“It’s not just about my daughter’s wedding. It’s about my holidays!”

Manuel looks at the rest of the team, the eight guys who keep working in silence, carefully listening to the exchange but looking like they don’t give a shit.

“I’m going to Menton shortly, for two days. By the time I’m back, the work will be completed.”

“I’m not sure —”

“Your boss said it would be finished by the beginning of August.”

Clearly wanting to get a clear, humble response, and since Manuel’s teeth are still gritted, the woman takes her phone out of her shirt pocket. “Shall I call him to remind him, or do you think you can speed things up yourself?”

“It’s fine.” An abrupt bark.

He waits for her to go back into the coolness, behind the curtains, before he calls the men.

“Let’s get on with it, guys. You heard her.”

“And who’s going to pay the overtime? Her?”

“Fuck, Gypsy, shut it!” Manuel cuts in. “You’ve been with us two weeks and I haven’t seen you stay past six o’clock once, so don’t push it.”

The young guy swears and spits. His wife’s just had the second one, so it’d be nice if he went home in the evening.

“Oh really? Your second one and your wife? And is it your wife you were going to see at the bookie’s yesterday? Is she working behind the bar now?”

The guy approaches, clearly not amused. The others put down their tools. Manuel isn’t really cut out to be a boss. Those who know him have no objections, he’s strong and capable, and besides it’s temporary, but the young Gypsy hasn’t been here long. For him, Manuel is just a boss, and he doesn’t like bosses.

Before the Gypsy has time to stand in front of Manuel to challenge him to a fight, two guys grab him around the waist to prevent him from doing something stupid. “Leave him,” Manuel hisses. “This way we can also talk about the copper pipes that went missing two days ago —”

“Stop it, Manuel,” Patrick says. “The blonde’s watching. She’ll call the boss if things get out of hand.”

Holding the phone, she’s clutching the curtain, eyes open wide, waiting for just one sign of violence to call the police – even before she contacts the boss. Manuel spreads his hands, lifts his palms high and gives the owner a glance. “Don’t worry, he has a bit of a temper. It’s OK, don’t worry. It’s all fine, see?”