‘I’ll bear it in mind.’ He frowns and taps his pen on the side of his desk. He has no idea what Alex is getting at and is not sure he wants to know. ‘Are you calling everyone?’ he asks, thinking of Rory and the Moody twins. All the adults. Since half of them weren’t speaking to each other, it wouldn’t be an easy task.

‘Pretty much, but I particularly wanted to speak to you, because I reckon you might have said something to Izzy. Maybe rejected her?’

‘Rejected her? What the hell are you talking about?’

‘Oh come on, Nick. She was besotted with you. Think about it.’

‘Well, I …’

‘I’m to blame too. I played Taisie’s game. We bullied you. You wouldn’t have had to rely on Izzy for company otherwise. My psychiatrist suggested that I apologize. So, here it is. I am sincerely sorry. I was too young to realize how much damage we were doing.’

Nick doesn’t want to talk about this. It was humiliating enough at the time. ‘Apology accepted,’ he says, in a bid to close the conversation. ‘I appreciate it.’

But Alex isn’t listening; he has to have his moment. ‘All this time, I’ve blamed Taisie, but I now realize that I need to take responsibility. I should have stood up to her.’

‘Is that it?’

‘Yeah. Well, not quite. I just wanted to say that your dad was not entirely to blame for his restaurant going under.’

Nick flinches. For Christ’s sake. ‘I don’t want to be rude, Alex, but would you mind if we don’t rehash all this? I’ve moved on. Nobody cares any more.’

‘OK. Sorry. I just thought you should know; it was Angus Moody who persuaded your dad’s investor to pull out. I mean, I kind of wish he had persuaded my dad as well.’ He laughs nervously. ‘But that’s another thing altogether. I’ve forgiven Tim for that, even if Dad and Mum haven’t. It was Pansy who told me. She feels bad about it. She said she’d like to see you.’ Alex’s speech fizzles out, as he becomes aware that Nick is no longer responding. ‘Well,’ he says awkwardly. ‘I’m sure you’re very busy. I’ll let you get on. Perhaps we could meet for a coffee some time.’

Nick holds the phone away from him. He taps the disconnect icon and places it screen-down on his desk. Angus’s office is three doors down from his. In between them is Phillipa Travers, the gatekeeper. He buzzes her and asks if Angus is free, and on being told that he is, puts his jacket back on.