‘Come on, Martin. You’re an intelligent man, you know the job, you understand this company better than anyone. So be frank: there’s someone here who’s underperforming. I have a little idea myself, but I’d love to know yours. For comparison purposes.’

‘You’re putting me in an uncomfortable position, if I may say so. I can’t do that to a colleague.’

‘Hmm … well, I can’t say I’m surprised. I can see why your career has stalled. You never take a risk. That’s your choice, Martin. It’s your choice. But I’m disappointed. I expect much more from you if you want to thrive in the new company structure.’

‘You expect me to denounce my colleagues?’

‘What? No, not at all! There’s no need to jump to conclusions. “Denounce”! All I want is a frank exchange of views. I want your opinion. And that’s also why I wanted to see you.’

‘To get my opinion?’

‘Yes. Haven’t you noticed anything different about this office?’

‘No,’ said Patrick, after looking around.

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes. I mean … I don’t know. I don’t come to this office very often.’

‘The curtains.’

‘What about the curtains?’

‘I had them changed.’

‘Ah …’

‘I wanted to get your opinion.’

‘On what? The curtains?’

‘Yes, exactly.’

‘You wanted my opinion … on your curtains?’

‘How many times are you going to repeat that? I don’t see what’s so extraordinary about my request. I simply wanted your opinion on my new curtains.’

‘That’s why you wanted to see me?’

‘Yes.’

‘That’s why you said it was imperative we meet? After a three-day wait?’

‘Yes, because I wasn’t entirely sure I’d made the right choice. So I thought: “I know, I’ll ask Martin – I bet he’s got a good eye for these things.”’

‘Me?’

‘Yes. It was a hunch I had. Do you like this brown?’

‘I don’t know. Yes, they’re good,’ replied Patrick, staring numbly. The turn their conversation had taken had left him in a state of shock.

‘They’re good. Is that all you have to say?’

‘…’

‘Nothing about them bothers you? The diamond shapes aren’t too much?’

‘No.’

‘All right. Well, I trust your judgement.’

‘If that’s why you … Can I … go now?’

‘Yes, Martin, of course. You can. Always a pleasure to talk to you.’

‘…’

Patrick exited Desjoyaux’s office, leaving behind that strange conversation. The corridor he had to walk through to the lift seemed incredibly long. Each step took a huge effort. Finally, he stopped in front of the coffee machine, his mouth dry, but he couldn’t decide what he wanted to drink.

A female colleague came up to him and asked: ‘Are you okay? You’re very pale.’

Not wanting to panic her, he replied that he was fine. But she decided she ought to stay with him for a while. Sophie – that was her name – suggested to Patrick that he go to her office and sit down for a few minutes. They walked there together, and he was free at last to relax, away from prying eyes. She brought him a glass of water, and a tissue so he could wipe the sweat from his forehead. He looked as if he was coming down with a fever.