Chapter 3
Robert stood outside the Casino de Monte Carlo as the sun set over the horizon in Monaco. He stood still, leaning against a marble pole in front of the casino as he watched the taxi line, waiting for his date to arrive. With a brief text forty minutes prior to alert him that she was en route, Robert eagerly anticipated her arrival and the night of subdued celebration and reserved expectations that was in store for him.
A small black sedan that stood out from the rest of the taxis, pulled up in front of the casino. The driver got out, wearing a black suit and opening the back door, revealing a very tall woman that Robert happened to be waiting for.
Camille looked stunning as Robert surveyed her. She wore a dark grey dress which was almost black in the right light and hung down to just above her left knee and slanted towards her right knee. The dress had thin straps above her shoulders with black beads and sequins sewn randomly throughout the dress that made it shimmer when light touched it. Her chest was larger than Robert remembered; though when they first met, she was wearing a plain white shirt with the logo of AS Monaco emblazoned on it. Her breasts were holding up the dress nicely as her pale skin tone was complimented by the dark grey shades of the dress. Her dark brown hair looked the same as it did earlier with the long curls in it and the length hanging down between her shoulder blades. She stepped away from the taxi to show off her matching heels, accenting her well-toned legs with every step she took. Robert stretched his arm out for her to grab so that he could escort her inside.
“You look incredible,” he said as she wrapped her arm around his. “Though I wasn’t expecting you to be this tall.” Camille chuckled as Robert looked her in the eyes without struggling.
“The heels add a few inches,” she replied playfully as they walked up the marble steps toward the front door. Camille was tall for a woman, standing just over six feet tall and with heels, almost looking Robert directly into his eyes. “You look nice as well,” she said, attempting to compliment Robert, who was feeling slightly underdressed. He wore a grey sports coat with a tailored white, button-up shirt and matching grey slacks with a black belt and shoes.
“Compared to you, I look a hot mess,” replied Robert, playing down his attire to compliment Camille again. “It’s a casino, not a ball.”
Camille giggled as they stepped up the marble staircase with Robert holding onto the golden handle for a grip. “Some of us like to have a ball going to the casino,” she said, flipping Robert’s words and causing him to shake his head. Robert had stumbled upon a woman with incredible wit who was equally as quick on her feet, always thinking of a snarky comeback to any expression or saying that he could muster. They continued to move up the staircase and reached the glass doors where a doorman wearing a red tuxedo waited to open it for them, allowing them to enter the immense casino. Once inside, Camille stood in awe as she looked over the décor, noticing the stone columns around the interior of the building with polished marble tile on the floor, all set off by large orange curtains hanging from the ceiling in front of several of the windows.
Robert and Camille walked forward to find Dillon and his date, Marisol , waiting for them at the end of the foyer. Dillon was dressed similarly to Robert, wearing a blue sports coat, white button-up dress shirt and khaki slacks with brown shoes and a brown belt while his date was dressed as formally as Camille. She wore a lavender dress that hung down to right above her knees with thick straps on her shoulders and intricately woven embroidery all throughout the torso and back. Her chest was slightly exposed, showing a small bit of cleavage, and her brunette hair was fixed up into a fancy style, held together by several pins. Her tanned skin was accented by the beautiful soft tones of her dress.
“Dillon, glad to see you waited for me,” announced Robert as he walked up to his friend. “I would like you to meet Camille. She was the amazing woman today who helped me get into the football game to meet Sulagna Patel.”
Dillon placed his hand out and shook Camille’s gently before pointing to his date. “Pleasure to meet you,” he said as he motioned for his date to step forward. “Robert, this is Marisol Dominguez, the daughter of Cristobal Dominguez, the amazingly powerful investor from Madrid.”
“Oh, right. I know your father very well,” stated Robert boisterously. “He’s a great man and a phenomenal investor.”
She smiled warmly as she shook Robert’s hand. “He hates you,” she informed him in her thick Spanish accent, catching Robert slightly off guard.
“I’m sure he’s not the only one on this planet that does at this point,” rebuffed Robert without letting it bother him. “I have a great deal of respect for your father and cannot wait for the next time our two paths cross.”
Marisol continued to smile. “I’m sure he’ll be looking forward to it as well.”
Dillon stood in between Marisol and Robert awkwardly, looking at Camille with a blank expression. “Well, I’d honestly hate for this to get more awkward before we have dinner,” he said slowly, doing his best to break the tension of the moment and move forward with the evening. “Ms. Camille, would you like to accompany me to the restaurant so we can let them know we have arrived.”
“Absolutely,” she replied with her thick British accent, surprising Dillon. “I don’t know if I can handle any more awkward moments before I have a cocktail.”
“There will be plenty more awkward moments tonight, Madame,” quipped Robert as he looked over at Camille and walked toward Dillon. “They are, in fact, my specialty.”
Dillon shook his head as he grabbed Camille gently by her arm and guided her up a staircase. “You look amazing,” he said softly to her. “Much better than my date, but please do not tell her that.”
“I wouldn’t dream of starting a cat fight with that one,” replied Camille as they walked away from Robert and Marisol who continued to talk at the bottom of the stairs to the restaurant. “She strikes me as someone who keeps her claws awful sharp.”
“I wouldn’t know,” stated Dillon as they reached the top of the stairs and to the host stand. “I brought her out as a favor to her father and to hopefully sway some influence with him. I didn’t realize she possessed the tact of a toddler, or I would have told Robert to stay home, though perhaps he is winning her over with his intricately played charm offensive.”
Camille laughed as she watched Robert interact with Marisol while Dillon alerted the maître d' of their arrival. “I think my new goal for this evening is to get to her to smile,” she said loud enough for Dillon to hear her while she looked at the conversation at the bottom of the stairs. “It seems as if her face is permanently affixed with a grimace.”
Dillon turned around as the maître d' ordered one of his hosts to ensure their table was prepared. “That’s part of the reason her father wanted me to take her out tonight,” explained Dillon. “She has run off every potential boyfriend she has ever had, and her father is becoming worried that she is going to die old and lonely with no grandchildren or anything else for him to live for.”
“Is he hoping you’ll be her boyfriend?”
“Probably, but she is not my type at all,” continued Dillon. “I love strong women, but I also love ambition and she just doesn’t strike me as someone who has enough of it to satisfy me.” Dillon paused while Marisol and Robert turned and started walking up the stairs with Robert offering his arm to Marisol who immediately refused, walking up the marble staircase without the assistance of anyone. “I also prefer blondes,” quipped Dillon quietly before Marisol and Robert reached the top of the stairs.
Camille chuckled under her breath as Robert walked up and grabbed her around the waist. “Clearly you don’t enjoy the cold shoulder,” whispered Camille into Robert’s ear as he brought her closer.
“I was hoping no one saw that,” replied Robert quietly, referencing the rejection from Marisol. “Dillon, are we ready to be seated?”
Dillon turned back to see the maître D' motioning for them to follow the host. “Perfect timing,” stated Dillon as the party of four walked through the restaurant and made it to their table. Robert and Dillon pulled the chairs out for their dates, allowing them to sit first and pushing their chair back under the table before sitting down themselves. The host placed the menus in their hands and allowed them to take a moment to read over them before the waiter came to take their order.
“What I wouldn’t give for some shepherd’s pie right now,” mentioned Camille as she looked over the menu.
“Something tells me that they’re not going to have traditional English pub food here,” joked Dillon. “Which reminds me of the question I wanted to ask downstairs – where are you from?”
“Portsmouth,” she replied without removing her head from the menu, prompting Robert to place his menu down and look over at her. “What?” she said defensively. “Have you never heard of Portsmouth?”
“I was born and raised in Southampton,” stated Robert. “We’re from areas that are separated by a short bus ride.”
Dillon laughed across the table while Marisol looked on at the menu stone faced, prompting him to shake his head and focus his attention on the two people who hailed from England across from him. “How odd,” he quipped. “The fact that you ran into a woman, not just from England, but from a neighboring city on the south coast, is completely odd. What brings you to Monaco?”
Camille placed the menu down and looked at Robert. “What are you getting?” she asked, hoping to figure out what she wanted to eat before delving into small talk. “Everything on here looks repulsive.”
“Do you not eat caviar?” asked Marisol, finally placing her menu down and engaging in conversation, though still coming off as abrasive and aggressive.
“No, I actually prefer things that are more readily available and don’t require an aura of pompousness to consume,” she answered rudely, matching Marisol’s demeanor. She looked at Camille with an expressionless face before slowly cracking a small smile out of the side of her mouth. “Success!” shouted Camille as Marisol broke into a complete smile.
“What?” she asked defensively, immediately changing her perspective and demeanor.
“I told your date that my goal tonight was to get you to smile,” replied Camille in a very matter-of-fact tone. “I achieved that goal within five minutes. My night can end now.”
“I’d rather it not,” quipped Robert. “We have some ways to go this evening.”
Camille shrugged her shoulders before looking back at Marisol. “My father always preaches to me about how I should develop a taste for escargot and caviar and other foods that just look and taste awful,” explained Marisol as she gestured with her hands. “I would much rather have the cooking of one of my grandparents than anything that he prefers that I get served at a restaurant.”
“I’m eating the grilled lobster, by the way,” said Robert quickly before allowing Marisol to continue.
“Oh, I could go for that tonight,” replied Camille quietly while Marisol vented.
“I would rather eat more traditional Spanish dishes than anything my father attempts to drive down my throat,” vented Marisol. “Some of the best food that I have ever tasted has come from the village twenty minutes from my father’s estate, which he would be incredibly grumpy if he knew I was going there.”
Robert and Dillon looked at Marisol with a sense of bewilderment as she finally started to open up without much discussion. “I really thought it would take a few shots to get you talking,” stated Camille bluntly, prompting Dillon and Robert to look at each other with awkward glares.
Marisol chuckled as she reached her hand out and patted Camille’s, completely changing her personality without much persuasion. “I have a hard time opening up to people that know my father, feeling that I have to be the person that he wants me to be in front of them,” she explained earnestly. “Your carefree and blunt attitude assured me that it was ok for me to be myself tonight.”
Robert and Dillon smirked at one another as the waiter walked up and introduced himself politely with everyone immediately ordering cocktails and appetizers. Robert, being a connoisseur of wine, ordered a bottle of his family’s label for the table to share while also ordering an old fashioned for him to sip on. Dillon, following Robert’s lead, also ordered an old fashioned while Marisol ordered a top shelf cosmopolitan. The waiter came to Camille, who looked at the other three people at the table before shrugging her shoulders and looking up at the waiter. “Do you have a Belgian ale on tap?”
“You drink beer?” asked Robert with a surprised look on his face.
“I worked for FC Bayern Munich for a year and got to experience Oktoberfest,” she explained.
Dillon adjusted in his seat and sat up a bit, looking across at Camille. “You never answered my question about how you ended up in Monaco, by the way.”
Camille nodded. “Oh, right, sorry,” she said. “I was preoccupied with more important things. I went to Oxford and graduated in four years with a degree in international business with a concentration in sports and leisure. At the age of twenty-two and right out of college, I went to work for Crystal Palace Football Club in south London. I went in as an intern and was in charge of equipment requisitions and maintenance. Honestly, I was a locker room attendant, and I saw far more than I can explain without the aid of alcohol. After a year and a request for a transfer later, I was moved to ticketing, which is where my career really started to take off.”
“Wait, what did you see in that locker room?” asked Marisol innocently, confused as to what Camille was insinuating.
“Dicks,” she answered abruptly, bringing about a red tint to Marisol’s face. “I saw a lot of dicks.” Camille paused as the waiter brought out the four individual drinks first, setting them all in front of each person with Robert and Dillon immediately grabbing their glasses and sipping intently. “I’m sorry, did me telling you I saw a lot of dicks make you uncomfortable? I can describe them to you if it will make it worse.”
Dillon waved his hands in front of her while Robert shook his head quickly as he sat his glass down. “Please, no,” Robert requested as he looked a bit uncomfortable.
Camille shrugged her shoulders before taking a sip of her beer. “Your loss,” she chuckled as Marisol looked on curiously. “Anyways, I worked for Crystal Palace for two more years before my contract expired. I had offers to head overseas to the United States to work with several of the sports franchises over there, but ultimately opted to travel to Germany instead, taking the position of associate director of guest relations with FC Bayern Munich. I stayed there for two years, but was offered the position of Director of Guest Relations with AS Monaco. So, at twenty-eight years old, I’m already a director with one of the richest football clubs in the world.”
Robert’s eyes lit up. “I thought you were just the will call attendant.”
“No honey, I gave him the day off,” she said with a somewhat pompous and condescending tone. “On game days, I enjoy working the will call window because it keeps me from having to watch the games.”
Dillon chuckled. “Do you not enjoy football?”
“Oh, I love football, but I’d rather watch a product that’s not terrible,” she responded hastily. “Usually in the will call booth I can watch the English teams on my phone and actually enjoy the sport.”
Dillon continued to laugh as the waiter dropped off the bottle of wine at the table, opening it in front of Robert and allowing him to smell the cork.
Dillon picked up his glass and smelled the wine while Marisol did the same. They both sipped the wine simultaneously and raised their eyebrows simultaneously in approval. “This is very good,” announced Marisol. “I’m not accustomed to Greek wines so much as I am Spanish and French ones, but this is something I would not mind having again.”
“Thank you,” said Robert as he held his glass in his left hand and swirled it, reliving many of the memories he had growing up. He looked to his right to look at Camille holding the glass and looking at the wine with a very peculiar look on her face. “What is it?” asked Robert.
She brought the wine up to her face and sniffed it, startling her with the smell before placing the glass back on the table. “I’ve never had a wine that I like,” she said softly, almost embarrassed. “I’ve always preferred beer or liquor and felt that most wines tasted the same.”
“Ah,” said Robert as he turned his body in his chair to face her. “Then allow me to teach you how to appreciate this spectacular beverage,” he said confidently. “Pick up your glass and swirl it around like I’m doing. If you smell the wine while it’s sitting in a glass stagnant, it will not smell as vibrant and beautiful as it was intended, but will come off as odorous and pungent.”
Camille gave him a curious look before grabbing the wine glass and swirling it around a bit before bringing her nose over the glass and sniffing it softly. “Do you smell any fruit or spices now?” asked Robert.
“A little,” said Camille. “It definitely smells different.”
“Then you’re starting to do it right,” stated Robert joyously. “Now that the wine has been swirled a bit, take a sip of it and tell me if you can taste what you smelled.”
Camille swirled the glass a bit more before bringing it up to her lips and sipping the red wine, bringing a small amount into her mouth. With it on her tongue, she raised her eye brows a bit and nodded as she swallowed the wine. “That was much different than I have previously had.”
“Good!” exclaimed Robert with a grin. “We’ve made some progress tonight already.”
Marisol looked across the table at Camille awkwardly as Dillon and Robert turned to notice. “I need to head to the restroom,” she said softly.
“Oh, say no more,” replied Camille, having an understanding with her without having her to explain the rest of the situation. “Guys, we’ll be back in a few minutes,” she said politely as she and Marisol got up from the table and headed away, leaving Dillon and Robert alone to finally discuss what happened earlier.
Robert sat up straight and grabbed his old fashioned, sipping on it loudly before placing it back on the table to start explaining to Dillon what all happened. “Today was the most awkward day I have ever had,” he began, holding his eyes wide open for dramatic effect. “It all started with how I couldn’t get into the freaking stadium, and then I ended up taking a few chances, got in and made it to Sulagna Patel’s booth to talk to her.”
“Yeah, I knew you made it to her, but what happened when you were in there?” asked Dillon.
“I got shot down immediately,” answered Robert. “But she threw me a second chance. I have to be in Zurich in two days to meet with the rest of the COT executives to plead our case.” Robert paused as he grabbed his drink again and took another large sip before holding it firmly in his right hand. “She is sanctioning a personal meeting for me with the entire executive committee.”
Dillon smirked. “So, you have a chance to get into the COT. That’s actually better than I thought you’d get.”
“You thought she would turn me down without much of a conversation.”
“I didn’t think you would actually get to talk to her,” answered Dillon. “I’m seriously impressed right now.”
Robert smirked in satisfaction. “Yeah, but now comes the hard part. I have to prove to her that there is a structure in place that will lead to the stabilization and prolonged success of the company.”
Dillon laughed. “So you have to prove to her that you won’t sell it the moment it joins the Consortium.”
“That’s exactly right,” he answered. “I have to prove to them that I am in it for the long haul and that I will not sell the company the moment it becomes profitable.”
“And how exactly are you going to do that?”
“I don’t know,” replied Robert. “I was hoping you had a few ideas.”
Dillon’s eyes opened wide as he processed the information. “You need a company to look stable suddenly? I wish you the best in that dark and murky forest, because you’re going to need more than a flash light and a guide to get through that.”
Robert nodded. “I know, but maybe together we can figure out what it might take,” he said. “I mean, will you go to Zurich with me and at least help?”
“Robert, I don’t own any stake in that company,” answered Dillon. “I would be completely off base if I stepped in and helped with you a business negotiation.”
“What if I gave you a percentage,” stated Robert. “I’ve already done the math, and it could appear as a play for stability.”
Dillon looked perplexed as the two girls walked back up. “We’ll finish this talk later,” said Dillon as he turned to face Marisol and Camille. “Girls, welcome back.”
“Beautiful facilities,” stated Camille as she took her seat next to Robert. “Did you miss me?”
“Every second you were gone,” replied Robert coyly, turning back to see the waiter bringing out their food. With their appetizers in front of them, they all started to dig in with their entrees all coming out shortly thereafter. The meal progressed from there with the four of them enjoying each other’s company. Within a little while, the food disappeared and dinner was over, allowing the night to continue in the casino. They walked down the stairs together and looked out into the amazingly elaborate casino.
“What do you like to play?” asked Robert, looking over at Camille as she stood in awe at the casino.
“I’ve always enjoyed craps,” she answered quickly. “But I’m one to play blackjack or slots if I’m bored.”
Robert nodded. “Dillon and I usually play blackjack when we’re here.”
“Yeah, but I heard the abrupt change in your voice when Marisol and I came back to the table from the washroom,” she stated plainly. “I think you may need a few moments with your friend without Marisol or I hanging on your arms and watching you lose all of your money.”
Robert smiled. “That’s okay,” he said. “I’d like to spend some time with you tonight if I can.”
“You will,” she said with a seductive tone. “I’m not letting this night end until I’ve spent some more time with just you.”
“Oh really?” playfully asked Robert.
“Robert, you intrigue me more than any man has in a long while,” she explained. “I would really enjoy getting to know you a bit more tonight.”
With a laugh, he placed his arm around her side and pulled her into him, looking into her eyes and planting a soft kiss on her lips. “You will. I promise.”
He released her and Camille turned to look over at Marisol who was completely entranced by the flashing lights and loud noises of the slot machines. “Are you a bit curious about the machines?” asked Camille.
“I am,” answered Marisol. “My father never lets me leave his sight when I visit a casino with him, and I’m always stuck playing baccarat, which is essentially him playing the game and me doing what I’m told. I’ve never had an opportunity to actually look at them and see what they do.”
Camille smiled and grabbed Marisol by the hand. “Come on. I brought a few hundred euros that I intended to donate to this place.” She pulled her with her as she turned back to Dillon and waved goodbye, following Camille toward the slot machines to give the two gentlemen their privacy.
Dillon looked on as the two women disappeared into the machines. “How did you do that?” he asked Robert, staring off as the two women walked away.
“What? Attract that amazing woman?” asked Robert playfully.
“No…actually, yes,” answered Dillon. “How did you manage to find a woman that amazing?”
Robert laughed. “I was due for some good luck,” he said calmly.
“Then you’ll probably not have any tonight,” stated Dillon as they walked over to the closest blackjack table, sitting beside each other with no one else at the table. Dillon and Robert both reached into their jackets and pulled out their wallets, placing several hundred euros on the table and receiving chips matching their contribution. “How have you been tonight?” he asked the dealer.
“On fire,” said the dealer in an Italian accent. “Everyone who has braved this table tonight has referred to me as the employee of the month because of how much I have made the casino.”
Robert and Dillon laughed as the dealer dealt their cards face up – Robert receiving two kings and Dillon receiving an ace and a nine. The dealer showed an eight with a card hidden underneath it. “Well, this is a good start,” announced Robert as he waved his hand over his cards to hold with Dillon quickly matching it. The dealer flipped over the other card to show another eight, giving him sixteen and forcing him to take another card. He pulled it from the shoe and flipped it over, revealing a five and giving him twenty-one, beating both Dillon’s and Robert’s twenty.
“And it begins,” announced the dealer with Robert and Dillon looking perplexed and defeated. “Do you wish to continue?”
“Of course, it was just one hand,” stated Dillon defiantly. The dealer nodded his head slowly as Robert looked on with a stoic expression. He dealt both men matching face cards, giving them both twenty with the dealer only showing a four. “You’re not going to do it again,” said Dillon, continuing his defiance. Both men held and the dealer turned over a jack, giving him fourteen and forcing him to hit. He pulled the next card out of the shoe and turned it over, revealing a seven and giving the dealer twenty-one. “What the hell,” said Dillon. “Are you sure this game isn’t rigged?”
“I told you, I’m on fire.”
“Relax, Dillon. He can’t do it again,” said Robert as he motioned for Dillon to calm down.
The dealer shrugged his shoulders, sensing that he would, in fact, do it again. He dealt the cards again, this time dealing Robert a seven and a four, giving him eleven and dealing Dillon a five and a six, also giving him eleven. The dealer revealed a six with the card hidden beneath. Without hesitation, both men placed another chip down to double their bet and receive one card. Dillon was first, getting an eight to give him a nineteen with Robert getting a seven, giving him eighteen. The dealer turned over his bottom card, revealing a queen and giving him sixteen. He pulled the card from the shoe and turned it over, showing a three and giving him nineteen and the winning hand.
“That’s enough for now,” announced Robert as he pushed himself away from the table.
“Yeah, you really are on fire tonight,” said Dillon. “Have a good evening.”
“Thank you, sir and I’m sorry for your luck,” replied the dealer as Robert and Dillon stepped away from the table.
“Why don’t we go have a drink on the balcony and see if our luck will return,” said Robert as he motioned for Dillon to follow him. They stopped at a bar on the way and grabbed drinks before walking up a marble staircase and heading to a large balcony that hung over the Mediterranean. With the moon glistening over the water and only a few clouds in the sky, both men walked out to the balcony and stood at the railing with their drinks in hand.
Dillon leaned against the railing with the moonlight beaming down on the water, illuminating the area. “Alright, so let’s go through this again. You have to show to the Consortium that your company is stable and can be beneficial to them?”
“More or less,” he replied, sipping from the glass he got from the bar while leaning against the marble railing. “I have to figure out how I can make this company look stable and profitable, while probably reinventing myself at the same time.”
Dillon laughed. “It’s odd that Sulagna Patel knows so much about you,” he quipped. “I knew you had a reputation that followed you, just like there is a reputation following all of us, but I didn’t know yours reached all the way to the executive committee of the COT.”
“I know,” said Robert. “I mean, I know a lot about her, and her position makes her past easily accessible.”
“Still, for her to have any idea about you is not a good thing,” continued Dillon. “You will have to knock your meeting with the executive committee out of the park.”
Robert nodded while sipping on his drink and turning to look out at the ocean. “I know, but what about what I proposed earlier? Is that something you would consider?”
Dillon smirked. “Robert, this strikes me as a challenge. It’s something that I am not qualified to do and is completely out of my comfort zone. He paused, shaking his head before turning back to Robert. “Where do I sign up?”
“Great,” said Robert as he raised his glass to toast him. “I’m going to need you to go to Zurich with me tomorrow morning.”
Dillon moaned in disbelief. “Really?”
“Yes, you’ll have to be there to help me through the discussions,” continued Robert. “And I’ll have you know that I have already booked your passage on the train with me tomorrow morning in Nice, and I have reserved you a private quarter for both of our trips.”
Dillon nodded. “I hate trains, Robert. I’d much rather fly.”
“It was too late to book a direct flight but the trains will have us there within twelve hours and with plenty of time to spare,” stated Robert as Camille and Marisol walked up. “Hello, ladies. How was your luck?”
“Pitiful,” announced Marisol. “I should’ve taken my father’s advice and stuck with baccarat.”
Camille laughed. “She experienced firsthand why those dreadful machines are referred to as one-armed bandits.”
Dillon and Robert laughed as the two ladies walked up beside them and placed their arms around their respective dates’ waists. “Let’s get out of here,” whispered Camille to Robert, looking at him with a seductive gaze. “I’d like to spend some time with you in private.”
“As would I,” he replied quietly. “Dillon, I think Camille and I are going to head out of here. I’ll meet you in the morning at the train station in Nice.”
“It was nice to meet the two of you,” announced Camille politely as she held onto Robert’s waist. “Maybe we can see each other again sometime.”
“I would love that!” shouted Marisol as she wrapped her arms around Dillon. “Tonight, was incredible!”
Dillon sighed. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Robert.”
“Don’t sound so glum, old friend,” replied Robert. “In two days, you’re going to have the best day of your career!”