For a split second I thought of giving her the message I really wanted to pass on and Paula going to the cafeteria at lunchtime and repeating it to everyone, but I managed to restrain myself.

“That’s all right,” I said politely. “Don’t worry.”

I ended the call before she could. It was the only satisfaction I could take.

•   •   •

I went back to the hotel then, not sure what to do. I stopped at reception on my way in and asked whether anyone had called, but they hadn’t. There was no reason why Harry would have called the hotel, but I always felt I had to ask. I hurried to my room, still hoping he’d be there, and as I turned the corner I saw the door to my room was open. My heart leaped but then the maid came out, pushing a laundry cart laden with fresh towels and toiletries. We said hello and she left the door open. I could see in an instant that he hadn’t been there.

I sat on the bed and opened the envelope, just in case Harry had left a message for me. Of course he hadn’t. The reference was signed by Eleanor and was brief enough to make my face smart. It would be clear to anyone that I hadn’t left of my own accord. I pulled everything out of the box. It was humiliating to think of someone going through my desk like that, packing up my things, knowing I’d been fired. I wondered how early they’d been in to work, to do that so quickly. When had they been told? What had they been told? I sent a quick text to Sarah to ask her to call me.

I took one of the contraceptive pills out of its packet. This was the time of day I’d usually take it. At the weekends, I’d smuggle a couple of pills underneath an eyeshadow palette. I couldn’t let Tom find them. Now I held it to my mouth and wondered whether I should take it or not. Was there any point? But I thought of Harry saying “I promise” and summoned my faith in him. I slid the pill into my mouth and swallowed it.

My phone rang, startling me. I leaped off the bed thinking it must be Harry but saw Sarah’s name on the screen.

“What’s going on?” she asked. “When I got here someone from HR was at your desk, emptying the drawers.”

“Who was it?”

“That dark-haired guy. The intern. I think his name’s Nathan. He wouldn’t tell me what’s happened. He looked terrified; I think he thought it was my desk. Have they moved you to another department?”

“Not exactly,” I said. “I’ve been fired.”

“What? What for?”

I hesitated. “Oh, they didn’t say. They just said they’d ended my contract.”

“They can’t do that!”