Determined to do her best at the interview the following day, Jodie picked up the file she’d been given, read through the information again and did an internet search to see what else she could find out. Everything she read was good. They seemed to be a great company to work for, but she’d already known that thanks to Flynn.

Flynn. He was special. She’d never felt this right with someone and she’d been searching for a long time. There was something about him that appealed to her. She’d be honest with him… about everything… eventually.

Dinner was a frozen pizza and a glass of wine on the sofa in front of the TV. She watched a documentary but switched it off when her attention wandered and curled up with her eyes shut instead. Questions popped into her head almost instantly. What was she going to do about Victor? How many shoes was he going to send before giving up?

Her tired and muddled brain couldn’t answer. She dragged herself up to bed, slipped naked under the duvet and rolled over to the side where Flynn had slept. His scent gave her comfort, and despite her worries she fell asleep.

It was the beep-beep of a van reversing outside that woke her. She listened to it; to the faint sound of distant traffic and the gentle pattering of rain against the window. Her world sounded normal. But it wasn’t. Reluctantly she opened her eyes, surprised to see it was 9am. She hadn’t slept so well in days. It was time to get up, get breakfast, read over that information again. Plan some questions to ask at the interview. Get on with her life.

An hour later, wearing a plain white shirt and navy trousers, she sat with a mug of coffee and skimmed through the file, jotting down key points, and framing some questions to ask.

The headquarters of London Medical was in Ealing. She did an internet search, located the address, and planned her journey. Almost an hour and a half. She checked her watch. Time to get ready to leave.

The worst of the rush hour was over but the train station was still busy. Afraid of being dragged into a seam of paranoia where she saw Victor in every face, Jodie kept her head down, and concentrated on the meeting ahead. The journey was uneventful. She crossed from St Pancras International to Kings Cross and caught the Piccadilly line to Holborn, changing there for the Central line to Ealing Broadway. Her destination a ten-minute walk from the station.