She narrows her eyes at me. ‘Bullshit. You hated me from the moment you met me. I’m from a different walk of life – in case you haven’t noticed. It just happens to be a better one than you. That’s how life worked out. You can’t hold it against me.’

‘I don’t. But what I do hold against you is how you behave because of it and the fact you got “Daddy” to get you a place on this programme.’

I’m shaking inside as I deliver this cutting statement, knowing full well I’ve let myself down. After months of holding my own with Danielle, I’ve allowed her to properly get to me, and I feel wretched about it. Especially as I’m here on a programme where I’m supposed to be demonstrating the very best of myself.

‘Everything all right, ladies?’ Terrence appears beside us before Danielle can spit back a response, but I can see from her face that she’s furious.

‘Yes, fine. We’ll take…’ I quickly scan the three challenges and pull one off the whiteboard. ‘…the culture change one. Seems really interesting: looking at our behaviours and what we stand for as an organisation. Right, Danielle?’

Danielle doesn’t miss the underlying message in my choice of task, but all she says in response is ‘whatever’, then she flounces back across to the group.

‘Do I need to be concerned about you two?’ Terrence asks me quietly.

‘No. It’s fine.’ I shake my head, the trembling finally starting to settle. ‘She got to me there, I won’t lie. But I can deal with her.’

‘OK, then. I’m aware of the politics here, and I’m also tuned in to how everyone is feeling about it.’

‘It just doesn’t reflect what this is supposed to be about, and I think that’s bothering people.’

‘I know. Good thing you’re all going to become great leaders who will protect that in the future. Your current CEO won’t be around for ever, you know.’

It’s a verbal nudge, which makes me chuckle.

‘I’m ambitious, Terrence, but CEO is a stretch.’

He looks at me questioningly. ‘Why is that? From what I’ve seen – perhaps minus the last five minutes, but we all have our moments – you’re absolutely the kind of leader an organisation like this needs as CEO. Don’t let the sexual inequality of our current society stand in the way of that.’

‘Oh, don’t worry, I’m not.’

I return to my seat, his words echoing in my mind. It’s not being a woman that will limit my career. Probably more what physical state I’d be in by the time I got close to an opportunity like that. And whether the likes of Danielle can successfully sabotage my career ambitions long before then.

Chapter 31

On Tuesday morning, my alarm goes off at seven a.m. as usual, but it’s far from a normal day. The first thing I notice is a slightly disoriented feeling. Still drowsy from waking, I’m momentarily confused, until I try to sit up and it’s like a car has parked on my torso. I gasp and strain but no matter how hard I try to force myself to sit up, my body will not cooperate. Exhausted and out of breath, I let my muscles relax and stare at the ceiling in consternation.