The Corp sent them both out to the Essex office, and they had to share the company flat. It had been fun, getting drunk, pretending to be het. He really needed watching over that boy. Overdid the sauce at times.
It was pathetic after he resigned. He didn't realize he no longer had the same hold over people he once had: not as pretty, not as successful. It really was a bit difficult introducing him at dinner parties: this is my dropped-out friend Richard.
He's as strong as a horse of course, and will be fine. Anyway, Tristan has to fly out to Venezuela next week. Maybe he'll give him a call after that. Just to show he isn't avoiding him or anything.
Tristan suddenly sees Richard's face as it was in Essex, happy, bold, smiling, beautiful. He tries to dismiss it, and can't.