“I’m not calling about your marriage.

I’m calling because your forecasting model was more accurate than anything management gave me.

Would you discuss it with an independent reviewer?”

I asked whether he was actually an investor.

He paused, then admitted he was advising a group of lenders interested in a restructuring.

His interest in the dinner conversation had never been romantic.

He wanted to know whether the company could survive if its official assumptions were wrong.

“Brielle thinks you came to meet her,” I said.