There were hugs from Spencer’s former partners when she arrived, and genuine smiles, which warmed her more than she cared to admit, followed by offers of coffee and delicious chewy chocolate biscuits, before she was led into a glass-walled meeting room that overlooked Shortlands valley. It seemed as if the whole world was crisp and full of frost-sharpened colours as it spread itself out for her below.

Rhys, a teddy bear of a guy, grinned at her as he leaned back in his fancy chrome and leather chair. ‘Anna… We’ve missed you!’

‘Likewise. It looks like you’ve got an amazing set-up here,’ she said, smiling as she looked across the modern office space to where a team of what seemed like very young and very edgy employees were all busy ‘blue sky thinking’ or whatever they did in these sort of places. ‘It’s a far cry from where you started.’

‘From where we started.’ Vijay sat down opposite her and passed her a cup of coffee that smelled rich and fragrant. ‘Remember those late-night meetings we used to have around your dining room table, dreaming up our plans for world domination?’

Anna laughed. ‘I definitely remember all the pizza boxes lying around the next morning!’

‘We still have those pizza-fuelled meetings,’ Rhys admitted with a grin, ‘but now I make Vijay clear away the boxes.’

Vijay shot Rhys a dirty look, then turned his attention back to Anna. ‘We wouldn’t be where we are now without you, Anna.’

Anna blushed a little. ‘Without Spencer, you mean…’

Rhys leaned forwards and rested his elbows on the desk. ‘Well, yes. But also because of you.’

‘Me?’

‘I think you’re forgetting that one of our most popular features – the completely customizable interface – was your brainchild,’ Vijay said.

Anna looked at him, confused. She didn’t remember having anything to do with that. All she’d done was sit at a desk in the corner and add up the numbers, keep on top of the paperwork.

Vijay’s mouth hooked up at one corner as he took in Anna’s consternation. ‘When we came to you and asked you what you thought of our six brilliant and stylish colour schemes, you said you hated every one of them.’

‘Well, that was more personal taste than a business decision,’ Anna said uncertainly.

‘Yes, but it got us thinking about how different people’s tastes are, and how best we could cater to a wide range.’

Anna shrugged again. They were giving her more credit than she was due, but she wasn’t going to make a fuss about that.

Rhys leaned back again and sipped his mug of coffee. ‘I can see you’re not convinced.’

Anna gave him a crooked smile and a half-shrug.

‘Surely you remember coming up with the name?’ he added. ‘BlockTime wouldn’t be BlockTime without you.’

‘Well, I suppose there is that. But I always thought it was kind of unimaginative and basic. I never really understood why you went with that rather than one of the other ideas.’