Inviting
2026
At first he spoke so softly I had to lean in close to hear him. His speech was lightly accented and formal, with a faint suggestion of something inviting in an illicit way that intrigued me. There was nothing condescending about his manner and to the contrary, showed me the deference and respect I would not have expected from a client, let alone my landlord. He looked at me with a strong and hopeful gaze, the sort of expression that suggests just the right measure of self-assurance.
“Is this a convenient time for me to tell you about this?
I told him it was.
