‘I know. I just can’t work up the energy to move forward.’ She realised she sounded a little defensive.

‘I get that you’re upset about not having a job, but remember, you walked out. They tried to keep you,’ Mike said.

‘Yeah, well, they didn’t try very hard. After they’d undermined me I couldn’t stay there. There was no way I was going to be told what to do by Sophia.’

Mike nodded. ‘You’re right. I’d have done the same thing in your position.’ He said gently, ‘I just wish I could’ve helped you more. You should have told me what was going on.’

Ellie shook her head. ‘Don’t feel like that, Mike. I can fight my own battles. I could see that I wasn’t going to win against those guys. I’ve discovered that you can’t fight someone with such hard-nosed ambition that they’re prepared to get what they want at any cost, and Sophia’s the most devious of all of them.’

A waitress placed coffees in front of them and Ellie wrapped her hands around the warm cup.

‘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?’