It seemed to Ruth that it had gone on all day. Hushed conversations, sly smiles, sideways glances.
In the hallway, the corridors, the reception. Wherever she went she felt that not only her colleagues in Five but also the security details were all watching, all speculating, all laughing.
It was as though her greatest fear had come true.
They were all talking about her.
About her and Harry. Her and her boss. In a hotel room, at a conference. How predictable, how seedy, how embarrassing.
A peal of laughter came from Ros and Adam at the back of their ops room.
And it was enough.
"I'd just like to say that, no matter what you think, there was nothing going on with Harry and me, in my room last night."
The team looked up startled by her forthright proclamation.
She looked at Harry for confirmation.
"Ruth's right," said Harry, "though it wouldn't have been for want of trying."
Adam laughed. Ruth's head snapped from him to Harry, her face full of accusation.
"Well, not on my part anyway," he added.
She shook her head and began to gather up her files ready to beat a hasty retreat from further humiliation.
"Ruth, it 's not any of our business," offered Adam softly.
"That's what you all keep saying to my face, behind my back it's nothing more than salacious gossip"
"No one's talking about us, Ruth," said Harry patiently.
"It doesn't seem like that to me.".
He was starting to lose his temper.
"Yes, well, it's only a shame Ros knocked when she did otherwise we might have given them something bloody interesting to gossip about."
"Harry!"
"What, Ruth, you were the one who kissed me?"
At that very moment Zaf entered the room, eyes wide looking at Ruth. He was about to say something when Adam caught his attention, shaking his head in warning.
"Yes, well only because I didn't know what to say."
"I don't know what to say right now," said Zaf looking around, "anyone want to kiss me?"
"No," snapped Ruth.
Ros laughed.
"This is no laughing matter," Ruth raged.
"No, it's not," growled Harry… but not at Ros.
He glanced up and with a flick of the head effectively dismissed them all, bar Ruth.
They silently trooped out.
Harry let the door shut.
"Ruth," he said quietly, "this is getting ridiculous."
She failed to answer.
"You have been over reacting all day. I still don't know what you thought you were wrong about yesterday but I can tell you that you are wrong now, to react like this."
"I wasn't wrong. I was right." She announced.
He was getting confused.
"I thought I was wrong to have reacted as I did, I thought we should see each other if we wanted."
Harry felt a huge weight lifted from him and stepped towards her.
"But it would never work because people would always be talking about us and diminishing your authority. I was right. This has proved it."
She sat back on the desk folding her arms.
"But the damage has already been done, Ruth."
He waited.
"I know," she said sorrowfully.
"And however much you protest right now you will only make it worse, they'll only be made more certain that there was something going on."
She sighed,
"I know."
"So…would it not be easier, Ruth, to just give up and go with the flow?"
She looked at him.
"Go with the flow?" she repeated, it didn't seem a very Harry expression.
"Yes, go with the flow…play along."
He stepped slowly closer, his eyes flickering with mischief.
"I mean if they already think you're doing what you're not doing, then why not start doing what they think you're doing... and enjoy it?"
"Enjoy it?"
"Yes…"he whispered leaning rather close, "enjoy it."
Ruth's head lifted up to him, her lips a breath away from his.
"But…"
"But what?"
"What will they say?" she asked.
"Nothing…" he smiled, kissing the corner of her mouth softly, "…they've already said it."
It was curious how well their lips fitted. Curious, she thought… and rather wonderful.
Pos epilogue to come.