‘You know Sophia wants to jump up to GM?’ he said. Ellie knew that Mike now worked at a different IT company as he had been snapped up by a big firm – but he kept an ear out for gossip to pass on to her.

‘Yeah, well, let’s just see if she can get there on her own instead of elbowing everyone else off the ladder on her way to the top.’

‘Did you say that to her?’

‘Wish I had.’ Ellie laughed, but quickly fell silent and took a sip of her coffee.

‘I heard that your team appreciated you calling them all. I bet they miss you.’

‘I miss them, too. I feel really sorry for the people who are still there and have to work for her,’ said Ellie. ‘I should have done more for them – I tried to – but it was as if Roger and Sophia built a wall to keep me out as soon as they realised I was serious about leaving.’

‘You know corporations are ruthless psychopathic beasts,’ Mike said.

Ellie smiled. ‘You’re right, but this beast was more like a parasite that sucked up all my energy and left me with nothing.’

Mike shook his head sadly. ‘Look at how you’ve been working – multiple projects, high pressure, impossible deadlines, budget constraints, keeping your team on track and, as project manager, the buck always stops with you. I know the toll it takes.’

‘Are you saying I should be glad I’m out of it? Glad they’ve broken me?’

‘Not at all. What I’m saying is that it was completely unfair and there was nothing you could have done about it. You’re a brilliant project manager and you’re completely across your work. Sophia and her circle of acolytes don’t understand the developments we’re making in this industry at all. And who knows what that Roger thinks about anything.’

‘What a creep.’ Ellie sighed. ‘At least I don’t have to deal with him anymore, either.’

‘You challenged them, Ellie. And good for you! You should feel proud for taking the high moral ground,’ he said, gazing earnestly at her.

‘Well, it was either that or a complete breakdown. It’s just hard to swallow that they essentially stole my project,’ she said, looking away. ‘All that work, and for what? I left my job with pretty much nothing to show for it.’ She sat up straight. ‘Note to self – don’t make waves.’

‘You know their number one rule: put up, shut up, work longer, harder, faster.’ Mike pushed up his tortoiseshell-framed glasses and stretched out his long jean-clad legs.

‘Yeah. And the thing about that is, when you emerge from that bubble you realise you have no life. It’s taken me years to notice. I don’t count office drinks in underground bars talking shop with colleagues I really don’t have anything in common with as the highlight of my social life, but I’ve realised that’s all I did outside of work.’ She looked at Mike and smiled. ‘You were the only person I could talk to. If I’m still sane at all, it’s because of you, Mike.’