“Yes, I'm going away.” She smiled at him from across the forbidding desk. It was easy to remember how frightened she had been of him at first, and how much she had come to respect him over the years. But the respect was mutual, as she knew. “In fact”-she looked at her watch-“my plane leaves in two hours.”

“Then get the hell out of my office.” He put his pipe down and grinned, but Sam hesitated for a moment in her chair.

“You're sure I'll get my job back, Harvey?”

“I swear it. You have the letter?” She nodded. “Good. Then if you don't get your job back, you can sue me.”

“That's not what I want. I want the job.”

“You'll get it, and probably mine eventually too.”

“I could come back in a few weeks, you know.” She said it tentatively, but he shook his head and the smile faded quickly from his eyes.

“No, Sam, you can't. April first, and that's it.”

“For any special reason?” He didn't want to tell her, so again he shook his head.

“No, that was the date we picked. I'll send you plenty of memos to keep you abreast of what's happening here, and you can call me anytime you want. Does my secretary know where to find you?”

“Not yet, but she will.”

“Good.” He came around the desk then and pulled her toward him without saying another word. He held her close for a long moment and then kissed the top of her head. “Take it easy, Sam. We'll miss you.” His voice was gruff and there were tears in her eyes as she held him close for one more moment and then strode rapidly toward the door. For just one tiny instant she felt as though she were being banished from her home, and she felt panic wash over her as she considered begging him not to make her leave.