A horn blared behind him, followed by another, and Raymond exhaled slowly while muttering, “Of course this happens right here at the worst possible moment.” His eyes moved over the line of cars behind him, aware that attention was gathering faster than he preferred.
Three young men nearby had already stopped to watch, and one of them raised his phone while another grinned openly at the sight of a wealthy man stranded in public. One of them called out, “Try it again, maybe it just needs encouragement,” and laughter followed without hesitation.
Raymond forced a polite smile that did not quite hide his irritation, then stepped back into the driver’s seat and pressed the ignition button while listening carefully. The car responded with a hollow click and nothing more, and when he tried again, the same empty sound answered him.
When he stepped out again, the change in his expression was small but noticeable to those watching, because confidence had cracked just enough to invite judgment. That was when a girl walking along the sidewalk slowed near the scene without meaning to become part of it.