It had been a crazy head-spinning moment, and slowly, he began to loosen his grip on her legs from where he had hoisted her up against the wall and she had wrapped them around him.

He looked down at her and her eyes opened, but instead of love or passion, he saw she looked horrified! She held her hands up to her face and muttered something, which indicated she was ashamed of what had just happened between them and regretted it instantly.

She pulled down her dress and pushed past him, then fled, fast as a bolt of lightning.

‘Wait!’ Tony shouted. He moved forward, and nearly tripped over his trousers, which were still halfway down his legs. As he was trying to steady himself, he banged his leg on one of the wooden benches. Some people were now opening the back doors to come into the beer garden. He dressed himself quickly and, with his foot, pushed the condom packet near the guttering.

He went out of the back gates. He saw John parked outside, but the street was empty – there was no sign of the woman. He banged on the car window.

‘Did you see that woman that just came out? Where did she go?’ Tony was almost shouting at John. While waiting for an answer, he looked around at the street for any sign of her.

‘What woman, boss? I just saw one come out and get into a cab, is that the one you mean?’ John hadn’t really been taking any notice, he had been dozing off in the front seat waiting for Tony to come out.

‘Yes, where did she go, do you know?’ Tony knew it was a stupid question. After all, if she had jumped into a taxi, how the hell would John know where she was going? John just shrugged his shoulders and sat upright. He lowered the car window even more.

‘Is there something wrong, boss? What’s happened?’ John thought there must have been a fight or something. Tony looked flushed and agitated; he ran his hand through his hair and gave a deep sigh.

‘No, John, nothing’s wrong, time to go.’ He opened the car door and got into the back seat, still looking out of the windows for any sign of her. He realised he had to compose himself in front of John and sat back in his seat. ‘Take me to the club, will you? No, wait a minute, take me to the casino.’

Tony went straight up to his apartment at the casino; he wanted to be alone to gather his thoughts. He couldn’t fathom what had just happened, it had all been so quick and so surreal.

Next morning, Jake went to see him at the casino. ‘Hey, how come you spent the night here? I’ve just been to the club, I thought you’d be there.’ Jake was bright and breezy and was waiting for the report of what had happened when Tony saw the publican last night.