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The cafeteria was completely crowded, and the poor waiters could not cope. Although the building where they worked had one of the best-stocked canteens in the area and, at special prices for workers, most preferred to leave during the time they had for lunch.
Leaning against the bright wooden padded bar, he warmed his hands with his coffee cup and felt a tingling sensation when the smell reached his nose. He loved coffee when tit was well done, but the tickling was due to something much more momentous than a good cup of caffeine. The morning had been especially hard, and the agreements did not come to fruition. The coalitions could not agree, and the parties made water from their base. The disqualifications and the insults had begun to happen between the maximum exponents of each group; the dirty rags began to come out of the drawers where they had been hidden, and that was evident in the plenary sessions. Any action was discussed even by members of the same parties, and the situation threatened to deteriorate with every minute that passed. He smiled broadly and brought the cup to his lips.
—The coffee here is wonderful, right?
He turned sideways on the stool and saw next to him a man who could well pass as his own brother. His suit —although not of the same quality as his—, was of good cut. The Italian shoes fitted perfectly to the whole, and the silk handkerchief in the top pocket added a touch of distinction to the combination.
—It certainly is— he corroborated.
Penetrating blue eyes and a perfect smile returned a reflection that puzzled him a little. He seemed to be looking at a mirror that returned his own image with a few years of delay.
—Excuse me, do you work in Parliament? — He asked interestedly.
—Oh no, I couldn’t— he said with a smile from a movie actor—. Here there is a lot of tension.
—Yes, it seems that things are getting difficult —he agreed—. But nothing new, politics is like that.
—Oh, I think I disagree with you in that —his strong accent baffled him—. The politics is easy; I would say too much.
—Good...
—Believe me— he cut him off—. I don’t do this, but I know something about driving people and lying.
The rictus of the other changed drastically. He left unfinished the cup of coffee and held up a finger asking for the bill.
—Also, seen a politician, all seen— he said smiling—. Don’t you say it that way?
—Listen, I don’t want polemics with ideologies...
—Let’s see if as a good politician that you are, you learn to shut up when time deserves.
The strength and elegance of that guy had temporarily disarmed him, but he was not going to let himself be intimidated by any fanatic who approached him, however much appearance he might have.
—If you continue to disrespect me...
—What are you going to do? — he challenged without losing the guy— I'm going to tell you, nothing. And now listen to me, that I don’t have time to lose with stupid battles of egos. In a few days we'll call you by phone— he left a thick folder on the lacquered surface of the counter—. Learn this and continue with the agreement.
The other's face contracted horribly. All the composure and haughtiness that until that moment his face had shown deformed to become a grimace of horror.
—You are... well... you should have told me...
—Did you understand? —he said—. Memorize it and act as you have been taught.
He turned around and left a twenty-euro note on the folder he had just left. Before leaving he approached the other's ear and whispered a few words.
—Ah, and I hope that when the time comes, show more integrity than you just showed me this morning.
He left the restaurant amidst the murmur of the customers, who began to get up to pay for their drinks and return to work.