There was something about black tie he’d always liked – the polished shoes, the white shirt, the tight collar. It was like a dress uniform for the successful. He tilted his head back, straightening his bow tie. Not bad, for the son of a builder, he thought. Black tie had become almost a monthly fixture on Spender’s calendar. It seemed businessmen across Northern Ireland couldn’t wait to get together and congratulate themselves on how well they were doing. The trousers had been a bit of a squeeze and Spender wondered if he needed to finally go up a size. He patted his gut softly, thinking about his favourite restaurants – Deane’s, Cayenne, The Merchant. Venison steak, pan-fried scallops, Dundrum mussels. ‘How could a man not get fat?’ he said out loud. Tonight was the Chamber of Commerce awards dinner. It was an annual event. A five-course meal at the City Hall and anyone who was anyone would be there. His friends from Planning, as well as a few folk from the City Council.
