‘Have you spoken to Matt yet?’ Emmanuel asks.

‘We’re not together any more.’

‘Oh? He hasn’t broken up with you because of this, has he?’

‘No.’ I stare at the floor miserably. ‘I was lying to him. He would have walked when he found out anyway.’

‘Alex. You have this all worked out in your head. But you’re making decisions for other people without letting them make their own choices.’

‘Better that than him telling me it’s over.’ I shrug.

‘Look, I understand, I really do. But if this man is half the person you’ve described to me, he may not react in the way you’re assuming.’

‘He will, believe me, I’ve seen it before. Doesn’t matter how good a person he is. My ex, Dom, went all weird over it and it finished us. Matt’s got the perfect excuse: he can’t trust me. He doesn’t even have to admit it’s because of my MS. Wouldn’t blame him one bit.’

Emmanuel exhales heavily. ‘All right, this is your choice. But at least think it through. Promise me that.’

‘OK, I promise.’

I know full well I’m going to do nothing of the sort. Matt’s had a lucky escape, just like Dom. He may not know it right now, but he’ll be better off without me.

My phone buzzes beside me on the bed. I pick it up, seeing it’s from an unknown number, and read the message on my screen.

Your secret is out. Knew you were a fraud.

‘What the…’ I stare in horror at the words on the screen.

‘Alex? What is it?’

I look at Emmanuel vacantly, then come to. ‘It’s…an anonymous message. What did you tell the team about me being off today?’

‘I told them you were unwell.’

‘That’s all?’

‘Absolutely. Alex, why are you asking this? What does this message say?’

I hand the phone to Emmanuel, now shaking with panic. She reads the message, her face grave.

‘Do you have any idea who sent this?’

‘I… can hazard a guess. Danielle.’

Emmanuel looks thoughtful, then pulls out her work phone, looks something up and studies the two phones side by side. ‘You’re right. I have her number in my phone for the business continuity call tree.’ She hands my phone back to me.

‘But, how does she know? How can she know?’

‘I can think of only one way. But it may be hard to prove.’

‘How?’

‘She’s got a friend in HR. But by sharing the information, her friend would be putting her career at risk. I do wonder if she’d be willing to do that.’

A thought comes to me. ‘This friend in HR. Is she tall, slim, blond?’

‘That’s her. Have you met her?’

‘I had an unfortunate run-in with the two of them one day on the canal bridge. She certainly didn’t come across well.’

‘That may well be the source of the leak then. Alex, leave this with me. This is very serious indeed.’

I’m still shaking, but anger has begun to flare inside me. ‘Wait. She hasn’t said anything specific. We don’t have proof that she knows anything. I’m going to reply and ask what she knows.’