Todd and I had done business for a long time, and considered ourselves professional friends. We often had long business lunches, and occasionally we p...layed golf.As advertising manager, I was entitled to a fairly large and well-decorated office. We were sitting in two couches that occupied one corner or the room. I never liked talking to people across a desk; it just seemed impersonal.Todd wanted to see the drafts for a new promotion we were planning, so I called my secretary Rochelle and asked. The room remained silent as each thought of the ‘three words’ that had been spoken until they both began to talk in unison. ‘JP, did you really mean what you said … I mean about loving me?’ ‘Yes, I did and I do. I’ve spent most of my life chasing the things that I thought I wanted, money, power, prestige, but these last couple of days with you I’ve found more happiness and satisfaction then I’ve ever felt before. You fill some void in my life that I didn’t even know or admit that I had and I. What time do you finish?” “Midnight.” “Perfect. I want you to be my mascot.” “You want me to be what?” “I play poker. I like to have a lucky mascot with me. I think you’d be great. I’ll be outside at midnight – a dark blue Mercedes. It’s up to you.” Thus dismissed, I went back to the bar and told Ham what she’d said to me. “Wow. I’ve heard some of these poker games can be big money. Why not? You might get a large tip if she wins. I would if she’d asked me.” “Fat chance you, old cow.” She really. Seeing it was now 18.45 and knowing he could not afford to be late, he grabbed his coat and set off on the short walk to the pub. Fortunately, he did not bump into anyone he knew.When he entered the pub was quite busy. He had a look around as he was not sure where he was supposed to be going. As he did he noticed the couple who lived beside him at one table, deep in conversation. At another table was John the seventy-year-old who lived opposite him. As he was standing there watching, he noticed.