Faced with overwhelming odds, Paul straightened up from his threatening stance. With angry gestures he examined his finely tailored jacket and found that it had been ripped.

“Sorry,” Jack said, seeing the damage he’d caused. “Luckily, it looks like it was just a seam.”

“What the hell is going on here?” Chet asked.

“Paul and I had a momentary disagreement,” Jack said. “But thanks to you, I think it’s ironed out, so to speak.”

Paul wagged his finger at Jack’s face the way he had with Laurie. “You’re going to hear from me about this,” he snarled. “Mark my words!”

“I’ll look forward to it,” Jack said.

“Paul, why don’t you just leave?” Laurie said. “Unless you want to be arrested, please go! I’ve called security.”

Paul straightened his tie and tucked his matching pocket square back into his breast pocket. The whole time, he kept his eyes glued to Jack. “You’ve not seen the last of me,” he spat. Then turning to Laurie he said with equivalent venom, “And I’ll talk to you later.” After squaring his shoulders he started down the hallway toward the elevator.

Jack, Laurie, and Chet watched him go.

“What was this all about?” Chet asked.

Neither Jack nor Laurie responded.

“Did you really call security?” Jack asked.

“No,” Laurie said. “I was about to when I heard Chet’s yell. It’s better this way.”

“Thanks for coming when you did, Chet,” Jack said.

“Glad to help,” Chet said. “Anybody want a potato chip?” He held the bag out for Jack and Laurie. Both shook their heads.

“Would you like to talk?” Jack asked Laurie.

Laurie nodded. “I would, actually.”

“Chet, old sport,” Jack said, giving Chet a pat on the back. “Thanks for being the cavalry, and I’ll see you back at the orifice in a few minutes.” “Orifice” was a comical malapropism for “office” that Jack and Chet frequently used when speaking with each other.

“I can sense when three’s a crowd,” Chet said. He set off, happily munching his snack.

Laurie led the way back into her office. She closed the door behind Jack. “I hope you don’t mind me shutting you in here like this.”

“I can think of worse fates,” Jack said.

Laurie enveloped Jack in a sustained hug. Jack hugged her back.

“Thanks for being a friend once again,” she said after a full minute of silence. She released her grip, gave Jack a crooked smile, and then sat down. She got a tissue out of one of her drawers and dabbed at her eyes. She shook her head. “I hate it when I cry,” she said.

“It seems to me to be rather an appropriate response after having to put up with that kind of behavior.”

Laurie shook her head in dismay. “I can’t believe it. I’m flabbergasted. Just three days ago it was sheer bliss.”