I deliver my prepared backstory. ‘Well, I was talking to him about my work when I was here a little while ago and he asked if I had any jobs.’ It’s a weak lie but I’m hoping she doesn’t probe it.

‘He’s hardly strapped for cash,’ she says, steaming the milk. ‘I don’t even know why he took this job.’

‘I think he was struggling with the costs of university or something.’

She gives a sudden little huff of laughter. ‘He’s got a big apartment in the Sirius building,’ she says, pressing a lid on a coffee cup. ‘I think he’ll survive.’ She slides the cups across the counter. The Sirius building, a deluxe apartment high-rise near the city. That can’t be right.

‘Wait, if he has a nice place, why was he working here?’ I say.

‘No offence taken,’ she says, with a wry smile.

‘Oh, sorry I didn’t mean—.’

‘It’s fine, I know what you mean. He was only here for a couple of weeks. Maybe he just wanted to experience having a job like the rest of us.’

‘Well, thanks anyway.’

‘No worries,’ she says, picking her phone up again. I turn and start towards the door. Gabe will be waiting. ‘Oh, one other thing.’

I look back. ‘What’s that?’

‘He saw you when you came in that day, when you sat there for hours. He told me you were his psychologist. He told me you’ve got a crush on him and that’s why he kissed me. He said he wanted to make you jealous.’

My cheeks become hot. I barely even manage to meet her gaze.

‘But I don’t know what the truth is, and which are the lies anymore.’

Chapter Twenty-Three

TWENTY-THREE

AFTER LUNCH I get back into my office for my 1 pm. The afternoon is a steady crawl towards the weekend. My final appointment for the week finishes at 6:30 pm and I’m the last one in the office. I think about Cormac again. He’s got a nice apartment, according to the barista, and that email from Adam was disconcerting. I check to see if he has responded before I lock up.

Margot,

I’m sorry if he put you through anything, please don’t blame me and please don’t let him know I’m telling you this, but he insisted on seeing you. I couldn’t say no, I hope you understand.

Adam

A wave of dizziness washes over me. What the hell does he mean? I read and reread the email, but it doesn’t make sense. Adam set this up; he sent Cormac to me. Is Cormac a stalker?

I call Anna.

‘Hi, Margot.’ A thudding bassline in the background tells me she’s at a bar.

‘Anna, I’m sorry to call you outside of your work hours but I’m still at the office and need your help with something small.’