I got back to the TGI offices at just past five o'clock on that Friday in mid-February, having spent the day with a client. As I came through the main door the new receptionist called me over: "Sorry, it's the end of my first week, and I'm just trying to put names to faces. You're David Finch aren't you?
"Yes."
"And where do you fit in?"
"I'm Deputy Head of Insurance Development. My boss is Tim Williams, you probably know him. In fact, talk of the devil..." and Tim came down the stairs with his secretary Davinia, they were obviously on their way out somewhere.
Tim greeted me with "Hi, Dave. We're just going over to the pub. It's a bit early, but I decided we deserve a drink. Why don't you come over later."
Now I've worked with Tim for over five years now. We get on really well, he had joined the company only a couple of months ahead of me, and we've been work friends the whole time. He's progressed up the greasy pole so that he's now head of development for all insurance systems at TGI Financial and I have the dubious honour of being his deputy.
Tim and I got a bit closer last year when he had a bust up with his wife Beth because she had an affair. He was a bachelor for a while, and I rather looked forward to some good boy's nights out with him, but it never happened. Just as he was getting over the bust up, and was showing signs of getting interested in women again, he reconciled with Beth. In some ways I don't blame him, she's a gorgeous looking woman, but I reckon he's gone back for more trouble. Women are like that. That's why I'm one of that rare breed, a committed bachelor. There aren't many of us left.
Anyway, when Tim says 'come over later' it means 'don't join us now, we're going to have a private chat.' My guess is that Davinia's having one of her regular upsets with her stupid boyfriend. The sooner she dumps him the better. Then I can get in there, just to help her get over him, of course.
So, I went up to my desk and picked up my messages. By the time I'd sorted out those, and rescheduled some of the work for the client of the day, it was past six o'clock. Definitely 'later'!
As I came into the bar I saw Tim, he was standing chatting to a group from the department. They were some of the younger ones, and were standing listening to him. I doubt whether he realises that they are politely listening to their senior boss. He thinks he's having a drink with the guys. But then, that's what I'm about to do. I scanned the group, everyone seemed to have full glasses, so I just bought myself a pint and joined them. Tim turned to me, and the youngsters fell away to form their own circle.
"What happened to Dav?" I asked.
"She's left. She's got some domestic things to sort out." Tim looked at me, probably wondering whether he was breaking Davinia's confidentiality if he said more.
"He's still giving her trouble then?" I looked at Tim with a half smile, showing that I understood what was going on.
"Not for much longer" Tim seemed to visibly relax "I don't fancy his chances of still being there by Sunday evening."
"His only silly fault. She's quite ... you know, and she deserves better than a shit like him."
"And she deserves better than a randy bachelor like you. She's above wham bam thank you mam." He looked at me pointedly.
I put on my best hurt look, because I knew that he thought better of me than that, "I'll have you know I'm a gentleman. I always take my weight on my elbows. Anyway, what are you still doing here? You don't normally hang around in here these days."
Tim turned away from the crowd, leaned into me and lowered his voice, "Beth is coming down to meet me here. It's a bit sensitive for her. We expect that she is still the subject of gossip. That scarlet woman who I've allowed back in my life. We decided that the only thing to do was to face up to it, so this evening is to be a demonstration of true marital bliss."
"It is marital bliss, isn't it? Everything's alright between you guys now?" I asked. I was concerned, I didn't fancy broken hearted Tim round two, even if it was inevitable at some time.
"Yes. It's good. It has its bad moments, but it has some very good times as well. And we are getting less of the former and more of the latter these days. That holiday in Antigua was fabulous, it did us both the world of good, and we did a lot of talking. We are back together for good." Tim looked me in the eye. I believed his sincerity.
Just at that moment there was a rare sight these days, Charlie Bullard, a founding director of the company came into the bar. Charlie founded the company as the junior partner with Neil Timmons many years ago. In the good cop bad cop analogy, Charlie is definitely the good cop. Neil is the hard businessman, Charlie is the one who makes it all work. He stepped through the crowd to Tim and myself.
He looked at our glasses, "Another one? Tim? David?"
"Yes, thanks" We both drained our glasses and handed them to him.
"What was it?"
"Cuckhaven Gold for both of us" said Tim, and Charlie headed for the bar.
I looked at Tim, "And what do you think we've done to deserve a visit from Charlie?"
Tim smiled, "I guess his wife told him to drop in." I was none the wiser, but Tim continued, "Beth and myself were at the Bullard's last week for dinner, and I guess Beth told Rose, that's Charlie's wife, that she was a bit apprehensive about turning up here tonight. So I guess Rose told Charlie to come along in support."
"That's kind of him. You must be one of the chosen if Charlie is giving you that sort of support. I must remember to glue myself to your coat tails."
At that point Charlie returned, trying to carry three pints. I moved to help him. "Thanks, I'm a bit out of practice. There was a time when I could carry six pints. But that was in the days when glasses had handles."
We made small talk, until I excused myself to join some others in the department. A couple of them were wondering what Charlie was doing there. But then he started circulating, chatting happily with all and every TGI'er that he could find. I watched him, he was a master at it. As far as I could tell, he knew everyone by name, he had a smile and a joke with them all. Frequently he would hold their arm or elbow; or put a hand on their shoulder; or turn to them to pay special attention to whatever triviality they were talking about.
Then Beth arrived, and made her way to Tim. They kissed, and both did look as if they were genuinely pleased to see each other. Tim went and got her a drink. I turned back to talk to a group of young lads from the department, including Drew Thompson. Drew was three years younger than me, but he seemed to be the next oldest heterosexual bachelor in the company. All the rest were either married or in serious relationships. Drew wasn't blessed with my looks, thanks to my Italian grandfather and some good genes, but he used his advantage of being a bit closer in age to our usual prey, I reckon we were about even in our abilities to pick up women.
"We're thinking of going to Shades later, Dave. D'you want to join us?" Drew asked.
"I might well do so. If you guys can stand the competition. I'll see how it goes tonight. I haven't given up hope that Deana Treifuss may still come in. You know the girl from Accounts." I replied, glancing at the door.
Drew took a drink from his glass, wiped his lips on the back of his hand, "I thought you'd been there. You want to go back?"
