“Why not? You're a lot more charming than my children. But”-he hesitated briefly-“you're right. I didn't just happen to drop by. I came up here to talk to you.” God, it was awful. How could he tell her? He suddenly knew that she'd never understand.

“And? Come on, out with it.” There was a spark of mischief in her eye that he hadn't seen for a long time.

“Well, Sam…” He took a deep breath and watched her closely. “Harvey and I were talking-”

“About me?” She looked instantly uptight, but he nodded and went on. She hated people talking about her now. Because they always talked about how she was and what John had done.

“Yeah, about you.”

“Why? The Detroit account? I'm not sure he understands my concept, but-”

“No, not about the Detroit account, Sam. About you.”

“What about me?” She thought that was over, that they weren't talking about her anymore. There was nothing left to talk about. The separation was over, the divorce had come and gone, and John was married to someone else. She had survived it. So? “I'm fine.”

“Are you? I think that's amazing.” He looked at her with feeling and a trace of the anger he had felt all along for John. “I'm not sure I'd be so fine in your shoes, Sam.”

“I don't have any choice. Besides, I'm tougher than you are.”

“You probably are.” He smiled gently. “But maybe not as tough as you think. Why not give yourself a break, Sam?”

“What's that supposed to mean? Go to Miami and lie on the beach?”

“Why not?” He forced a smile and she looked at him, shocked.

“What are you telling me?” Panic crept rapidly into her face. “Is Harvey firing me? Is that it? Did he send you here to play hatchet man, Charlie? They don't want me anymore because I'm not as cheerful as I used to be?” Just asking the questions, she felt her eyes fill with tears. “Christ, what do you expect? I had a rough time… it was…” The tears began to choke her and she hurriedly stood up. “I'm okay, dammit. I'm fine. Why the hell-” But Charlie grabbed her arm and pulled her back down to her seat with a gentle look in his eyes.