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He thought he could not get over anything, and he knew successful people got over everything and moved forward, for if one could not get over things, one could not move forward and be successful.
 I can't seem to get over anything, he said.
You know, D said, people want some reassurance.
I know, he said.
People want, D said, that reassurance of meaning, of spirit. I'm not saying you have to be a darling.
I know I'm no darling, he said.
What I'm saying, D said, is you have to meet people somewhere. If people think you dislike them or disdain them, you're not going to get anywhere.
He hated D. It crossed his mind to kill D.
People, D said, want to trust you. They want you to allow them to think of you as a friend -- someone who likes them or allows them to like you.
He could shoot D, but he did not have a gun.
If you don't start, D said, with that sense that a relationship is possible, then there is nothing to build on, and if there is nothing to build on, you can not do business, and if you can not do business, we might as well shut this operation down.
Stabbing D would be messy. And he'd be much more likely to get caught. All that physical evidence like on TV.
I hope you'll take this to heart, D said.
I'll certainly try, he said.
D flinched. What does that mean?
I'll take it to heart.
What did you mean try?
I didn't mean anything.
No?
No.
D stared at him. I hope not.
He could garrote D. That might be the best way. Or poison.
He was thinking of poison as D shut the door behind him.
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