"Eric..." Adrian sounds strained, slightly pathetic. It gives him pause on his way to put the phone down. "I would appreciate the company."

Two hours later he is being flown somewhere he doesn't know the name of (and good thing, too) and Veidt is plying him with Austrian Most. They both look more or less like hell-- as Mr. Veidt's personal assistant Eric knows better than anyone that the playboy act is only a few millimeters deep, and easy as everything seems to come to him, the man just never stops-- but Adrian is smiling and laughing, leaning on him.

"So what's the occasion?"

Mr. Veidt smiles and it highlights the fresh creases in his face.

"I missed you."