The boss took a sugar lump and dropped it into his cup. A second lump followed, and then a third. He tasted the coffee and added four more lumps. Then he picked up yet another and popped it in his mouth.
 
 “I love sugar,” he said.
 
 “So I see.”
 
 “You haven’t told me anything about our project, Martín, dear friend,” he cut in. “Is there a problem?”
 
 I winced.
 
 “It’s almost finished,” I said.
 
 The boss’s face lit up with a smile I tried to ignore.
 
 “That is wonderful news. When will I be able to see it?”
 
 “In a couple of weeks. I need to do some revisions. Pruning and finishing touches more than anything else.”
 
 “Can we set a date?”
 
 “If you like.”
 
 “How about Friday? That’s the twenty-fourth. Will you accept an invitation to dine and celebrate the success of our venture?”
 
 &nb
 
 sp; Friday, 24 January, was exactly two weeks away.
 
 “Fine,” I agreed.
 
 “That’s confirmed, then.”
 
 He raised his sugar-filled cup as if he were drinking a toast and downed the contents in one gulp.
 
 “How about you?” he asked casually. “What brings you here?”
 
 “I was looking for someone.”
 
 “Someone I know?”
 
 “No.”
 
 “And have you found the person?”
 
 “No.”
 
 The boss savored my silence.
 
 “I get the impression that I’m keeping you here against your will, dear friend.”
 
 “I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”
 
 “Then I won’t take up any more of your time. Sometimes I forget that although I enjoy your company, perhaps mine is not to your liking.”
 
 I smiled meekly and took the opportunity to stand up. I saw myself reflected in his pupils, a pale doll trapped in a dark well.
 
 “Take care of yourself, Martín. Please.”
 
 “I will.”