‘I don’t think Hattie feels that way,’ interrupted Dolly, putting her glass down and pushing it away untouched.

‘But she will in a minute,’ Jonathan carried on, beaming.

‘I think you’d better tell me why,’ I said, feeling nettled that he looked so thrilled about my bad news.

Whatever he had to say was going to have to be nothing short of miraculous if it was going to lift my spirits high enough to match his.

‘So, do I,’ Dolly snapped, ‘because at the moment you’re coming across as pretty heartless, Jonathan.’

Jonathan shook his head and laughed.

‘I’ve been offered a new job,’ he grinned. ‘A permanent one in Abu Dhabi. I had the interview on Wednesday and they offered it to me there and then.’

‘Oh,’ I said, as another layer of shock melded itself on top of the one I’d been subjected to earlier. I had no idea he’d even been looking for another position. ‘I see.’

‘I didn’t want to say anything before, in case I didn’t get it,’ he carried on. ‘It’s another corporate finance role, but the top spot this time, overall manager.’

‘My goodness,’ I swallowed, ‘that’s quite a step up the ladder.’

‘I know,’ he agreed. ‘It’s with a private healthcare group.’

‘Congratulations.’

‘I’ll be starting at the end of January but relocating in the new year.’

‘So soon?’

‘It’s not that soon,’ he said, running a hand through his thick blond hair, ‘especially as I have notice to work and the flat to sell.’

‘Of course.’

I could understand that he was excited about his good fortune, but why he thought that finding out I was losing my job and my home and my boyfriend in the same day was thrilling for me I couldn’t fathom. I had given up my room at the hotel when I moved in with him and given that I’d just been made redundant I couldn’t very well ask for it back again.

‘Excuse me for interrupting,’ Dolly cut in, clearly riding on the same train of thought as I was, ‘but how exactly is this new job of yours good news for Hattie?’

‘Because I want her to come with me of course!’ Jonathan shouted, laughing again as he drained his glass. ‘I want you to move with me to Abu Dhabi, Hattie!’

His words settled in the silence around us.

‘You want me to go with you?’ I eventually asked, the question coming out as little more than a squeak. ‘You actually want me to move to Abu Dhabi with you?’