‘Me? Now?’ Jack looked towards Bryan’s glass cube. His boss was leaning back on his chair, hands behind his back, feet on the table. Jack could see his eyes were closed.

‘Yes. You. Now,’ Deepti replied. She slapped him on the back. ‘Go on, it’ll be drinks time soon.’

Jack stood up. His heart pounded as though he was about to sit an exam. He walked towards the glass cube. He was conscious that Deepti was watching and was worried he’d trip over one of his feet. He arrived at Bryan’s office and rapped, quietly, on the door. Bryan didn’t seem to hear him the first time; he remained in the same pose. Jack looked back at Deepti, who gave him an encouraging grin. He turned and rapped again, a little louder this time.

Bryan opened his eyes and put his feet under the desk. ‘Ah, Jack, come on in,’ he boomed.

Jack swallowed and opened the door. Jack had never been in Bryan’s office before. It smelled nice in there: like soap, or oranges. Jack wondered if it was the candle on Bryan’s desk that was responsible for the smell. There was a bookshelf behind his desk, but it only had three books on it. Bryan’s laptop was very new and very slim, and sitting beside it he had a notebook and four pens. The pens were all lined up in height order.

Bryan smiled at Jack and gestured to a second seat in front of the desk. Jack sat down. The chair made a small squeak. Bryan was very tall, and very broad. He had close-cropped fair hair and a deep, nutty tan. He was the only person at Green Genie who wore a suit at work, after he’d showered and changed out of his strange shoes and his running clothes. He leaned forward on his desk and concentrated on Jack.

‘So, Jack, how are you doing?’ Bryan had placed his palms together and was staring right at Jack. He looked a bit like he was praying.

‘I’m … I’m very good,’ Jack replied, surprised. ‘Thank you.’

‘Good, good,’ Bryan replied. He smiled at Jack with big, straight teeth. ‘And are you enjoying your work here at Green Genie? How long have you been here – a few months?’

‘Since September,’ Jack replied.

‘Since September!’ Bryan clapped his large palms together. ‘And are you enjoying being a Human Bean?’ Bryan’s face was solemn now, searching.

‘Oh yes, it’s really interesting,’ Jack said, hurriedly. He was starting to worry now. He hoped someone hadn’t said something to Bryan about him not liking his job.