‘Thank you.’ I give her an appreciative nod and make my way to the seating area, perching myself on the edge of one of the charcoal-grey armchair-style seats. A few minutes later, my new manager appears out of the lift and enthusiastically click-clacks her way across the tiled floor towards me. She’s about ten years older than me, with beautifully braided dark hair tied up in a ponytail, make-up that looks like it’s been applied by a professional, and a very stylish dress sense; she’s wearing a figure-hugging caramel-coloured faux leather pencil skirt and a cream asymmetric sweater.

‘Alex, hi. It’s so great to finally meet you in person.’ She extends her hand and I get to my feet and shake it vigorously.

‘It’s great to meet you too.’ I smile at her. ‘I’ve never done the whole interview process by phone before. It’s a different experience.’

‘It is that. But no point in dragging you all the way down here with the technology we have available to us these days.’

I’m expecting us to head for the lifts, but Emmanuel gestures instead to the main entrance.

‘How about we go for a coffee first? Get to know each other properly. Then you can meet the rest of the team. We can sort your staff pass on the way back.’

‘Great.’

We make our way outside and across the plaza to an Italian cafe-restaurant called Conti’s, nestled right in the centre of the cluster of bars and eateries that overlook the canal and the International Conference Centre.

‘This all right?’ Emmanuel asks me. ‘They do great coffee and delicious toasted panettone.’

‘Sounds wonderful.’

We enter the warmly lit cafe. It’s certainly very inviting, with its shelves of authentic Italian produce, and wide selection of Italian-style cakes and pastries arranged beautifully in the glass counter by the bar. Emmanuel leads me to a small table in the far corner, away from the smattering of customers further towards the front, and we get ourselves settled.

‘Let’s get our order in and then we can chat properly.’ Emmanuel hands me a menu. ‘I’m going to have coffee and panettone. Have whatever you like. This is on me.’

‘Oh, there’s no need for that,’ I protest lightly. ‘I can get it.’

‘Absolutely not.’ She holds up an instructive finger, which seems a little at odds with her kind and bubbly demeanour. ‘This is my way of welcoming you to the team.’

As this is my first proper encounter with my new manager, I decide it’s best not to get into an unnecessary bickering match over the bill.

‘OK, if you’re sure. Thank you, that’s very kind. I’ll just have a small skinny cappuccino, thanks.’

‘And to eat?’

‘Nothing for me, thanks.’

‘Now, Alex, I hope you’re not declining out of politeness.’ She cocks her head a little.

‘I’m not. I promise. I’m just trying to live a bit more healthily these days.’

‘All right then. That I can understand, even if I don’t abide by it myself.’ She chuckles at her own joke and I follow suit, already won over by her easygoing demeanour.