Page 36 of The Facilitator 1

He laughed. “I like,” he said, sweeping his hand towardsme.

I shook my head and I lowered myfeet.

“What can I do for you?” Iasked.

“Other than the usual, what do you think of myplans?”

We spent a half-hour discussing his ideas, and I made notes, promising to have a full proposal for him, with costs, in a couple ofdays.

As much as I didn’t want to, I checked my messages and emails on a frequent basis during the day. I’d hoped for a message from Mackenzie. I tried not to be disappointed when I hadn’t received one on either. I put him to the back of my mind and continued myday.

“So, I don’t think, in the year I’ve been working here, I’ve seen you in anything other than a black or grey suit,” Jenny said, as she strode into myoffice.

She’d brought a coffee with her, and I winced at the taste of instant. It also reminded me that Mackenzie still had mine in the boot of hiscar.

“A new me, Jenny,” Isaid.

“Good. Me and Sally are going to a new wine bar that’s just opened around the corner after work, if you want to joinus?”

Jenny had never invited me to join her after work, and her and Sally going out together surprisedme.

“Sally? As in, Jerry’sSally?”

“Another lonesome. We need to make a club, I’m on my own, she’s on her own, and you, well, no one knows whether you’rereallyon your own or not,” she added a wink after thatcomment.

Sally was Jerry’s very efficient and elderly assistant. Not someone I would have paired with Jenny nor the wine bartype.

“Yes, I will. Whynot?”

“Come onthen.”

I checked my watch not realising it was already five. Of course, for Jenny it was the end of the day. I packed up my things, and she used my phone to call Sally. We met her in the foyer, and I think she was as surprised to see me, as I washer.

Because the wine bar had just opened, it was fairly empty. We found a booth and ordered a cocktaileach.

“We’re off duty, aren’t we?” Jennyasked.

“Sure are,” Ireplied.

“Okay,” she took in a deep breath, as if preparing herself to ask a difficult question. I froze, wondering what she was about tosay.

“You and Jerry, have youever…?”

I relaxed, thenlaughed.

“No, never. He’s a really good friend. I’ve been with him since dayone.”

I then told them about our first meeting, where he’d spilled his drink on meme.

“I know what people think and even now, being single, it’s not somewhere I’d go. I cherish our friendship,” Isaid.

“I’d do him,” Jenny said. “But now we have the delicious Mackenzie.” She sighed as she took a sip of herdrink.

“I’d do Mackenzie, although, I’m not sure my sixty-year-old body would be up for it,” Sallysaid.

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud and it felt good. It felt good to sit, drink with a group of women, andlaugh.

“Would it bother you that he owns most of the company?” Iasked.

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