“Yeah, I was rushing to get to the Padres party that night, and the girl didn’t want me to go,” he told him with a grin. “But I’ve made a lot of changes since then. I cut my hair down, got my ear pierced, started throwing parties, a bunch of things.” He said, “But I told you I would be back.”

“Yeah, you did,” the valet commented with a chuckle. Then he looked over Ivan’s style of dress, with Lucina standing behind him, waiting. They had just stepped out of the limo.

“So, you’re part of this party here tonight?” the valet asked him.

Ivan smiled slyly. He answered, “Yeah, I’m a part of it. I’m a big part.”

“A big part who’s gonna be late if you don’t come on, Ivan,” Lucina told him from behind.

The valet overheard her and put two and two together to make four.

He said, “Wait a minute, you’re not Ivan David, are you?”

That made the other valets stop and wonder for a minute.

Ivan tried to hold in his grin, but it felt good to have a recognizable name.

He said, “Somebody has to be him,” and started walking off toward Lucina. “But I’ll see you if you’re out here later.”

“All right. I’ll be here.”

The valets didn’t need any convincing after that. Any man who had a woman as beautiful as Lucina waiting around for him had to be worth something.

“Hey, man, you know him?” one of the other valets asked, once Ivan and Lucina had walked into the hotel.

The valet was still stunned. “Ahh, no, not really,” he answered. “He just, ah, ran out of here late one night a while ago.”

He thought, But I wish I did know him. He’s throwing big, fancy corporate parties, and I’m still out here parking cars for tips. Shit!

“Your people skills are special,” Lucina noted to Ivan on their way in. “You have a way of maintaining your humility with everyone.”

Ivan smiled it off and said, “Not everyone. But I’m just starting this. You gotta give me five more years before you can say that.”

As soon as they walked into the grand lobby, two of Lucina’s interns were there to greet them in gold dresses. Both of them were exuberant white girls who could make the men’s magazines as pinup poster models: one blond with gray eyes, the other brunette with greens.

“This is Ivan David, the boss,” Lucina told them. “You are both to take great care of him.”

She didn’t have to tell them that. They both realized how important Ivan was as soon as he walked through the door with her. His name was only posted on every part of the ballroom. But being meticulous with her help was Lucina’s way with things.