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Three
"Ah,"saidSylvia.ThenherattentionslidoffRichard,likewateroffanoiledduck,andshesaid,"No,notoverthere.Forheaven’ssakes,"totheremovalmen,andhurriedafterthemastheycarriedoffRichard’sdesk.
Richardwatchedhergo.ThenhewalkedthroughtheofficeuntilhegottoGary’sworkstation.Garywasansweringe-mail.Richardlookedatthescreen:thee-mailGaryseemedtobewritingwasbothsexuallyexplicitandaddressedtosomeonewhowasnotGary’sgirlfriend.Embarrassed,Richardmovedaroundtotheothersideofthedesk.
"Gary.What’sgoingon?Isthisajokeorsomething?"
Garylookedaround,asifhehadheardsomething.Heflickedthekeyboard,activatingascreen-saverofdancinghippopotami,thenheshookhisheadasiftoclearit,pickedupthetelephone,andbegantodial.Richardslammedhishanddownonthephone,cuttingGaryoff.
"Look,thisisn’tfunny.Idon’tknowwhateveryone’splayingat."Finally,tohisenormousrelief,Garylookedupathim.Richardcontinued,"IfI’vebeenfiredthenjusttellmeI’vebeenfired,butallthispretendingI’mnothere..."
AndthenGarysmiledandsaid,"Hi.Yeah.I’mGaryPerunu.CanIhelpyou?"
"Idon’tthinkso,"saidRichard,coldly,andhewalkedoutoftheoffice,leavinghisbriefcasebehindhim.
Richard’sofficeswereonthethirdfloorofabig,old,draftybuilding,justofftheStrand.Jessicaworkedabouthalfwayupalargecrystalline,mirroredstructureintheCityofLondon,fifteenminutes’walkuptheroad.
