Chapter 3 #2
“Don’t get too emo on me. You know I love you and everything, but that I’m also nosy as fuck!” We both laughed at that truth.
We ended the call the car stopped in front of the building. As the director of New Beginning had explained, there was a very discreet sign in the front indicating this was the right place.
“Manny, this meeting shouldn’t take long. Go find a spot and let me know where you are, I’ll walk over to you.”
My driver turned around with the annoyed face he always made when I tried to do too much for myself, like walking a few blocks to meet him. “You sure boss? It’s wet out there.”
I looked out the window. The rain had mostly stopped.
“I’m good, really.” He raised an eyebrow and sent me a look that said, “if you say so,” before driving off.
As I walked into the offices of New Beginning, I realized I was almost twenty minutes late. You’d think someone who was semi-retired could manage to arrive on time to meetings he requested, but no.
I stepped up to the receptionist who had just finished talking with someone, mindful not to make any sudden moves, hyper aware of all the space I was taking up.
There were a few women in the waiting area, and I didn’t want to scare or intimidate them by being too loud.
This place provided services for people who had experienced domestic violence after all.
In the gentlest voice I could manage I said to the receptionist, “Hi, my name is Thomas Hughes. I’m here to meet with Melissa. ”
The receptionist, who had perked up as soon as she saw me walk in, beamed when I told her my name. “Yes, Mr. Hughes, she’s expecting you. She asked me to call her when you arrived so she can come down.”
I waved my hand at the suggestion. “She doesn’t need to come down. I’ll go up there.”
She looked a little frazzled at this change of plans, so I tried for the smile that usually smoothed things over. “You can let her know I’m on my way, so I don’t surprise her.” Then I whispered. “I just don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable with the tall guy looming in the waiting room.”
She smiled at that and nodded. “Right. I’ll buzz the door open and you can just take the elevator up to the third floor. That’s where Melissa’s office is. She’ll be waiting for you when you get there.”
“Excellent. Thanks so much, what’s your name?”
“Miosotis.”
“Gracias, Miosotis.” I grinned at the surprise on her face when she heard my Spanish. It always threw people off when the white guy busted out the Dominican. I waved at her, then walked through the door when she buzzed me in.
As I went up to meet Melissa I thought about how glad I was to finally be doing this.
Being able to help an agency like this had been years in the making.
Of all the places I’d reviewed, New Beginning had by far been the closest to what I’d had in mind when I started looking for a nonprofit to fund.
I hoped the people I was meeting today were as impressive in person as they’d been on paper.
The elevator opened and a short woman with a pixie haircut and a huge smile was waiting on the other side. She looked exactly like the idea I had of a social worker. Warm, friendly, and seemed like she gave amazing hugs.
She extended her hand out to me. “Hi, Mr. Hughes, I’m Melissa Stein-Burgos. Thank you so much for coming today.”
“Hi, Melissa, please call me Tom.”
Her smile got bigger as we shook hands. “Of course, Tom. My office is over there.” She pointed to a door at the back of the floor. Once we were in the office, she quickly walked to her desk and got on the phone, holding a finger up.
“Hey.” She smiled at whatever the person on the phone said.
“Yep, he’s here. Okay, see you in a minute.” She winked at me as she hung up the phone.
“That was Camilo, our residential programs director, he’ll be right down. Would you like me to get you something to drink before we start, Tom?”
“Some water would be great, actually.”
“Of course, I’ll be right back.”
While she went to get the water, I glanced around the room. There were some posters of what looked like old events the agency had hosted, and a couple of prints with inspirational quotes. She also had some photos on the ledge behind her desk.
One was of her and a beautiful woman who looked Latina holding a little boy between them.
They were all smiling brightly at the camera, a lovely family photo.
I was about to look closer at what looked like a group of people at a New Beginning event when the door opened.
I turned around expecting to see Melissa, but instead I saw Milo from the gala walk in looking very serious.
The sight of him was so disorienting, I had to brace myself on the wall.
Having spent over a decade doing business at some of the highest echelons of the tech-world, there was not much that could put me off my game in a meeting; but when I saw him, I actually stumbled.
This must be the Camilo who would be in charge of the project. I was not one to wax poetic about fate, but this was a pretty spectacular coincidence.
Because regardless of what I told Priya, I’d felt pangs of regret all weekend at letting him slip away at the gala. Now he was here.