I hit the small black button on the control panel, and the little window behind the driver’s seat rolls down.
“What’s going on, Sterling?”
Sterling has been my limo driver for years. Though I’ve never asked, his salt and pepper hair makes me think he’s around my age. He came with the car service, but he’s been loyal and reliable from day one. He’s always waiting for me at 7 a.m. sharp outside my building, ready to take me to work, and at 5 p.m., he’s waiting outside the office to take me home.
But tonight, it’s different. The address I gave Sterling is one I haven’t been to since college.
Sterling’s head tilts back and to the side so I can hear him. “Sorry, sir. There’s a taxi driver who’s confused about what lane he’s supposed to be in.”
Setting my now-empty travel mug in the cup holder, I reach forward toward the bar and search for some napkins to clean my hands.
“I’ll get you another coffee while you’re in your meeting,” Sterling promises.
“Thank you.” I deflate and lean back in my seat, letting my head fall to look at the roof of the limo and rolling the privacy window up.
To pass the time, I check my email on my phone. It’s mostly junk that I can ignore.
I want to invest in your company.
Nope.
Purchase our premium leather office chair.
Already have one.
Do you need help aligning your chakras?
Delete.
Frustrated with the spam, I plop my phone down and close my eyes.
My cell phone buzzes, but I ignore it. Then it goes again and again.
Finally, after the fifth time in less than a handful of minutes, I sigh through my nose and pick it up. “Yes, Clara?”
“Mr. Reed, we’re supposed to have a meeting in your office, remember?”
Clara Kipling is the head of Human Resources at RHL Solutions. I’ve always found Clara’s voice to be on the shrill side, so it’s hard for me to focus on what she’s saying. My brain naturally tunes her out from time to time.
“I think you misunderstood me. I said I would stop byyouroffice at the end of the day if I had time.”
“Well, it’s the end of the day…” she trails off.
“And I’m not there. I didn’t have time.” I’m being curt, but I don’t care. I don’t have time for this right now.
Like a damn fly in my ear, Clara keeps on buzzing. “What about tomorrow? I can come to your office first thing in the morning. I have some papers for you to sign and new policies that need your approval.”
Massaging the bridge of my nose, I tune her out for a moment, but the fly causes me to grind my teeth. “I can bring you your favorite coffee?—”
I cut her off right there. “No need. Email me the papers you need signed, then type up a memo for the policies. I’ll look them over and get back to you.”
“Oh. But?—”
“See you tomorrow.” I press the red button, ending the call, and toss my phone back on the seat.
I’m not even a tenth of the way into my unread emails when Sterling calls through the privacy window, “We’re here, sir.”
He jumps out of the driver’s seat to open my door. When the cold air comes rushing in, I almost regret my decision. But after I spot the familiar Chinese characters, the nostalgia sets in.
