“Hi, Tash,” I say, walking closer.

She glances at Rose briefly and I see a glint of pain in her eyes before they harden.

“Since you’re here, let’s talk.”

Tash dips her head and I follow her into her office. It’s unchanged, though sparser than I remember. There’s not a single personal effect, I realize. No picture frame, no souvenir, no magazine, book or object unrelated to work.

“I’m glad you came in,” says Tash in her no-nonsense work voice.

When she closes the door and points me towards a chair, it sets off alarm bells. Tash only closes her door when she has something unpleasant to say.

“I have a proposition I’d like to put forward regarding your future employment.”

No beating around the bush, then. Not that I should be surprised.

“I’m entitled to the full six months’ maternity leave,” I say firmly.

I figure Tash is going to try to talk me into coming back sooner. I’ve been keeping tabs on the company enough to know they’re struggling.

Tash glances at Rose once again. “I understand,” she says, her voice less confident. “In fact, if you decide you need more time, please come and talk to me.”

I’m stunned into silence. Did she really just say that?

“The thing is, Trish, I’ve decided to take a sabbatical.” Tash picks up a pen and fixes her eyes on it as she taps it lightly against her desk. “I’m going to go travelling,” she says firmly. “See the sights of Europe.”

“Wow, that’s great.” It’s the craziest thing I’ve heard out of her mouth. In fact, if she hadn’t said it to my face, I wouldn’t have believed it. Trish lives to work. Anything else is trivial. “Where did that come from?”

Tash continues to tap her pen, avoiding my eye.

“I just need to,” she says, as if no other explanation is required. “Anyway, I’m not rushing off. First, I have to find a suitable replacement while I’m gone. Someone I can trust.”

“What about Mark?” I snap.

Tash pauses from the incessant pen-tapping and looks up. “He’s a twat, Trish, as we both know.”

I bite my lip to stop myself from smiling. “So where do I come in?”

“Well, obviously I want you to take over my role. No one else has the same level of skills.”

“I’m glad you noticed.”

“It would need to be full-time,” says Tash, her gaze straying to Rose again. “Not easy with a young baby and no husband to help.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Tell it like it is,” I say. “Please.”

“It’s a good opportunity for you. Putting a CEO role on your CV is like gold. Doors would open, Trish.”