Forbidden Glance

Chapter Two: The meeting

Elroy sat on the red station bench kicking the rocks below him. He knew the next bus wouldn't be coming anytime soon, and it was a fifteen minute walk to the other stop. He felt to turn back, but how could he. How could he return to his mother and tell her he failed. This opportunity was a blessing, the very firm he'd become fascinated with, was the very firm he was invited to meet, and not just anyone the CEO. Patrick Dejor son the Le Dejor the founder. His notes were coming back to him now, but what good would it do him. 

He checked his watch 8:00. The road was quiet save a large white van circling the area. Going around and around he wasn't the only who got their attention people grew more concerned, this never happened in his neighbourhood.  It was always quiet in Friern Lane, the only vehicles that would pass were the resident's and the 32. But the patrolling white van was the least of his concern. He had a meeting to get to, and his ticket there had passed him by. He checked his watch 8:17 and it wasn't getting any slower, he glanced down the road with the hope that the bus would turn up but ... nothing. Things turned quiet again, then in the distance he heard the churning of rubber on tarmac. He stood up to receive the strange vehicle. But it wasn't the 32, it was a cab. Some luck he thought, he brought out his hand and waved for the cab to stop. The cab pulled up, and he entered.

"Where'd you like to go?" Asked the cabbie eyeing him through his mirror. 

"Central Plaza hotel please and quick." With a nod the cab indicated and set off.

All the while whilst the cabbie over took cars, Elroy was overlooking his watch. 8:21 ... 8:22. A few minutes away from the plaza he checked the fair 4.50. He quietly checked his pockets ... nothing. He checked his wallet ... pennies. The cabbie passed him a look, Elroy returned a confident wink. 8.36 the cab driver pulled up in front off the plaza. Then turned in his seat to get a better look, he flapped the glass down. Elroy opened the car door, the cabbie grabbed his handle. Elroy came to the window.

"What's your name sir?" He asked him pretending to search through his pocket.

"Daniel," replied the cabbie "and you."

"Jacob Flinch." He came off the window and the cabbie half opened the door. "Is that an ATM over there?"

To the cab driver's mistake was he turned his back, and Elroy darted through the streets. Skipping past people weaving and bopping. It was rush hour in the busy street of London in the morning. He looked over his shoulder, he saw the cabbie in the distance shouting. Elroy took an unknown left and darted through an estate, then through a park, then back onto the high street. He took some time to breathe leaning back against a wall. He looked left, right to see if the cab driver had somehow found him. But nothing, the populated street hadn't helped him either. He checked his watch 8.53 seven minutes left!

He ran back the way he came, once he came back onto the road he took a left and looked around for a man wearing a black flat cap and a rugged leather jacket. When he saw only men and women in blazers he crossed the road to the other side and walked back towards the Plaza hotel. He wondered if the cabbie remembered that, or if the cabbie was waiting there for him to return.  He shuddered at the thought, it was 8:55 and he had no time to waste thinking about the cabbie.

The lobby didn't help his temperature, he was hot and sweaty already he didn't need the warm ac to cook him even more. The receptionist greeted him, he explained who he was here for she directed him the hall and told him to take a seat right in front of a large glass window. He cautiously approached and sat in the corner with his back facing the window, a mirror above him helped; he could see all those who were walking behind him and he hoped they could not see just as well.

9:00, his uncle arrived walking abreast with a tall slender lady wearing a dress that barely touched her knees. He stood up to greet them. His uncle gave him a wink and a firm handshake, and the lady shook his hand without acknowledging him. He looked behind them wondering if there was a mistake, where was the CEO.