‘Right.’ I can no longer look at Laura. I’m so disappointed to find her following this predictable managerial path, without even attempting to fight for me. ‘Well, I’ll get back to my desk. Sorry… Alan’s desk.’

‘Alex, please don’t be like this.’

Laura tries to make eye contact, but I continue to avoid her gaze. Then as we get up to head back to our floor, I’m unable keep my frustration at bay.

‘You know, Laura. I might have been diagnosed with a horrible illness. But I don’t feel like I’m the one that’s changed.’

‘Hi, kitten,’ Dom hollers as he enters our apartment, slamming the door behind him.

‘Hi,’ I respond with the enthusiasm of a caged rhinoceros.

I’m lying on our bed with my eyes closed, having not moved since arriving home and discarding my coat, bag and shoes on the floor beside me, two hours earlier. Unable to sleep, but too exhausted to get up and do anything, I’ve spent most of that time staring at the ceiling, replaying the events of the day.

Dom pushes open the half-closed bedroom door and surveys me and the pile by my bedside. ‘Tough first day back?’

I reluctantly open my eyes and look at him. ‘That’s an understatement.’

‘Sorry to hear that.’ He gives me a sympathetic smile and a kiss on the lips, then moves round to his side of the bed, where he changes out of his suit. ‘It was always going to be tough going back.’

‘I didn’t realise how tough.’ I rub at my tired eyes. ‘Like that I was going to be robbed of my work. Did you get my text?’

‘Yeah, I did, sorry. Barely had a chance to read it. You said something about Laura treating you like you’re incapable, and Alan’s stolen your project?’

‘That pretty much sums it up. Oh, and about three hundred people either asked me how I’m “keeping” or walked straight past, pretending not to see to me. People I know well, who’d normally crack a bit of banter with me. It’s clearly gotten round the office about my MS. Even Sasha was doing my head in at lunchtime, wittering on about vitamin supplements and telling me to pace myself.’

‘That’s rough, kitten.’ Dom joins me on the bed, stretching himself out, putting his arms behind his head. ‘But with your role, it’s doesn’t sound totally unreasonable to suggest you take it easy for a while. You are still recovering and if it were any of my team members, I’d do the same.’

A switch suddenly flicks in my consciousness, irritation bubbling inside me. Here we go again. Why, when I just need a bit of moral support, does Dom have to put his manager hat on? He already treats me like an invalid. Why can’t he be my fiancé first?

‘And I suppose you’d threaten your newly returned team member with formal absence management as well?’ I demand.

‘Whoa.’ Dom turns his head towards me. ‘Where did that come from? I’m just saying that supporting you is a good thing. If they’d chucked you back into the shit straight away, that would have been unfair, irresponsible – and a risk to your wellbeing.’