‘Hi, Petroc,’ Jack tried.

Petroc grunted in response.

‘Good weekend?’ Jack asked.

Petroc grunted in response, though this time the sound was slightly more melodic, which Jack took as an affirmative.

‘Cool,’ Jack replied.

He took his mug from one of the cupboards and made a tea. Petroc removed his porridge from the microwave, barely wincing as he touched the hot ceramic bowl. He walked back to his desk, which was near Jack’s in the middle of the office, and started shovelling steaming spoonfuls into his mouth, eyes fixed on his screen. Jack had to assume that Petroc had not seen the Twitter thread, or any of the articles, or watched the (very short) news segment that Jack had appeared on.

Over the next half-hour, other members of the Green Genie team arrived. Many came on bikes, which they parked in the racks near the door, removing packed lunches from their panniers. Jack’s boss, Bryan, arrived on foot: as was customary, he had run to work.

‘Morning, Genies!’ Bryan boomed as he opened the glass door of the second floor. ‘Ready for another incredible week?’ He bent over to massage his calf. ‘All-hands at 10.30 a.m.’ Bryan removed his shoes and padded barefoot towards his office, a glass cube situated in the corner of the building.

Jack said hello as his other colleagues gradually took their seats, nursing steaming mugs or holding bowls of cereal or pieces of fruit. Breakfast was provided for free at Green Genie. Jack usually had Coco Pops, but this morning he felt too nervous to eat.

Finally, Deepti arrived. Cody waddled behind her on his leash. Today he wore a thin jumper with a polka-dot print. Flora brought up the rear, laughing at something Deepti must have just said.

Jack gulped.

They had stopped near the door. Cody was taking an interest in one of Bryan’s strange running shoes, the type that was the shape of a foot, with a strange, spongy sole.

‘No, Cody,’ Deepti was saying. ‘Don’t eat the boss’s shoe or he’ll have you fired.’ She tugged on his leash.

Flora was crouched, trying to wrestle the shoe out of the dog’s small jaws. He was surprisingly tenacious, but she managed. Deepti led him to his bed under her desk, where he curled up around one of the small cuddly Green Genie carrots that they gave to customers who took out a new vegetable-box subscription. Flora went to the kitchen to pour herself a bowl of muesli.

Jack watched both of them, while trying to pretend that he wasn’t. He felt shy. But while he was pretending not to watch, Deepti looked straight at him and pointed.

‘Here he is!’ She walked towards him. ‘Viral star Jack Barnes!’