“He might have switched it off. It wouldn’t even register you’d called unless you’d left a message. We were told he wasn’t taking messages. They needed a break.”

“But I didn’t know that. I didn’t know anything. He just didn’t turn up and then I went to work on Monday, thinking he’d be able to explain himself, but I couldn’t get in. My pass wouldn’t work. And then Eleanor came down to reception and gave me my things from my desk.” I was hot with embarrassment at the memory. “She knew I’d been seeing Harry. She made that pretty obvious.”

“But how would she know? Did Harry tell anyone?”

“No. He didn’t tell anyone about us, not even his best friend. Nobody knew.”

“Isn’t that discrimination? I’m sure it doesn’t matter how long you’ve worked there if you’re discriminated against. Maybe you could appeal?”

I shook my head. “There’s no way I’m going to do that. I’ve looked it up and I could appeal, but what’s the point? I don’t want to work there now, not after all that.”

“No, I wouldn’t, either,” she said. “But how did Eleanor know? She didn’t know about it all along, did she?”

I paused. I hadn’t thought of that. “I don’t think so. She came in to talk to Harry on Friday morning and I made her some coffee. She was fine. Told me about her holiday to Japan last month. In any case, I can’t see Harry telling her anything personal.” My head ached with worry. Had someone overheard me talking privately to Harry? Had they seen us? I winced at the thought. We thought we’d been so careful. “I tried to call him at work but his phone was redirected to Paula. And then you told me he’d gone on holiday with his pregnant wife.” I tried to laugh but I really couldn’t. “While I’m living in a crappy flat on my own. And he’s not even here to yell at.”

Now it was my turn to stumble toward the restroom and stand in the privacy of the cubicle, tissues pressed hard against my eyes to stop myself breaking down. If I’d had my phone with me just then I would have called Harry and told him exactly what I thought of him. When I returned to the bar I saw Sarah sitting and staring into the log fire, her expression unreadable. I wondered whether this was going to change how she saw me, whether I’d lose the only friend I seemed to have now.

She jumped up when I reached our table. “I’ll get us another drink.”

“Just water for me, thanks. The last thing I need tomorrow is a hangover.”