Congratulations on the Curie!
You have so many epic lines in this story, and your photo conveys this image so cleverly:

• While negotiating a treaty with Jan in the middle of the dancefloor, Toby noticed a glance of amazingly deep blue eyes, directed at him from another corner of the nightclub.

Brownian motion! Love it!

• veal versus seasoned beef: well said, Jan!
• Men are pigs, Jan warns Loran, yet Toby does the right thing and sees her to a cab. Ah, but he doesn't see her as a romantic prospect, because, older and out of shape, vs young and beautiful. Does this make Toby a pig, or just human... Jan needs to get her act together and stop "self medicating" with alcohol.
  I'm not sure I trust or like Loran. She seems like a tease. And like she may be self-absorbed, as the young and beautiful so often are, especially with the selfies. And her "so what, why should I care" response to his claim that Jan is "nothing" to him. (Making Jan seem right in her charge that men are pigs. Toby could have phrased that one better.)
  I'm hoping Toby finds someone less obviously attractive (and seductive).
  Interesting tale, with much to ponder!