness has got nothing to do with me, white boy," said the man as they entered the suite's living room. "But it's a good thing you're here. Are you ready for your lesson, white boy?"
"Yes sir, I think I am."
