The bus was a crawl and Alexander watched city lights smear against the glass while his leg bounced a restless rhythm as he checked the screen again to see that $1,320 was really there because Marcus was actually serious. No way was he showing up looking like a charity case so he jumped off at the commercial district and walked into a barbershop "Short on the sides clean on top make it professional" said Alexander.

"Interview?" said the barber while snapping the cape.

"Something like that" said Alexander as he watched the shaggy mess hit the floor in the mirror and twenty minutes later he was out with a jawline that actually looked sharp.

The department store was next where he ignored the clearance racks and went for the high-end section to get a black button-down and slacks that fit without a bunching belt plus clean leather shoes with no scuffs. He stuffed his old rags into a plastic bag inside the fitting room and when he turned to the full-length mirror he stopped because the drama club taught him how to become someone else but this felt real. No room for mistakes not tonight "You look like you belong in a corner office not a 7-Eleven" said Alexander.

He straightened his collar and walked out then checked the text from Marcus again about the Grand Regency Hotel which was the kind of place where one night cost more than Robert’s shitty car "I hope the job is worth the money" said Alexander.

He flagged a cab and once inside his pulse thrummed against his throat as the car pulled away because he had the clothes and he had the look but the rest was a blank. Alexander walked into the hotel lobby where no one asked for ID and the staff just pointed toward the elevators like he belonged there so he took the lift straight to the top floor. Inside the suite the scale of the place felt heavy and massive but the air inside was dead "Hello is anyone here?" said Alexander.

Nothing but silence so he figured he was early and crashed on the sofa where an envelope and some fancy smartphone were sitting on the coffee table. He didn’t touch them but then the phone started blowing up and for five straight minutes call after call kept vibrating against the wood until he finally picked up "Hello?" said Alexander.

"Hello Mr. Alexander we are the company you’ve come to see how are you?" said the voice.

"Good afternoon I’m sorry for answering your phone it just wouldn’t stop ringing..." said Alexander.

"Don’t worry in fact that phone is yours a welcome gift and your friend recommended you highly because your first assignment is in this very hotel room 402 where the person you are to satisfy is named Helen" said the voice. "If you fail today there won’t be a second chance so do not disappoint us as you have thirty minutes until the start of your appointment and this suite belongs to you now do not lose this phone it is our only way to reach you welcome to TMC" said the voice.

The line went dead and Alexander stared at the device "TMC what the hell is TMC?" said Alexander. He opened the envelope to find a single debit card with a PIN written on the back "This company is the real deal I’ll have to buy Marcus a hell of a dinner when I see him" said Alexander.

He set the phone down and looked around seeing a full suit and shoes laid out on the bed next to a silver Rolex with a note sitting on top about the attire for today’s task. Alexander walked over and his fingers shook as he touched the fabric stripping off his new clothes that felt like cardboard now. He slid into the shirt which fit perfectly as if it were stitched for his exact frame then buckled the Rolex onto his wrist "How do they know my size?" said Alexander.

He stared at his reflection looking like a million bucks but when he reached for the shoes he stopped because a gold-wrapped condom and a bottle of lubricant sat on the nightstand. Alexander picked up the small square and frowned "A condom what kind of finance job is this?" said Alexander.

He looked at the suit then the watch and finally the nightstand as the suspicion crawled up his spine "Bodyguard maybe she’s just paranoid" said Alexander. He checked the phone seeing the clock ticking for Room 402 and Helen which was a name that felt familiar like a ghost of his aunt but he pushed it down because it was a common name. "Just show up do the job get out" said Alexander as he shoved the phone and the card into his pockets to head for the door for twelve hundred dollars.