‘Adam, I think there’s something I should say.’

‘Sounds serious,’ he said, smiling.

She took his hand and led him to the edge of the room, away from the crowd.

‘You’re really a robot?’ he joked, and she smiled weakly.

‘No . . .’

‘You’re the one dating Charlie and I should go over and punch him.’

‘No . . .’ she said again, ignoring the uncomfortable realization that Adam seemed to think that she and him were dating and he had reason to be jealous. ‘I’m researching something for work. It’s about herbicides.’

His joviality stalled, and a wary look crossed his face. ‘Go on.’

‘I’ve been talking to a number of families who live near a farm. Each of these families has someone ill in their household. With serious diseases. Cancers, ME, Parkinson’s. I firmly believe it’s because of their proximity to the chemicals sprayed on the fields. And these products . . . they’re made by Senerix.’

A flicker of horror, then confusion, hurt. ‘Hang on . . . Is this why . . .?’

She shifted her eyes from him, knowing what was coming, unable to hide the guilt.

‘Is this why we’re here tonight? Why you agreed to come out?’

‘No . . .’ she began lamely.

His eyes opened wide. ‘Is this why . . . Saturday night happened?’

She blushed. ‘It’s not exactly like that . . .’

He was shaking his head now, incredulous. ‘You slept with me to get information about the company where I work?’

Becky bristled. ‘No!’ But her brain was scrabbling around, checking this denial was true. Had she?

‘I thought this had all come a bit out of the blue. Contacting me like that. It surprised me – I always had the impression I irritated you at uni.’

Becky twisted her face away and looked at the floor.

‘It’s OK. I get it,’ said Adam.

‘Anyone else want to have a romantic dance with Charlie?’ called Sally. Sally caught Becky’s eye and proffered the robot invitingly. Becky turned her back.

‘Shall we go and get a drink? Talk this over?’ she said to Adam.

He was silent for a moment and she saw he was conflicted. She smiled hopefully, expecting him to say ‘yes’.

‘I’ll be honest, I think I should be getting back.’

Her heart sank.

‘See you around, eh?’ He shifted from one foot to the other, not sure what the protocol was for abandoning a date mid-way through, then started to walk off.

‘Please don’t go,’ called out Charlie, sensing someone leaving the room.

‘Wait . . .’ said Becky and Adam stopped. She knew she’d called him back then because she saw her story disappearing. And when he looked back, he knew it too.

‘I liked you,’ said Becky. ‘I still like you. The reason I’m coming clean is because I don’t want to deceive you.’

‘I know,’ he said and then he turned and left.

It had been an emotional reaction. Granted, his ego had been pricked and it had been hurtful to know why she was interested in his work but that wasn’t all that was going on here, Becky thought as she travelled home. She’d caught Adam’s look of horror when she’d told him about the herbicides and what they were doing to people. It hadn’t been one of surprise, it had been a look of recognition, of understanding. He had known she was right.