The campus of University of Montana was sprawling, with red brick buildings, towering trees, and winding paths that seemed to stretch forever. As I stepped onto the grounds, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and uncertainty. The advice Geoffrey had given me was clear—go to the university, find the business program, and use his name to get the attention of the right people. It all seemed simple enough, but now that I was here, I felt a little lost. I had no idea where to start.
I walked through the main entrance and made my way to the first building I saw—a large, imposing structure that had the air of authority about it. The sign above the door read, "College of Business and Economics". I took a deep breath and pushed the door open, stepping into a hallway lined with glossy posters of alumni and faculty achievements. It all seemed so official, so professional. It was nothing like the simple farm life I had left behind.
I walked to the reception desk at the front, where a woman in her mid-thirties was busy typing on her computer. She barely looked up when I approached, but I could tell she was trying to stay focused.
"Excuse me," I said, trying to sound as confident as I could. "I'm looking for Geoffrey Gamble, the president of the university. I was told he might be around today."
At the mention of Geoffrey's name, her fingers froze over the keyboard. Her eyes finally lifted from the screen, and she gave me an amused look.
"Mr. Gamble?" She raised an eyebrow. "Do you have an appointment with him?"
I blinked, not expecting that question. "Uh, no… I mean, not exactly. But I met him yesterday at a diner in town. He said I should come by and tell them he sent me."
The receptionist tilted her head slightly, her expression a mix of disbelief and curiosity. "You met him at a diner, you say? And he just told you to come here without any prior notice or appointment?"
I nodded, trying to maintain some semblance of seriousness despite how ridiculous this whole situation felt. "Yes. He said I should come and mention his name. He's the president, right?"
She leaned back in her chair, clearly processing the situation. "Well, that's one way to do it," she said dryly, tapping a few keys on her computer. "I don't suppose you've been in touch with his office before, have you? Scheduled anything?"
I shook my head, my cheeks flushing slightly. "No… I didn't really know how to approach this. I was just told to show up and… well, here I am."
The receptionist gave a half-smile, clearly trying to hide her amusement. "Alright, well, give me a moment. I'll see if he's available. Though, I'll warn you—he's not usually just hanging around the office waiting for surprise visitors."
I watched as she typed something into the computer, her fingers clicking away. The seconds felt like minutes, and my nervousness began to creep back in. What if Geoffrey had just been being nice? What if I was making a fool of myself coming here without an appointment?
"Alright," the receptionist finally said, looking up with a smirk. "I've got good news. He's in his office right now. I'll let him know you're here, though I have to say, it's not every day someone just walks in with no prior arrangements."
I grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, I'm starting to realize that."
She gestured toward a hallway. "His office is down there, second door on the left. If you're lucky, maybe he'll remember you from the diner."
I thanked her and walked down the hallway, my steps echoing as I made my way toward Geoffrey's office. The door was wide open, and I could see a figure hunched over a desk, working. He looked exactly as he had the day before—calm, composed, and completely at ease with himself.
"Mr. Gamble?" I called out, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
Geoffrey looked up from his desk, and his face broke into a knowing smile when he saw me standing in the doorway. "Well, well, if it isn't the Texas traveler," he said, his voice warm but laced with amusement. "I'm surprised to see you here, but I guess I shouldn't be. How's the journey going?"
I stepped inside, a little awkwardly. "Going… well. I didn't know how this all worked, but I followed your advice. I came straight to the university."
Geoffrey chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "You're braver than most. Most people would've given up by now. You just walked right in, huh?"
I shrugged, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Yeah, I didn't really have a plan. The receptionist gave me a funny look, though."
"Ah, Betty. She's good at that," Geoffrey said with a laugh. "She's seen all sorts of people try to get through these doors. But I admire your persistence. You've got guts, I'll give you that."
I smiled, a bit relieved to be getting a warm reception. "So… now what? What should I do next?"
Geoffrey sat forward, folding his hands on the desk. "Well, you're here for a reason, right? If you really want to pursue finance, you're in the right place. But don't expect it to be easy. Getting into the finance world takes more than just walking into a room and hoping for a lucky break."