explained.
Jeffrey raised the glass to his nose, savoring the bouquet before holding it out in a toast. “Again, thanks for the hospitality.”
Roger and Garfield clinked their glasses against his and took appreciative swallows, and then returned their attention to Jeffrey, who suddenly felt like something on a laboratory slide. Garfield began speaking quietly, the voice of a man accustomed to his audience paying attention to what he was saying, and described the opening Jeffrey was interviewing for, stressing the attributes he prized the most, which mirrored what Roger had already told him. The entire speech took five minutes and was as well-crafted as a Shakespearian sonnet, building at the end to the point where Jeffrey almost felt as though he should applaud.
The questioning followed. Roger sat quietly, contributing as much as a stuffed boar head while Garfield expertly raked Jeffrey over the coals, probing every aspect of his professional and private life. The interrogation was civilized but laser-focused, and after a half hour of it, interrupted only by ordering their meals, Jeffrey felt like he’d been cross-examined by an A-team prosecutor, and was clearly guilty as charged – only of what, he had no idea. Then, as abruptly and intensely as it had begun, it stopped, and Garfield returned to making small talk with Roger, seemingly having made a decision, and now focused on extracting maximum enjoyment from his filet, which he attacked with the gusto of a shipwrecked sailor.
Over coffee, Garfield reclined against his seat back and checked his cell phone for messages, then set the little device on the table and leaned forward.
“I like you, young man. Roger assured me I would, but you never know until you’re in the clinch. He also indicated to me that you want the position, so it seems as though we’ve got a match. Welcome aboard. He’ll draw up the particulars of the offer and get them to you within twenty-four hours. I’ve got a good feeling about this, and frankly, one of my larger clients could use your expertise sooner rather than later, which is why there’s a rush. If you could start on Monday it wouldn’t be soon enough, but I understand that’s not feasible. As it is, I’d like you to commit to getting back here as soon as humanly possible – within a week would be best. Are you okay with picking up and leaving everything behind in San Francisco? I realize this is abrupt,” Garfield asked, not really in doubt about what the answer would be, Jeffrey could tell.
“One city’s pretty much like the other when you’re spending most of your time in the office, sir, so I don’t have any misgivings. As I told Roger, if the opportunity is substantial enough, I’ll move mountains.”
That was the right answer, because both men nodded, another successful deal concluded. Garfield rose, extending his hand again.
“I’m sorry. I committed to spending tonight with my wife at the opera, and it started half an hour ago. For that brief respite, I thank you, but I can’t miss the entire thing or I’ll never hear the end of it. Roger, you know what to do. Jeffrey, safe travels, and see you soon,” he said, and then sauntered out of the restaurant, looking neither left nor right, the room seeming to shrink when he left, as though he’d taken a substantial portion of the oxygen with him.
“You weren’t kidding. He’s impressive,” Jeffrey said to Roger, the last of the second bottle of wine all that remained in their glasses.
“You don’t know the half of it. I’d say you’re one lucky bastard right now. Let me pay the bill and we can get out of here; have a drink at the bar to celebrate. I’ll have everything ready for you by the time you land in S.F. The plane won’t be available for departure until tomorrow at one, so you can afford one nightcap,” Roger said, waving off any objection with a practiced hand.
The check could have bought a timeshare, and once it was settled Roger led
Jeffrey raised the glass to his nose, savoring the bouquet before holding it out in a toast. “Again, thanks for the hospitality.”
Roger and Garfield clinked their glasses against his and took appreciative swallows, and then returned their attention to Jeffrey, who suddenly felt like something on a laboratory slide. Garfield began speaking quietly, the voice of a man accustomed to his audience paying attention to what he was saying, and described the opening Jeffrey was interviewing for, stressing the attributes he prized the most, which mirrored what Roger had already told him. The entire speech took five minutes and was as well-crafted as a Shakespearian sonnet, building at the end to the point where Jeffrey almost felt as though he should applaud.
The questioning followed. Roger sat quietly, contributing as much as a stuffed boar head while Garfield expertly raked Jeffrey over the coals, probing every aspect of his professional and private life. The interrogation was civilized but laser-focused, and after a half hour of it, interrupted only by ordering their meals, Jeffrey felt like he’d been cross-examined by an A-team prosecutor, and was clearly guilty as charged – only of what, he had no idea. Then, as abruptly and intensely as it had begun, it stopped, and Garfield returned to making small talk with Roger, seemingly having made a decision, and now focused on extracting maximum enjoyment from his filet, which he attacked with the gusto of a shipwrecked sailor.
Over coffee, Garfield reclined against his seat back and checked his cell phone for messages, then set the little device on the table and leaned forward.
“I like you, young man. Roger assured me I would, but you never know until you’re in the clinch. He also indicated to me that you want the position, so it seems as though we’ve got a match. Welcome aboard. He’ll draw up the particulars of the offer and get them to you within twenty-four hours. I’ve got a good feeling about this, and frankly, one of my larger clients could use your expertise sooner rather than later, which is why there’s a rush. If you could start on Monday it wouldn’t be soon enough, but I understand that’s not feasible. As it is, I’d like you to commit to getting back here as soon as humanly possible – within a week would be best. Are you okay with picking up and leaving everything behind in San Francisco? I realize this is abrupt,” Garfield asked, not really in doubt about what the answer would be, Jeffrey could tell.
“One city’s pretty much like the other when you’re spending most of your time in the office, sir, so I don’t have any misgivings. As I told Roger, if the opportunity is substantial enough, I’ll move mountains.”
That was the right answer, because both men nodded, another successful deal concluded. Garfield rose, extending his hand again.
“I’m sorry. I committed to spending tonight with my wife at the opera, and it started half an hour ago. For that brief respite, I thank you, but I can’t miss the entire thing or I’ll never hear the end of it. Roger, you know what to do. Jeffrey, safe travels, and see you soon,” he said, and then sauntered out of the restaurant, looking neither left nor right, the room seeming to shrink when he left, as though he’d taken a substantial portion of the oxygen with him.
“You weren’t kidding. He’s impressive,” Jeffrey said to Roger, the last of the second bottle of wine all that remained in their glasses.
“You don’t know the half of it. I’d say you’re one lucky bastard right now. Let me pay the bill and we can get out of here; have a drink at the bar to celebrate. I’ll have everything ready for you by the time you land in S.F. The plane won’t be available for departure until tomorrow at one, so you can afford one nightcap,” Roger said, waving off any objection with a practiced hand.
The check could have bought a timeshare, and once it was settled Roger led
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