‘It’s OK,’ Glynn interrupted. ‘Cindy,’ he shouted to the attractive young barmaid who was busy organising the glasses ready for that evening’s custom. ‘You got a pen, sweetheart?’

‘Might have,’ she said, flirtatiously. ‘What’s it worth?’

‘You know I’ll see you right,’ said Glynn, laughing raucously. ‘Don’t I always?’ He winked at Cindy lasciviously.

Then Cindy grabbed a pen from the back shelf and trotted across to Glynn with it. Her skirt was short and Glynn eyed her toned legs. She placed the pen in front of him, flashed him a smouldering look, then hovered, awaiting his response.

Glynn covered her hand with his own, then took up the pen. ‘Thanks, love. You’re a darling,’ he said, winking again and flashing his well-rehearsed disarming smile.

‘No problems, honey,’ she said, turning round and walking away, her hips swaying provocatively.

Glynn turned towards Peter as he passed him the pen, and Adele noticed the smug expression on his face. She returned him a look of contempt then dropped her gaze. His flirtation bothered her but there was no way she was going to let him know that so she kept her mouth shut.

While she was waiting for Peter to sign the cheque another of the bar staff, Paula, arrived. She was a good ten years older than Cindy and hadn’t aged well. Paula had the look of a woman who had too many of life’s burdens to bear. It showed in the fine lines on her forehead, her strained features and the dullness of her hair.

‘What the fuck time d’you call this?’ shouted Glynn as Paula rushed to take her coat off.

‘Sorry, I had to take my little boy to the doctor and it took longer than I thought. Then I had to give him his tea and get ready.’

‘Couldn’t you have got a morning appointment?’ Glynn asked, his tone austere.

‘No, I told Peter about it,’ she said, gazing beseechingly at Peter.

‘Yeah, it’s OK,’ said Peter, holding his hand up towards Glynn. ‘I gave her permission. Her little lad’s not well.’

Glynn nodded, his eyes full of venom as he continued to stare at Paula. ‘What the fuck d’you call that?’ he asked as Paula finished removing her coat revealing a plain, knee-length skirt and buttoned-up blouse. ‘That’s not gonna fuckin’ attract the punters, is it?’ he asked. ‘You wanna take a few lessons from Cindy here. She knows how to dress to impress.’

He smiled at Cindy, who revelled in the compliment, wiggling her shoulders enticingly while thrusting her breasts forward and shaking her hair back.

‘Leave her alone!’ said Adele.

‘Who asked your opinion?’ snapped Glynn.

‘Leave it, Glynn,’ said Peter. ‘Paula’s got a lot on her mind at the moment.’

Glynn glared across at Adele, then turned his attention to Cindy once more. ‘You still up for that date I promised you?’ he asked.