"Was that wise? She could tell him." said Bruce.
"Helena would never want anyone to know she was, uh, fooled." Terry was sure.
Helena couldn't let Ferrando think she had been fooled. By anyone. It would make her just like the people who fell for the fake interview.
"How could people have been so stupid?" he said.
"Because they're people." answered Helena, coldly.
She didn't want to think that she had fallen for the same thing as they had.
"I thought it was because I played my part well."
"But you didn't play anything. Didn't your father never approve of the career you chose? Haven't you studied the martial arts since you were nine? Don't you like to go scuba diving? Don't you like to ride a motorcycle? Isn't your work your life? Don't you not really have much time to date?"
"What about you? Selina told me you haven't come out of here for at least two days."
"I have no reason to come out."
"You haven't congratulated me, either."
He held out a magazine again.
"Something happened while I was giving the interview."
"I can't say."
It wasn't, after all, her secret.
"Whatever it is, you need to get over it!"
"I won't!"
She looked away.
"What has Selina, of all people, done?"
She stayed quiet.
Ferrando was too used to Helena's not wanting to talk about things. Although he could see she was a little depressed. Even Cleopatra wasn't her usual, playful self. None of the cats were, when their mistress was so upset. He could see there just wasn't anything else to do today. He would have to see if she got over any of it tomorrow. Or in a few days.
"Will you see me to the door?" he asked.
Helena looked thoughtful for a minute.
Altair jumped down from her perch on one of the cat trees, and slowly, almost wearily, went out of the room. Ferrando knew she was probably going to check that there was no chance of encountering anyone on the way out.
"Yes." she decided, once the calico cat returned to the room.
At least that's something, he thought.
Helena came out with Ferrando.
"She came out with him." said Terry.
They had been keeping an eye on Ferrando, as well, since he had exposed himself on the night when he'd given the interview.
"She wasn't supposed to go out."
She stopped for a while, feeling Adela move one ear, but dismissed it. It was probably some bird, or any small animal that had gotten the cat's attention. Since the cat just continued to doze on her shoulders.
"There's something over there." Helena said to Ferrando.
Or someone, she thought, furiously. Now is he stalking me?
Ferrando didn't seem concerned. He just glanced at the same direction she did, for a minute.
"I think you have to go now."
She was about to turn, when she realized there were more than one.