‘Hello Ruby, it’s Maria again. Please could you let me know when you’ll be able to collect Bonnie, she really isn’t having a good day …’

I shut down my computer and get myself ready to leave. It’s Friday tomorrow, Liam will come and take over at six. I’m looking forward to the weekend where I’ll only need to take care of myself.

I take one last look at the retouched wedding photos and leave the house.

Beth

‘What?’ Risky says, picking up her phone.

It is very aggressive for her. I pretend not to notice and shift my gaze to my computer screen.

‘Yeah, and I meant it.’ She gets up and moves over to the window. ‘I said it because it needed to be said.’ She starts to pace up and down. Whoever is on the phone is really annoying her. I carry on pretending I haven’t noticed.

‘Why? What do you mean, why? Because it doesn’t feel right, that’s why.’ She covers the end of her phone with her hand and lets out a frustrated sound, rolling her eyes at me. ‘You can’t just ignore it,’ she continues. ‘No, you have to at least acknowledge it. It’s like it’s not even there. Well of course it matters, it’s my fucking vagina.’

Oh wow. She is talking about sex. I get up slowly. I’ll sneak into the bathroom until she’s finished. But she sees me get up and rushes over, putting her hand on my arm and squeezing it tightly as her frustration mounts.

‘I don’t hate it, I like it, but that isn’t the point. It’s not all I want. You’re giving me a complex about my vagina. I don’t need that in my life, OK? Is there something wrong with it? Why won’t you have sex with it?’

I check to make sure she isn’t drawing blood on my arm, it really hurts.

‘Oh yeah? Well then it’s over, OK? I can’t do this anymore. That’s all you want, and I want respect. Do you know what else wants respect?’

The guy on the phone and I hang tight for her answer.

‘MY VAGINA.’

She hangs up on him, lets go of my arm and screams at her phone.

‘Well that seemed to go well?’ I ask.

‘I love it up the bum, Beth. But my vagina needs it too,’ she says, utterly forlorn. So much vagina chat for one afternoon.

‘Shall we get on with some work?’ I suggest. ‘We’re on a deadline here, Risky.’

She ambles back to her desk, her mind clearly still focused on sex. Sitting down, she picks up her phone and starts angry texting. Then she starts smiling, and her phone rings. This is fascinating.