“If by okay you mean continuing to work with me in the same way you have before, then yes.”

“Wow, that’s just…wow.” Jack looked around the room again. “So I’m the only one who has a problem with Shipton being a…?” The word “fag” hovered in the air, though he didn’t say it.

“Who the hell cares who he sleeps with?” Dan asked.

“Clients who don’t want to work with a fucking fairy.” So much for holding back on name-calling.

Jack grabbed his briefcase and stormed out.

Sandra stood as if ready to go after him, but Thorne held up his hand.

“Let him go. He’ll either come to terms with who I am, or I’ll give him a reference for another job. I’m not looking for approval. I’m giving information and expecting the same job from you that you were doing yesterday.”

Dan nodded. “Not a problem for me.”

“Me either,” Bob said.

Thorne took a slow breath and tried to adjust to what had happened. He’d never have guessed Jack would be the one to reject him. He’d been far more concerned about Bob or Dan. Bob had predictably been crude, but he didn’t seem truly bothered. Dan was unfazed, supportive even. Maybe he didn’t know his partners as well as he thought he did.

“One more announcement.” He could feel the tension in the room. “I’m also going to be taking two weeks off—”

“Wait, what?” Now Lisa was shocked. “You? Time off?”

“Yes. Me. Time off.”

“Well, this is a day of revelation.” Bob rolled his chair over to the window and gazed out. “Hmm, no signs of the apocalypse yet.”

Thorne gave a halfhearted laugh. “So far.”

“You’re truly not coming into the office for two entire weeks?” Sandra asked.

“Or e-mailing us about work?” Bob added.

“Or working at one a.m. on a Sunday?” Dan apparently needed to get in on this too.

“That’s right. I will not be working for the next two weeks.”

“Is this like a midlife crisis or something?” Bob asked.

“No. I’ve always been gay.”

Bob rolled his eyes. “I meant the time off thing.”

“Oh.” Once again he’d misjudged, expecting to be challenged. “Possibly. It’s time I made some changes.”

Dan nodded. “I’m assuming you have assignments for us while you’re gone.”

Now that was normal. Dan wanting him to get to the point. “I do.”

He explained how they could handle the clients he’d been working with while he was gone. Fortunately, there weren’t any projects needing a final briefing during the next two weeks. “Ask Lauren if you need anything. She knows how to get in touch with me if there’s an emergency.”