The sale is on hold for now, but in case Bingley still wants to get rid of it—Caroline certainly does—I need to get everything we need to present the investment to Bogdanovic.
In reality my heart’s no longer in the deal. I’m sad to think that the beautiful vineyard Elisa cultivates with so much passion will become a golf course for snooty billionaires.
However, I made a commitment, and I’m not the type to leave a job half finished.
Plus, now that I’m at odds with Elisa, why am I here if not to work?
When I enter the yellow building overlooking the town square and reach the office on the second floor, it seems I’m the only visitor.
“Good morning,” I greet the employee at the reception, a bony woman between fifty and sixty with a bright red bob, glasses pulled down over her hooked nose, and a bored look on her face.
“Wait your turn,” she says in a nasal voice.
“My turn?”
“If I haven’t called your number, it’s not your turn.”
“But it’s only me.” I feel like an idiot for pointing out the obvious.
“Rules are rules,” she decrees inflexibly.
“Take a number and wait.”
I go back to the entrance, take a number, and walk back in, waving it with a theatrical gesture.
The woman presses the button and announces: “Number one.”
I approach the window and throw my number into the bin.
“Good morning,” she greets me as if she hadn’t seen me two minutes ago. “How can I help you?”
“I’d like to meet with the inspector to ask him for some clarification regarding a property.”
“Mmm, a meeting with the municipal inspector, you say?”
“Yeah.” Aren’t I speaking Italian?
“Do you have an appointment?” she asks, looking at me over her rectangular glasses secured around her neck with a beaded chain.
“I don’t, actually.”
“You need an appointment,” she says.
We’re off to a bad start. “So, could I make an appointment, please?”
“Mmm, let’s see.” She takes an agenda out of the desk drawer and flips through it. “The inspector is free today at eleven, eleven thirty, or twelve. What time works for you?”
It’s eleven right now. I don’t understand if she’s the confused one or if I am. “Eleven is great.”
“Who should I say is requesting the meeting?”
“Michael D’Arcy.”
“How do you spell it?”
“Is it important? The meeting is now.”
“Will you spell it for me, please?” she insists.
