Никогде
One
RichardwouldaccompanyJessicaonhertoursofsuchhugeandintimidatingemporiaasHarrodsandHarveyNichols,storeswhereJessicawasabletopurchaseanything,fromjewelry,tobooks,totheweek’sgroceries.
RichardhadbeenawedbyJessica,whowasbeautiful,andoftenquitefunny,andwascertainlygoingsomewhere.AndJessicasawinRichardanenormousamountofpotential,which,properlyharnessedbytherightwoman,wouldhavemadehimtheperfectmatrimonialaccessory.Ifonlyhewerealittlemorefocused,shewouldmurmurtoherself,andsoshegavehimbookswithtitleslikeDressforSuccessandAHundredandTwenty-FiveHabitsofSuccessfulMen,andbooksonhowtorunabusinesslikeamilitarycampaign,andRichardalwayssaidthankyou,andalwaysintendedtoreadthem.InHarveyNichols’smen’sfashiondepartmentshewouldpickoutforhimthekindsofclothesshethoughtthatheshouldwear—andheworethem,duringtheweek,anyway;and,ayeartothedayaftertheirfirstencounter,shetoldhimshethoughtitwastimethattheywentshoppingforanengagementring.
"Whydoyougooutwithher?"askedGary,inCorporateAccounts,eighteenmonthslater."She’sterrifying."
Richardshookhishead."She’sreallysweet,onceyougettoknowher."
GaryputdowntheplastictrolldollhehadpickedupfromRichard’sdesk."I’msurprisedshestillletsyouplaywiththese."
"Thesubjecthasnevercomeup,"saidRichard,pickinguponeofthecreaturesfromhisdesk.IthadashockofDay-Gloorangehair,andaslightlybaffledexpression,asifitwerelost.
