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Chapter Five
Royce was pouring himself a cup of coffee when Kasem walked into the kitchen, wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt.
“Good morning.” He brought his hands together and bowed. The man seemed to be in a perpetual good mood ever since he’d moved into the condo. He scanned the kitchen and sniffed. “Smells good in here.”
“’Morning, Kasem. Care for a cup of freshly brewed coffee?”
“Yes, please. Just the smell of it makes me feel good.”
“Help yourself. The pot is full. Cups are in this cabinet.” He pointed to the one on the left. “I’m toasting bagels for breakfast.”
“Thank you.” Kasem got a cup and two breakfast plates. “When do you leave for work?”
“I work from home. I drive to Chicago once a month to meet with my partners.”
“So practical. What’s your job about?” Kasem asked when they sat at the kitchen isle to eat.
“Networking for Insurance companies.”
“Is that what you studied?”
“Pretty much. I have a master’s in computer engineering and an MBA.”
Deep in thought, Kasem frowned. “Did you find it difficult to find a job?”
“Not really. I trained with several companies while I was still studying.”
“In my country, they warned me I would never find a job here, what with the unemployment crisis and my lack of experience in America.”
Royce shrugged. “Getting a job depends on the individual. Did you work in Bangkok?”
“Yes, for five years. I was hired as soon as I graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from NYU. I was promoted after three years.” His chin lifted proudly. “I brought my diplomas with me, just in case.”
Would things be easier for Susan if Kasem worked and didn’t rely on her all day long? Probably.
“You know Kasem, if you present yourself the right way during an interview, you may get lucky and land a job. Of course, you would have to apply for an entry level position to build your experience. Think about it.” He cleared the breakfast area and set his plates and cups in the dishwasher. Kasem followed suit.
“Now, I’m going to the gym for an hour.”
“I’ll come with you.”
They both changed into shorts. Royce brought out two white towels.
“Grab two bottles of water on your way out.”
In the gym, Royce explained the functioning of several exercise machines.
“If you forget, read the instructions affixed on each piece of equipment. See you at the door in an hour.”
While moving from the elliptical machine to the weight-lifting room, Royce caught a glimpse of Kasem chatting with a young neighbor. At the end of the hour, sweaty and out-of-breath, Royce drifted to the door, not finding his guest at their meeting point. He surveyed the gym and spotted him laughing with another woman near the rowing machine. The man hadn’t lost time bonding with prospective friends, making his mission easier.
Royce returned to wait by the door. A few minutes later, Kasem sauntered over to him, all smiles.
“Did you have a good session?”
Kasem chuckled. “I had a great time. The women are gorgeous around here, easy to talk to, but some have weird ideas.”
“How’s that?” Royce asked as they entered the elevator.
