“ Still —  I know I have a knack for this stuff.  Just not good with the academics.  And I can really help you, Diane.”

She hugged him back, “I know, Ter.”

After a couple of minutes, he pushed her gently away from him, and held her at arms-length, eyeing her tired eyes, and sagging frame.  “Diane, if you don’t mind my saying so, you look like crap, and you are uncharacteristically slumped over.”

She gave him a rueful smile, and sighed.  The adrenaline that had fueled her passion during her meeting with Mark had ebbed, and once it had left she suddenly felt like a lead balloon.

“Not your best look. Of course, even in this state you are still the sexiest chick in the office, hell, in the whole building, and you know every Diane-wannabe is trying to copy that kick-ass hair-cut of yours.”

She gave him a wan smile, to thank him for trying to pep her up.

“But since I’m gay that money-honey-vampy thing doesn’t work on me.  So, I will haul you down and put you in a cab with strict instructions to the driver to take you straight home.  No stops.”

He continued, as he held her coat out for her, “No drinking in a bar tonight like you tend to on some nights after you drag yourself out of the office.  What the hell are you trying to forget anyway?  All those bars….”

He slung her leather messenger bag on his shoulder, and cupped her elbow, his manner brooking no protests.  He’d already been wearing his cold weather get up of the season so far (“I’m all in for the Italians this year, honey”), save for the cashmere muffler from Burberry, and was ready to step out into the cold.

Good question, Terry.  Not prepared to talk about it, though.  But she was feeling really tired, all of a sudden.  So tired she could only muster a friendly smile as she willingly let him escort her to the elevators and take her down to the building lobby.

He wrapped a protective arm around her as they waited on the street.  Terry displayed effeminate gestures from time to time, but was full of old world manners when it came to escorting women around or in social settings, she’d noticed.