The problem with 'transactional diplomacy'

Washington

DURING a recent flight, I was sitting next to a young lady who, I noticed, kept looking at my wristwatch. I assumed that her watch had probably stopped running and that she was trying to get the time right. So I provided her with the information.

Apparently, she was not interested in the time but in my Antique Art Déco gold watch, and said that she was willing to pay a lot if I sold it to her on the spot.