‘When I went to visit Peter,’ she replied, trying to hide the slight quiver in her voice.

‘Then why the fuck didn’t you have the decency to tell me before you told that lot?’ he demanded.

‘I didn’t see any reason why I should,’ she said. ‘You’re a member of staff like everyone else, apart from the fact that you run the security business.’ She deliberately emphasised the word, ‘security’, showing her scorn for such a misnomer.

‘You’re taking the fuckin’ piss!’ he yelled. ‘You’ve got no idea how to run a nightclub; you’ll buckle at the first fuckin’ hurdle.’

‘If you’ve got a problem with me running the business then I suggest you take it up with Peter next time you see him,’ she said, trying her best to remain cool. ‘But I doubt you’ll get very far. Peter was adamant that he wanted to leave me in charge. So, from now on, Glynn, we’ll be doing things my way whether you agree with them or not. Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got a business to run.’

She deliberately turned away from him and logged onto the desk-top computer. But he didn’t leave straight away. For a few seconds she could feel him hovering and she willed him to go before her courageous façade slipped.

He still didn’t go. Instead he walked over to her and stood with his furious red face only inches from hers. ‘You make me fuckin’ sick!’ he hissed, his eyes bulging and the tendons in his neck taut. She pulled back, alarmed, as a spray of spittle hit her face.

‘Just because I’m not screwing you any more, you think you can treat me like a piece of shit. Well, you can have the fuckin’ nightclub! It’s all yours. The brawls. The violent drunks. The cheating staff. The drugs pushers. You can have the fuckin’ lot! But you’re on your own. You won’t get any fuckin’ back-up from me. So let’s see how you cope with that!’

She felt a stab of fear but tried to hide it. For a few moments she stared back at him, speechless. Then he stomped through the office and punched the door before storming out, leaving an angry dent in the woodwork.

Adele heaved a sigh of relief as soon as he was gone. Then she loosened the collar of her blouse, which was moist with perspiration. She’d done it. She’d stood up to Glynn and told him who was boss.