A client — as we call them in the business — disagrees with my instructions to take care of a pal in town who needs some adult companionship. He suggests going the other way: Arrange all the details yourself. With a bit of edit, I've written up his formula so you can come off like a class act.

• Call ahead to the agency. Tell the phone girl that you have a trusted friend in town and that you'd like to be able to have a lady meet with him, but that it might be short notice. See how quickly they can send an escort.
• Prepay. Many agencies accept credit cards. Specify a gratuity to be added — anything less than $20 on a $200 date is cheap. What you're arranging counts as a special request, so you need to tip accordingly.
• Find out when he's up for it. Say to him you have a girl you'd like to have come by his hotel — is 8 good? 11? 2 a.m.? This gives him a chance to decline if he needs to. If it's a go, tell him all he has to do is be ready to meet her at the appointed hour.
• Make the final call. As soon as you have a time from him, let the agency know. A half-day's heads-up is very generous. A few hours might be okay, depending on what you were told in your first phone call. You can even have your assistant handle this step if you have that kind of relationship (not necessarily that kind).
• Really, don't mention it. The goal here is to let your colleague maintain the fantasy that the whole date began with the call girl's knock at his door.

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