‘My name’s not Christopher, Agnë, it’s Chris.’

‘Maybe you got out of the bed with the wrong pyjamas this morning.’

‘I don’t even know what that means.’ I swivelled away from her, stared at my monitor. ‘Can I just get on with my work, please?’

She was still there, in my peripheral vision, could stay there all day for all I cared. I opened an email from the Edinburgh International Book Festival, pretended to read it. She retreated silently.

I cleared my throat, looked over my shoulder – she was probably going straight to my boss, but fuck her, fuck my boss, and fuck my fucking life.

I’d break Zac’s ankles, hobble him, I’d –

A text from Biddy: There’s nothing on the court website about a case involving Teas & Tisanes X So weird!

From Sarah: You could have seriously injured me, Chris, I hope you’re feeling some remorse. Sophie and Oliver kept asking me what happened

I felt no remorse, only the pressing need for revenge. I read an old news report on the hotel fire in Hyderabad, and then another. Fifty-six people had been confirmed dead initially, but the final death toll was seventy-two. Of the fifty-six, there were no Batistas, no lyricists, no Uruguayan nationals. She could have been one of the sixteen unnamed, charred beyond recognition, but hadn’t someone from the Uruguayan consulate called him? Someone from The Guardian?

I collapsed the browser, texted Sarah: Look, I’m sorry. I hope you can see that was very out of character for me. I wasn’t joking about Zac. Please, whatever you do, don’t tell him I’m onto him. I need to gather all the facts before confronting him x

I waited, watched, three dots pulsing – hurry the fuck up.

Sarah: I can’t tell you how intimidating you were, Chris. And I loved that teapot! Not sure what I’m meant to tell the landlord about the oven. And Zac’s supposed to be getting the kids from school

Agnë walked past, said nothing, radiated hurt.

I texted: Can you make up a plausible excuse, tell him you’ve had a change of plans??? Also, please don’t throw out the bits from the teapot X

She texted: I’m working this afternoon, Chris! He’s our only option :(

Christ on a … I stood, sat back down, took a deep breath, texted Biddy: Can you get the kids from school today? I’ve got some stupid meeting I need to be at and Sarah’s working. I DO NOT want Zac picking them up. I’m going to call the school and get him taken off our list of family friends. Sorry to ask! X

I opened my phone settings, removed Zac from Family Sharing, changed my email password, my bank password. He had our key – I’d have to get that back without giving up the game, needed all my ducks in a –