But the first time she had told Carla to reserve a car for her that way, Carla had objected. "That's not right," she had said, "I can't do that, it wouldn't be true. You don't want me to lie ?? This is for business , isn't it?"

Huh.

"Ok, tell you what," she had said, "Let's use your name. You are the one making the reservation, right? That won't be lying."

Carla bit her lip and looked dubious, but she did it, and from then on it was the glamorous and light-footed world traveler Carla Montero for whom redcaps would toil and cabbies would wait.

Except tonight they didn't. F.

She went down to the luggage conveyor, which was moving, but empty, and got out her phone.

"Hi Judy, it's me. Let me speak to Carla ~~~ Carla, what's the confirmation number for the car? ~~~ No, I'll wait. ~~~ um hmm. I just got in and he isn't here. ~~~ No. You have it? No, don't give it to me, would you just call the company and cancel it - I know, just cancel it. Good. Is the B still there? ~~~ No, let me hold - tell him I'm holding." A minute went by.

Nobody could remember who first called him 'the B' but it probably started back when the company was still run out of a little office in the hanger at Brown Field. The official line was that it stood for the Boss -- but he would tell you different...if you had the balls to ask him.

"Hey. Yeah. No, I'm still at the airport, fucking car didn't show. ~~~ I know, I already did. Listen, there's something I want to talk to you about--when is the next time you're going to see Francesco? ~~ Don't be stupid, just tell me. ~~~ Good....I'm going to email you a summary and I want you to read it with an open mind. I really think it has potential. ~~~ I know, I know. ~~~ It's a proposal, just read it, ok? My bag is here, I gotta go. Call me later. ~~~ Ok."

She grabbed her bag as it came past, un-hitched the handle and started walking to the rental car booths, trailing it behind her. Her phone rang.

"Hello?" she listened for a while. "Tell them to use the green ones. ~~~ I know what he said, and he knows what I want, use the green folders, Carla, the green folders are for marketing, the red folders are for projects under contract. Ok, let me talk to him. ~~~ Dice? What did we agree in the meeting. ~~~ Right. You were there, and you agreed, right? I don't like reminding you of this and that's the end of it Dice. I'm hanging up now." She put the phone in her pocket.

She stepped up to the brightly lit car rental counter and before she had a chance to open her mouth, the smiling clerk greeted her by name.

Business travel sucks.



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