Thomas looked over at Ivan himself and held back his thoughts for the moment.

Carol told him, “Well, whatever you need from me, just let me know.”

Ivan had to hold his tongue. She was giving him an open door to ask her for a cover charge for a Thursday. But how would she respond to that? Would she think of him as a charming snake and kindly chase him out of her garden? Or would she view it as simple business and take a chance with it? And what would Thomas think?

With all of his thoughts running through his mind at light speed, Ivan opened his mouth and said, “Well…what I want to do is promote an ‘Old School Eat and Greet After-Work Jam at Carol’s Soul Food Restaurant in Old Town.’”

Thomas heard that and shortened it. “An ‘Old School Eat and Greet Jam at Old Town’? I like that. But what kind of ‘old school’ are you talking about, your ‘old school’ or my ‘old school’?” Thomas teased him.

Ivan smiled. He said, “I’ll tell the DJ to make sure he mixes it all in.”

Carol continued to look him in his eyes. “Well, you just let me know, and whatever you need, we’ll set it all up for you. Okay, honey?”

Ivan nodded to her. “Okay.”

And that was it. It was a done deal.

Thomas walked Ivan back over to their table and chuckled to himself on the way.

“What’s so funny?” Ivan asked him.

Thomas stopped and looked him in the eyes. Then he whispered, “Now, Ivan, I’ve been selling real estate for twenty-two years, and I know good bullshit when I see it. So I’m standing here the whole time, thinking to myself, If Carol was just twenty years younger, she’d be all over your yellow ass.”

Ivan started smiling and shook it off before Thomas could finish.

Thomas said, “Now, you wait until you meet her daughter. You all could pass for family, outside of them light eyes of yours.”

Despite their laughter, Ivan got down to business. He said, “Well, what I’ll need from you, to pull this thing off, is an email list of people to invite.” He stopped himself short of naming the Urban League. He figured he would let Thomas make the connection for himself. Thomas also knew black professionals who were not members of the UL.

Thomas took the bait and said, “Oh, don’t worry about that. I got all of that. But I’ma tell you what, Ivan. I think that accounting thing, with you sitting behind a damn desk all day, was the wrong career for you. You need to be out here in front of people. I can see it now. You real easy on the eyes and quick on the conversation. That’s why I tried to get you to sell real estate years ago.