‘All right, I’ll be back in a few minutes,’ Emmanuel informs me, and leaves my side.

I’m physically exhausted and my mind is foggy, but some of my determination has returned. If Danielle has accessed this information through her friend, the pair of them must be stopped before they out me to the whole company. I slowly tap out a message and hit send.

Who is this? What is it you think you know about me?

I’m distracted waiting for a response from Danielle. If I have her worked out the way I think I do, she won’t be able to resist the chance to try to demolish me. A minute or so later, I receive a reply. I’m right.

That you’re a charity case. Got your job through some special scheme. That’s why you get special treatment. Now everyone knows you’re a fraud.

I’ve got the evidence I need, but all I can focus on is the last line of the message. Everyone knows? That means it’s too late. She’s destroyed my reputation. The inner trembling intensifies and I battle the urge to cry at everything falling down around me. I should never have faced up to her yesterday; it made her want revenge: a dangerous thing with a personality like Danielle’s.

Emmanuel re-enters the room and her face tells me what she’s about to say before she can say a word.

‘It’s gone public.’

She gives a pained nod. ‘I’ve just spoken with one of my managerial counterparts. It seems a WhatsApp group was set up earlier today from an anonymous number – not Danielle’s. It contains information about your medical situation and how you were hired into the organisation.’

I feel like I’m about to pass out. ‘Who was it sent to?’

‘All of our team – except me – and about twenty other members of staff across the organisation. One of them forwarded it to my colleague out of concern.’

‘Shit. Shit. This can’t be happening. Sorry for swearing.’

‘Alex, swear all you like. This is beyond what I ever thought Danielle to be capable of. I will do my very best to make sure she incurs the most serious consequences for this. Did you get a reply to your message?’

I hand her my phone and she reads Danielle’s reply.

‘But Emmanuel, if this turns into something huge and Danielle is disciplined or even fired, I will get the backlash. It might be seen as further proof that I get “special treatment”. I don’t… there’s no other option… I’m going to have to leave.’

At these words, Emmanuel looks like she’s about to go into orbit. ‘Alex, you are going nowhere. This lies firmly at Danielle’s door.’

‘It doesn’t matter. The information is still out there. Now my every move will be scrutinised and questioned. Nothing will ever be seen as a true achievement.’

‘That’s not true, Alex, and I think I can prove it.’ She picks up her phone again and unlocks it. ‘The person I spoke to sent me some screenshots. She kept them as evidence. Take a look.’