He no longer recognized his own reflection. His teeth, yellow and snaggled. His skin, sallow and crinkled. His eyes, small and sunken. At least he still had a full head of hair, an investment in his twenties that had paid dividends. But he knew that people knew. They must do, his speckled beard was a dead giveaway. Did they know about anything else?
He redid his tie for the fourth time. He needed to get the lengths just right. Everything needed to be just right. This was a golden opportunity to pitch his new venture to one of the world’s wealthiest men. If he could just get this venture off the ground, his life would never look the same again. There would never be any doubt that he was a Very Important Person. Rather than him chasing other people for capital, people would be coming to him. For his money, his experience, his advice. Just like Mami always said they would.
Was his tie too dark for such a hot place? Were his trouser pants hemmed too high? He was sure that he had picked the wrong cufflinks, the silver clashing with the warm hues of his new leather shoes. He stole one last glance at his reflection in the bathroom mirror and, reluctantly, slipped out through the door.