Diplomacy

would bother me... but… you’ve been married for what? Fifteen years? You have the perfect diplomat’s wife and a very senior position in the diplomatic service.”
    “Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Well, it isn’t.”
    “Now all of a sudden you’ve decided you fancy blokes and you’re going to throw away fifteen years of marriage and your career for some guy?”
    Jack thought Sean’s voice was a bit loud so he lowered his own, not wanting to draw attention to them. “It’s not all of a sudden and it’s not like I decided this. Look, Sean, forget it, all right.”
    “C’mon, you’re kidding me, right? Who the hell is it anyway? One of your security guys, makes you feel safe in these nervous times or something?”

    D i p l o m a c y | 137

    “No, it’s not a security guy.” He probably thinks I fancy Mark, Jack realized .
    “Hey, maybe that’s it? It’s a symptom of stress. You’re overworked; you need a break.”
    “Oh, I need a break all right. Forget it, Sean. Stress doesn’t make you fancy guys. I’ve always…” He sighed. “I’ve always liked men, I just never... acted on it.”
    “And you choose now? Brilliant timing, mate. And who the fuck is it then? Anyone I know?”
    “It doesn’t matter who it is, Gallagher.”
    Sean narrowed his eyes and looked at his friend. “I think it does.”
    “Why?” Jack realized his voice was steadily increasing in volume and toned it down. “Just to satisfy your curiosity?”
    “I know you too well. There’s something more here; you’re hiding something.”
    Jack sighed and shook his head. He couldn’t very well tell Sean it was Lucas. Sean was Lucas’s boss and would probably fire him over this.
    Perhaps he wouldn’t, but he couldn’t just come out with it, not without discussing it with Lucas first.
    Sean narrowed his eyes. “It’s like when you knew that Shannon was seeing that journalist. You tried to tell me, to warn me. Prepare me for the fallout. You’ve got the same look on your face now.”
    “Well, I’m sorry, Sean. I can’t… Just trust me on this one, okay?”
    “Why do I have feeling of déjà vu here, like I’m missing an important point again? At least, I know it’s not my bloody wife you’re fucking around with.”
    “That’s the Gallagher I know. Brilliant strategist, but always in the dark when it comes to feelings.”
    “Okay, you’ve told Maria about this guy, so I guess you’re really serious?” Sean looked at his friend sympathetically.
    Jack wished he could trust him with it, could trust him with the knowledge he was in love with his liaison.
    “Yeah. I guess I am… serious. Didn’t tell her, though. She found out.”
    “And now she’s well pissed off?”

    138 | Z a h r a O w e n s

    “As you can imagine... you know her, Sean.”
    “Jeez mate, you’ve sure made a pig’s ear of this one. What the hell is Washington going to say?”
    “Well, I can certainly kiss this job goodbye. Last time he ever picks a Democrat, I suppose. We’re all a bit too liberal for his taste anyway and here I am making that abundantly clear to him.” Jack shrugged.
    As Jack looked up he saw Sean’s eyes glisten with mischief.
    “Although I suppose once the job goes...well, Maria isn’t going to hang around, is she? I presume you’re going to resign? Rather than let them push you...”
    Jack looked at Sean, his face serious. “So you think she’d leave if I quit this job? Well, I’m not a quitter, Sean! I got where I am by sticking to my guns.” Jack sighed as he said the words.
    “Well, look at it objectively, mate. Maria’s a great diplomat’s wife, that’s for sure, but if you’re no longer a diplomat, and you’re telling me things aren’t so great between you anyway, what’s she going to stay for?”
    “Somehow I don’t think she cares how badly we’re doing, Sean.
    She’s holding on to her lifestyle. She says this is what she’s been working for all her life and she’s not about to let me take that away from her.”
    “I know it’s not your style, mate, but there’s quitting and there’s being thrown out in a blaze of publicity – which would you rather have?”
    “I could definitely do without the publicity. But Maria’s threatening to make it a media circus anyway.”
    “Listen to me. If you are really serious about this… whoever, you’ll leave now while you’re at the top. If you quit first, then the papers aren’t going to be so excited about it all. Get a job back in