The instant Hamilton Holt received the invitation, he knew what would happen that night.
After a practice session with his teammates from the USA cricket team, a young man ran up to him, delivered the card, and dashed off without a word.
He turned the envelope over. Kabra Dealerships was printed in curly golden letters.
He sighed and slit open the envelope. He unfolded the letter.
'Dear Mr. Holt,
Mr. Ian Kabra, the honorable chairman of Kabra Dealerships, would like to extend his cordial greetings to you. He wishes to invite you to a friendly get-together at his new mansion in Washington D.C. The event will take place at 6 pm on March 4th.'
Hamilton sighed. He knew all too well why Ian was arranging this, but he couldn't pull out.
He flipped open his cell phone and called his sister Madison.
"Yeah," she said when Hamilton asked her. She sounded tired, as if she was in the middle of her weightlifting routine. "Reagan and I got invitations, too."
"Okay, then," Hamilton said. "I'll see you tonight." He ended the call.
He packed up his kit and got into his car.
Come on, he chided himself. You knew this day would come sooner or later.
Yes, his cynical side argued. But preferably later.