“Over here, sweetheart.” Ray waved for me to come nearer. Feeling a bit odd, I complied. He sat down in the car but kept one leg outside on the ground.
“This is a 2012 Mercedes 550 S-Class Series. It seats six people, five comfortably. It has all the bells and whistles…heated steering wheel, multi-contour seats with massage capabilities, paranormal sunroof, power sunshades located on the side windows, active body control with crosswind stabilization, cargo net for storage, driver assistance package…errrrrrr—let’s see…four zone climate control, night view to assist with pedestrian detection. Details you may not be interesting in…V-8 engine for 4Matic, fulltime all-wheel drive, 10-spoke alloy wheels, fuel economy with 15 city miles and 23 highway. Although there’s more that I can say, I’m sure you’ll take time to familiarize yourself with her. I know you said you don’t have much time but do you want to take her for a spin around the parking lot? I can adjust the seat for your comfort.”
Adjust the seat for my comfort? Why would he do that?
“Is Azmir selling me this car? I can’t afford a damn Mercedes Benz 550—or any Mercedes Benz for that matter!” I didn’t know what he thought I’d earned running this practice but I couldn’t afford this.
Ray gave a belly-shaking laugh, apparently amused by my borderline pissed off reaction. “Ms. Brimm, he isn’t selling you this car. He’s loaning it to you until you say when. And believe me when I say you’re doing me a big favor. This thing only gets started up when I take it for a maintenance run. It has less than fifty miles on it.”
My mouth was suspended in complete bewilderment, it was wide open and my eyes were widened in disorientation. What in the hell? I eyed the big body Benz from hood to trunk in disbelief. I heard Ray laugh again. He got out of the car and closed the door behind.
“Well, I know you have to get back to work. Here’s my card. Give me a call with any questions. Mr. Jacobs will take care of all the maintenance of the car. Use that card if something comes up unexpectedly.” He stood before me handing me the key.
“Ray, I can’t take this. What am I going to do with a luxury car? I can’t even afford to put gas in it!” I couldn’t look him in his face, I was stuck in awe.
“I’ll be sure to make Mr. Jacobs aware of that, but I have to do my job and drop off the car to you. Should you have any questions, he asked that you contact him. Otherwise, I bid you a good day, Ms. Brimm. Enjoy your new vehicle,” Ray spoke with a knowing smile and all but dropped the keys in my hand.
He walked off, leaving me there standing in a stupor. When that registered, I jumped and called out to him, “Ray…! I can’t…”
He chuckled and said, “He told me you would resist it but I have a job to do. If you have a problem, Ms. Brimm, give the big man a call,” Ray shouted in the distance as he continued his stride away from me.
After a moment’s time, I charged back into the building, past Sharon’s curious glare and in the privacy of my office. I dialed Azmir whose voicemail picked up. I left a message urging him to call me back right away and didn’t realize until it was done that I’d slammed the receiver down when I hung up. I stood there next to my desk trembling uncontrollably. The only person I’d allow a hand from is Michelle. His wooing with the luggage and trip were nonessentials, I didn’t need them so it was fair game. This massive, apparently underused, vehicle comes at a time that I do need a car. It took everything that I could muster to keep my tears contained. I had to quickly snap out of it and go into my next appointment, which I managed to do.
I checked my phone it seemed every ten minutes awaiting Azmir’s call. It wasn’t until my second afternoon appointment that I heard from him. I rushed down into my office after giving my PT assistant instructions for my absence.