Nobody asked whether he wanted water.
Nobody asked his name.
Nobody offered a brochure.
He sat with both hands resting on the canvas bag.
Five minutes.
Then ten.
Ryan watched.
At first, he told himself not to interfere.
New employees learned quickly when senior people had claimed a situation.
The first week, Ryan had tried to help a couple Steve was serving and got pulled aside afterward.
“Don’t step on deals.”
The second week, he asked why walk-in customers were sometimes assigned based on clothing.
Chloe said:
“You’ll develop instincts.”
Ryan asked:
“About what?”
She smiled.
“Who is worth your time.”
That sentence bothered him.
Ryan had grown up above his parents’ dry-cleaning shop in Queens.
His father wore stained shirts almost every day.
His mother kept envelopes of cash inside an old cookie tin before they finally opened a proper business account.
When Ryan was fourteen, a luxury-store clerk once followed his father from aisle to aisle because he carried a worn backpack.
His father said nothing until they got outside.
Then:
“Some people need your money before they can imagine your dignity.”
Ryan never forgot.
Now the elderly man sat alone.
Ryan looked toward Chloe.
She was with another customer.
Steve was laughing near the coffee station.
Victor remained in his office.
Ryan walked over.
“Sir?”
Nathaniel looked up.
“Yes?”
“My name’s Ryan Parker.”
“Nice to meet you, Ryan.”
Ryan noticed immediately that the man’s voice carried no bitterness.
“I’m sorry. I know people have been a little…”
He searched for a safe word.
“Busy?”
Nathaniel almost smiled.
“Is that what we’re calling it?”
Ryan blushed.
“No.”
Nathaniel waited.
Ryan tried again.
“Rude.”
“More accurate.”
Ryan sat in the chair opposite him.
“What can I help you with?”
“I’d like to see Mr. Sterling.”
“About purchasing the Z9?”
Nathaniel considered.
“Among other things.”
Ryan nodded.
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
Nathaniel looked amused.
“That’s not a problem?”
“It might mean he can’t see you immediately.”
“That would be understandable.”
“But I can ask.”
“Chloe did.”
“And?”
“He is unavailable.”
Ryan looked toward Victor’s glass-walled office.
The blinds were partly open.
Victor sat alone.
Nathaniel followed his gaze.
Ryan cleared his throat.
“I’ll ask again.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
Ryan stood.
Nathaniel watched him walk away.
Victor looked annoyed the moment Ryan entered.
“What now?”
“That gentleman is still here.”
“I can see that.”
“He’s asking for you.”
“And Chloe handled it.”
“He seems serious.”
Victor leaned back.
“Ryan.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’re new.”
“I know.”
“You’re going to learn something important.”
Ryan waited.
“Sales is resource allocation.”
Ryan said nothing.
“We have finite time.”
Victor gestured toward the showroom.
“Every hour you spend with somebody who has no ability or intention to buy is an hour you are not spending with someone who does.”
“I understand.”
“No, you understand the sentence.”
Victor pointed toward Nathaniel.
“What you don’t understand yet is how to read people.”