Dedicated

A Hotel In The Gothic Quarter - Barcelona, Spain

It was just after 2200 when I heard a light knock on my hotel door. I thought it must be show time since I didn't order room service or Deliveroo. I checked where my sidearm was, and I opened the door all the way, showing no apprehension.

She was about five feet eight inches tall, a dark-haired beauty with a nice smile. She was dressed casually, and it was apparent she knew the ropes. She walked in, threw her purse on the bed, and said in good enough English, "I am Mercedes. Your boss, Anatoly, thought you might like a little company."

"Mercedes, it is so kind of you to come by." I kissed her cheek and said, "I don't have time for fun tonight because I am speaking tomorrow and need to practice my speech." "I'll pay you for an hour if you can help me practice my lines." 

She laughed and said in half English, half Spanish, "What an unusual request, but I like it." "Should I keep my clothes on?"

"Si Por Favor"

I had my laptop and a printout of tomorrow's talk I had planned for the conference.

"What would you like to drink?" "I'll call for room service."

The girls always automatically order champagne. They have a deal with the hotel.

Mercedes said, "I'll have a Coke, please." I arched my eyebrows in surprise and ordered a bottle of scotch and two cokes from room service.

We sat on the bottom of the bed and faced the camera that was over the TV, 

She held the script and I began to deliver my lines from memory.

"The problem on the phones is that most scammers create a "Rush Situation."

"We need to control the call and the mark but also slow him down." "Let him evaluate as we progress through our script." "We conveyed this to the respondent without saying, "Fine, if you don't want it, the next person I call will."

The key is to put him at ease about the call. "It's not a scam." "Once you lay that foundation, focus on the product." 

Mercedes said, "This is about a telephone call? "Yes"

I continued, "Within 30 seconds, we have to present an idea to the mark and an offer for him or her to terminate the call". 

"I like this one and use it frequently. "I don't know everything about artificial intelligence, and neither do all the people who make money off it, but they keep buying from me and are happy with the results." If you are not interested, just let me know because I have two more clients before lunchtime, and we are having burritos today."

"How do I sound, Mercedes?"

"You are a man in charge of his day." "I like it very much."

"But would you want to buy a product from me?"

"Oh yes," she said.

There was another knock on the door, and the Room Service waiter rolled his cart in and poured a tumbler of scotch and then a coke.

I went for my wallet, and Mercedes watched me take it from the desk and put it back there.

"What do you think Mercedes?" "Do I sound natural and interesting?" "How can I make it better?"

"In broken English, Mercedes said, "You should set the audience and your mark up with a description of what "Artificial Intelligence is so you are selling less of an intangible."

"Mercedes is more than a Barcelona street girl?" I said.

She added, "My real name is Maria, and I study business at Universitat de Barcelona." "This job is how I pay money for school."

We fist bumped - New friends again.

We worked on my script for another twenty minutes.

The disguise of Mercedes was gone, and we laughed a lot while we truly got things done. She was funny and brilliant. I liked her.

I paid her a small fortune, remembering Charlie's early advice when I filled out an application to join the Organization. "You must pay for your Barcelona whores."

I still find that funny.

We stood before the bed, kissed each other on the cheeks in that European way, and then shook hands.

The message to the viewers of the video was, "He was so dedicated to the job that he used his Barcelona street girl to help him with his script for his 2nd presentation tomorrow,"

Am I dedicated?

The Cardinal and The Crow Coffee Shop - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Eve and Tanaka were sitting at the counter together, and Eve had just declined Tanaka's request for help with wedding planning.

Here are my reasons for saying no, said Eve.  My time is already stretched thin, and my assistant is in France learning fine pastry. That's one reason. The other reason concerns friendships and my need to be loyal to everyone. 

I am so glad you came into Ben's life because it is clear that you two belong together. 

I also enjoy your company as we all get to know each other.

Ben's ex Laura is a friend of mine and has been for many years. This whole thing has been rough for her, but she's pulling through it now.

Lisa, it would not look good if I helped you plan the wedding Laura was hoping for—for herself.

I can't do it.

Lisa looked down, considered, and realized the human cost this new special relationship had caused. 

"You are right, Eve. I never considered that you and Ben's Ex were friends. Please forgive me for asking."

They held hands, and Eve said, "I will be as loyal a friend to you as I am to Laura."

Somewhere On The Coast Of New England - The home of Thomas Allston and Eve.

It had been a long day.  Eve brought some leftovers from the shop home and drank wine while watching cooking videos on TikTok.

Over in a corner, Tango had pulled down a coat off of a peg on the coat rack. It was Allston's barn coat. Tango sniffed it, arranged it on the floor, then fell asleep on top of it.

Tomorrow, they would do it again.