In my company, their current situation would be no problem, but the new one would be a big red flag. If it became known that a purchaser had a relationship with a supplier, the account would be re-assigned.
Now I have to point out that you alternate between two types of negative thinking:
1) "H is hostile (or cold or distant); he is ready to leave." 2) "H and I had a pleasant interaction, that will make it easier for him to leave."
Listen, having pleasant interactions does NOT make it easier for him to leave. It might reduce his guilt, but it will make it more difficult for him to justify leaving you. And you can't guilt him into wanting to stay, anyway.
You have just achieved a course-correction with H. He asked about R status, he was frustrated that you aren't following his script, got mad, got distant, and then came back to semi-normal. He is now more accepting of your position on the relationship than he was before. Your 180's, your new activities, your outlook on life--these things will come up again in conversations with H, but since they will not have changed, he will not be surprised. Each time this happens (and it will happen multiple times) he will realize and believe a little more that this is the real you.
