I waited five minutes past our appointment before I called.

“My directors were down for lunch and I was inevitably delayed,” I said over the phone, after the crackling monotone on the other end projected a more human voice. Wait for it, I thought.

“But you were supposed to be here at 2.00pm and it’s 2.10 already!” he said. His voice was pitched high but thick, carrying a certain timbre. The inflection of his words felt accusatory, and I smiled. “I know,” I said, “and I’ll be there in 5 minutes, I apologize”.
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