It’s been good spending this time getting to know Pierce. His heart is in the right place and he’s going to take a lot of pressure from Nico’s shoulders in moving things forward. I realise that Pierce is still talking and I tune back in.

‘… And Ceana is going to organise that as quickly as possible. I will be interested in sampling some of the other workshops on offer, too. But, to protect Nico’s investment and ensure a long-term future for us all, advertising is crucial. However, that costs money, which has to be found. Nico has put everything he has into this, so we must rise to the challenge and get everything working smoothly. We want visitors to go home feeling we haven’t simply met their expectations but exceeded them. Creating that environment is down to each and every member of the team. Personal recommendation is everything these days, as are good reviews on the website.’

It all sounds rather daunting. ‘Is the intention to eventually replace people who don’t have the necessary skills?’ I think of Taylor, Bastien and Dee-Dee – skilled artisans, but will they still fit in here, as time goes on?

His eyes narrow. ‘You’re suspicious about my motives. Don’t be. And the answer is no. Some of the people who will come here will need appropriate guidance and we will be adding at least one more professional to the well-being team. I have a personal trainer and fitness guru already lined up for that, but he can’t join us until March at the earliest. So, use of the gym equipment will be recreational only, at the individual user’s own risk, until then. But a big part of the attraction is still going to be based around visitors being able to learn new crafts and skills – or at least have a go. Hobbies are an important part of learning how to de-stress, as is doing something physical, or meditating. On that note, Nico suggested I approach you about becoming my assistant for the first couple of weeks.’ Staring back at him with a surprised look on my face, he grins at me. ‘Hey, I’m not asking you to go in cold. I’ll talk you through the meditation process one-to-one so you feel comfortable with it. I just need an extra pair of eyes and ears. As I’m conducting the sessions, it would be great if you could circulate and check everyone is happy. I can’t demonstrate and floor-walk at the same time, I’m afraid.’

‘Okay,’ I sound hesitant, because I am. ‘I think I can handle that if you are very specific about what you want me to do.’

‘Oh, I will be most specific,’ he retorts. I don’t doubt that for one moment.

‘I’m not sure I’m the right person, I will be honest with you,’ I reply, almost without thinking.