Hayley is here, walking towards me looking as wholesome as ever, wearing a short dog-toothed shirt and clinging white jumper caressing the curves of her generous breasts. Pantomime boots that reach to her thighs. She sits down opposite me, and crosses her legs. Our knees touch.

‘Thanks for coming.’

‘Why do you want to see me?’ she asks, brown eyes holding mine.

I pull my eyes from her gaze and hand her a menu. ‘First things first. What do you want? We can order on my app.’

She puts the menu down on the table in front of her. ‘I know the menu here off by heart. Jono and I come here most nights.’

‘So it’s not much of a treat for you.’

Her eyes sparkle into mine. ‘Is it supposed to be a treat?’

I don’t reply.

‘I know what I want,’ she continues. ‘Prawn cocktail, steak and chips, and a large glass of Merlot.’

I tap the order into my phone.

‘What are you having?’ she asks.

‘Pie and chips.’

She folds her arms and her chest protrudes across the compact table. ‘So come on, what did you want to see me about?’

‘I just wanted to know you were OK.’

‘I’m fine,’ she replies, lips in a line.

‘Where are you living?’

She stirs uncomfortably. ‘With Jono, here in Esher.’

‘That’s nice.’

She laughs. ‘Not really.’

I frown. ‘Do you mean the boyfriend or the place?’

‘Both. But the place is a dump. It makes Rik Mayall’s flat in the Young Ones seem like a palace.’

‘You’re joking aren’t you?’

She shakes her head sadly. ‘I wish I was.’

‘And where are you working now?’

Her jaw stiffens. Her eyes harden. ‘I’m not.’

‘That surprises me. Any interviews coming up?’

‘No.’

‘I’ve given you a good reference, really first class, so it shouldn’t be long before the tide changes.’

Her prawn cocktail and wine arrive. She falls on the prawn cocktail and soft brown bread on the side, as if she hasn’t eaten proper food for weeks. I sit sipping Diet Coke. She takes large gulps of the Merlot, as we plough through an awkward silence. She finishes her prawn cocktail and wipes her mouth with her serviette.

She looks straight at me. ‘You sacked me because Saffron had decided to stay at home, and look after the children. But I know she’s back at BPC full-time now.’

My insides tighten. ‘How did you find that out?’

She smiles. A small flat smile. ‘I happened to be walking past and I saw her wearing work clothes, unlocking the door to her office and stepping inside. It wasn’t a difficult guess.’

Happened to be walking past your office, fifteen miles away? She must be spying on you, Saffron. Panic rises inside me. ‘Well I’m taking care of the children now,’ I inform her, voice flat.