I slid the unsigned credit application into the bottom compartment of my leather briefcase, locked the little silver latch with its tiny brass key, and tucked the key behind my driver’s license in my wallet.

By nine the next evening, the third-floor banquet hall at the Drake Hotel in downtown Chicago was buzzing with sixty regional logistics clients, freight fleet managers, and corporate guests.

The regional vice president of operations, Arthur, shook my hand twice on the carpeted stage before handing me the microphone for the closing remarks.

“Your expansion pitch for the Ohio freight corridor is the cleanest proposal this board has seen in five years, Mariana,” Arthur said, wiping his wire-rimmed glasses with a cloth.

“Thank you, Arthur,” I said, holding the leather presentation folder flat against my ribs.