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because after the warm welcome they were ushered to a table instantly, almost by magic. He suspected that his companion had skipped ahead of a few reservations thanks to her friendship with one of the managers. Maybe she came here every Saturday; maybe there was always a table waiting for her.
    He didn’t know much about her. In fact, now that he thought about it, he knew nothing about her. She might as well be co-owner of the pub, and it might be possible that the young man worked for her. Maybe he was her cousin. He certainly hoped so, because given the way they said hello, they seemed on intimate terms. Watching them together had already made him a little jealous.
    They ordered steaks, and after they’d enjoyed their first beer, Eric’s mood improved even further. Adele seemed to be having fun and was more inclined to have an actual conversation. To tell the truth, they were just talking about work, but they didn’t have anything else in common, and in any case it was nice to do so in an atmosphere other than their cold, impersonal office.
    “Do you come here a lot?” he asked her.
    “Often enough. It’s a nice pub.” Adele looked around. “The people who work here are really nice. They serve great food and the prices are even better.” Her lips expanded into an enigmatic smile.
    The alcohol was helping Eric feel a little more sure of himself, and he responded to that smile in a natural manner without a trace of guilt. He tossed back the last of his second pint and stood up. “All this liquid is starting to crank up the pressure,” he said without thinking.
    Adele burst out laughing. “Go ahead, boss. I won’t hold you back.”
    When he got back from the bathroom, he saw that his empty glass had been replaced with another full mug. They’d finished eating, but evidently they hadn’t finished drinking. He had no idea what time it was and wouldn’t have cared even if he did. He hoped the night would keep going and going forever.
    Adele lifted up her glass theatrically to salute him. “To his majesty!” she declared solemnly, then started laughing.
    Eric accepted the toast and they clinked glasses. “God save the queen!” he replied, then guzzled his beer until his breath gave out. He felt a wave of heat hit him almost immediately. It wasn’t the same beer they’d ordered earlier. It was much stronger, but he didn’t mind the added punch. What he did care about was that Adele was having fun, and from the smile on her face, she seemed to be having plenty.
    “Maybe you don’t know this,” he said, “but your colleagues don’t like you very much.” Wait, what? Had he really just said that? His mouth appeared to have disconnected completely from his brain.
    She laughed, tilting her head into her right hand and plunging her fingers into her hair. With her other hand, she ran her fingers lightly around the edge of the beer glass.
    Eric couldn’t figure out whether she was amused more by what he’d said or by the way he’d said it. He realized he was a little drunk. No, that was wrong. He wasn’t a little drunk; he was drunk, simply and completely. He hadn’t gotten drunk in years and would undoubtedly have a raging headache tomorrow and regret every word that was coming out of his mouth—but what the hell? Maybe he wouldn’t even remember what he’d said. Whatever the case, he felt incapable of stopping himself.
    “I’m serious. Except for Stern, who’s crazy about you . . .” He wondered why the heck he’d been so scared of talking to her just a few hours earlier. It was so easy now.
    “Lord, that louse?” said Adele. She straightened her head and let an index finger slide down across her lips. “He’ll do anything I say. You have no idea how useful that can be, really.”
    She really was every bit the bitch they all said she was, but instead of annoying him, it just made him laugh. For a moment it occurred to him that she might be saying equally unpleasant things about him to the