'It's unusual. Are you offering me one?'
'Yes, I was going to offer one to you and one to your boss. They're only trinkets. Perhaps he'd be offended.'
' No, why should he be? The worst he can say is "no thanks".'
When Peter came out to join us he seemed delighted with the gift. We went on to roam the aisles of the exhibition looking at the stands, mingling with the hundreds of other visitors, accepting the business cards, advertising leaflets, trade brochures, sweets, trinkets and carrier bags that were being handed out as we went along. In return Peter occasionally gave one of his business cards saying: 'Lindler & Haliburton, accountants. I'm Peter Haliburton, by the way. Very pleased to have met you.'
At first the eye-catching displays of the more impressive stands and the bustle of the huge hall were stimulating, but not wanting to buy any of the spotlessly clean restaurant kitchen equipment, or to place a bulk order for wine, or to have a swimming pool installed, after an hour or so we had had enough. Having walked at least once down every aisle and looked at least cursorily at every stand he said, 'All these free samples and advertising gimmicks, does anyone ever actually use any of them? Is there anything you particularly want to see again?'
'No. Nothing in particular. Was it worth coming?'
'Yes, very much so. Enjoyed it. Let's go up to that café on the balcony for a drink.' He bought me fruit juice and a Danish pastry, and we sat where we could look out over the exhibition floor. 'You should have said something.'
Not knowing what he was referring to, I said, 'What, about the clocks... ?'
'I'm not talking about clocks. I mean about that furniture company looking to change its accountants.'
Andrew had given me no hint about this. 'Your chat with the finance director was interesting then?'
'Yes. Seems they've had a lot of changes in personnel at their current firm. Worst thing you can do to a client, makes them think there's no continuity, nobody who is close to their business. Every time they ring up they feel they have to start from scratch. They're not a major league company, but not a bad little contract, if we get it. Might be worth you keeping in touch with your friend Andrew. Could be useful for us to have some sort of presence here ourselves next year; there may be more clients to be won.'
Below us new arrivals were entering the exhibition hall, collecting their identification badges and floor plans, and setting off along the already crowded aisles. Great cast iron arches above us supported the glass roof, similar to the roofs of the big Victorian railway stations. Not wanting to tell him that a boyfriend was the real reason I would be keeping in touch with Andrew I smiled and nodded.