They both straightened themselves up, switched off the office light and walked into the noisy club. Lights were flashing, the floor was lit up and the DJ was doing his very best to get them all in the Christmas mood. Tony looked across at the bar; Sharon was standing at the side of it, organising the staff, as usual, and Jake was walking towards her. Then Tony caught sight of Roxy at the bar. He swept his hair back, straightened his tie and walked up to her and her group of pals. After all, it was a fun party night and what better way to spend it than with beautiful women, champagne and friends.

Tony walked downstairs the following morning; he hadn’t showered or shaved yet and his hair was ruffled. He had left Roxy in bed and come down early because he wanted to see the aftermath of the night before. Whatever happened in his personal life, his businesses came first. Women would come and go, but he would make sure his business empire lasted forever.

The cleaners were in, filling their rubbish bags and vacuuming, which didn’t help his hangover.

‘Morning, Mr Lambrianu,’ said Lydia, the old cleaner. She wore an old floral headscarf wrapped firmly around her head, flattening her hair so much that Tony wondered if she actually had any. The tabard she wore was at least three sizes too big for her and she wandered around with her polish in one hand and her duster in the other.

Tony nodded at her. She was an old gossip, he knew that, and he was waiting for the usual barrage of questions she asked. She was a good worker and always on time, in that way, he had no complaints, but God, she was nosy!

‘Nearly Christmas, Mr Lambrianu, very expensive time of the year for us common folk, trying to make ends meet. I bet you don’t have those worries, do you?’ Her high-pitched voice and her harsh rubbing of the tables nearby annoyed him.

‘Go away, Lydia; go and polish somewhere else.’ He gave her a glare and reached up and scratched his head. She carried on rambling about Christmas being the most expensive time of the year. Finally, it dawned on him and he realised what she was getting at. She was hinting about her Christmas bonus, or rather, wanting to know if there was going to be one.

Now it was Tony’s turn to annoy her. ‘It is an expensive time, Lydia, which is why I need to earn and keep all the money I can.’ Tony looked down at the floor; he could hear her giving out deep over-the-top sighs, but thankfully the vacuuming drowned out most of her moaning and hint-dropping.

Jake walked through the doors and saved the day. ‘Morning, Lydia, my love,’ he said, and he bent forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She blushed and gave him a coy smile, then muttered something about not telling her husband of thirty years. ‘You’re up early, Tony, has Roxy gone already?’