My heart sank. Had it been declined? I braced for embarrassment, ready to gather my dignity and leave. Instead, the clerk returned with a manager, a tall man with an air of authority.
“Ma’am,” the manager began, “please, step into my office.”
Panic flared. Was there trouble? I followed him, gripping the card tightly. Inside the office, a small but elegant room, he gestured for me to sit.
