by DirtyDeni
I enjoyed this little romp, though I'm not sure I've ever heard British food described as 'sumptuous'. In my own experience, even German food is more interesting. Be that as it may, aside from a few missed grammatical points that any editor could miss (unless he's a grammar nazi as I am), the only thing that really gave the story a knock was the pub scene.
If a bunch of colleagues are gathered around a table in a bar/pub, it seems rather unlikely for one of them to be surreptitiously listening to the conversation. It's more likely, in my view, that he'd be listening and partaking in the conversation as best he could, and surreptitiously fondling the lady next to him.
Given the rest of the story, I'm inclined to think the word just got edited in at the wrong point. Whatever the reason, though.. it's the wrong place, and that gives the story a solid knock