‘I heard you, you idiot,’ I hiss. ‘I heard everything. I know why she took all that valium. It’s because of you. She was too scared to tell you to fuck off, and because you were abusing her all that time she’s now lying in the fucking psych ward. You evil man. You fucking horrible man.’

He moves his mouth slightly, sort of like a smile. ‘Prove it,’ he says calmly.

‘I’ll get her to back me up,’ I say. ‘She’s got nothing to lose now. You’ll pay for this. I’ll be a credible witness and you’re going to get deregistered—or at the very least sacked!’

He moves his mouth again, and I see he really is smiling. I feel a bit uneasy. He’s clearly totally unhinged.

‘You’re very self-righteous for someone who isn’t exactly a saint,’ he says.

I look at him.

‘There’s a certain favourite consultant of yours who just got out of hospital and who wouldn’t be too pleased to know that his little intern has been telling everyone that they’re having an affair.’

I feel bile rise up in my throat. I turn back to the sink and take a breath.

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I whisper, feeling my face getting hot.

He laughs. ‘I’m sure the hospital executive would be very interested to hear that one of its most senior members of staff has been carrying on with his intern. Who knows how long you’ve been at it for? Did you think he’d help you get onto the training program?’

‘Who told you this?’

‘You’re not the only one who has friends in the admin office,’ he says. ‘Maybe they’re better friends with me than they are with you. You’re an intern. I’m a surgeon. Who do you think they’re going to believe?’

Nicole. My stomach twists. I was right about her all along. She caught me in a weak moment and I, as per usual, wasn’t able to keep my big mouth shut. She was probably so jealous to hear that I’d been hanging out with Wolfgang that she decided to screw me over.