‘There’ll also be one-to-one consultations where you’ll be able to ask any questions and I’ve been told it’s not an immediate thing. By law they have to give us thirty days for the process. Mike in Operations is going to be one of the employee representatives.’

‘Okay,’ I said slowly, trying to take it all in. My stomach churned.

‘I think Debbie has sent you an email with the initial announcement, so you can take a look. Listen, don’t worry. Come in on Monday to the meeting and we can talk it through afterwards.’ Stuart rang off, having to go as he had his wife on the other line. Probably pacing her lounge waiting to find out if her husband was going to lose his job.

My heart raced at the thought of the bills stuffed underneath my wardrobe, some unopened. How was I going to pay them now? I had to face it, sit down and work out exactly what I owed. I knew my overdraft was maxed out and my credit card was slowly rising. It wasn’t a massive amount of money, a few thousand pounds, but looking around, I had nothing much to show for it. Some clothes, a laptop, a few nights out, but before I knew it, it had snowballed. I’d cut back at home, cancelling the satellite TV, limiting the amount of food I bought. Ben always commented there was nothing in the fridge, but he thought I was just busy, not skint. I knew I had a large council tax bill coming too. Maybe a lump sum of redundancy could solve my financial problems? I could get another job and start again with a clean slate.

Before seeking out Ben, I took a much-needed shower, but I could no longer bring myself to eat anything. My stomach was in knots with indecision. When he came out of his room to find me, he looked pleased with himself.

‘Right. Operation Let’s Get Eve’s Shit Together commences.’

I rolled my eyes.

‘You got any gym gear?’ he asked. I nodded; I had some leggings and a couple of T-shirts I’d bought for a yoga class stuffed at the back of a drawer.

‘My mate runs a boxing club. He does Boxercise too, but I told him it might be a step too far. We’re going there tonight, and you can have a few rounds with a punchbag. Get out that residual anger. What do you think?’

‘I think it’s ridiculous.’ I sat with my arms crossed, there was no way I was going. Boxing? I barely had any muscle strength at all. My limbs were stringy at best.

‘I’m going to come with you. I’ve taken the night off work. It’s Friday night, so it’ll be quiet, I promise.’