The invitation card called for suit and tie.
This sort of clothing wasn’t at all fashionable in his world. His ambiance was more like tracksuit and slippers while manipulating things on a keyboard. The fact that he was a hacker was not widely known, not even among his friends. With his day job paying for all his necessities, he only regarded his evening pastime as a hobby. Over a number of years, he had become very good at what he did. In fact, he often surprised himself with what he could do. He had been to places within the internet that people simply couldn’t go. On occasion, he had felt that others were somehow aware of his presence. Naturally, it had occurred to him that the gentleman who had approached him in the shopping centre with the plain envelope may have knowledge concerning what he thought were his clandestine evening activities.
He had been given two days to present himself at the address provided on the card; sufficient time to rediscover his best suit, tie and shoes. It was also time enough for him to come to terms with the fact that he was perfectly willing to go along with whatever was about to transpire.
At the appointed time and place, outside the main entrance of one of the cities most prestigious buildings, the man that had given him the invitation smiled as he approached. With his finger to his lips the man shook his hand and guided him silently, through to the elevators. They entered one, and after a long ride up, came out onto a long hallway. He was led to a side door. His chaperon entered and announced their arrival.
It was a large boardroom with a central table. A number of professional looking people, both men and women of multicultural appearance, were seated.
On entering, they all rose.
It was obvious that his world was about to change. Whoever they were, and whatever he was about to become part of, he was very comfortable with the fact that he was the newbie.