‘Right,’ I say, nodding. ‘Well, that would be great. I do feel I’m ready for a new challenge.’

‘Yes, I can see that. But it wouldn’t be working with young people.’ She sips her water.

‘Oh, really?’ I’m trying to appear positive and open to all kinds of possibilities.

‘No, the way I see it, you’d be working more with …’ What, for crying out loud? ‘Older people,’ she says. ‘I mean people – women – more of … your sort of age.’

I stare at her over the plastic tray bearing smeary bottles of soy and chilli sauce and a bunch of paper-wrapped chopsticks in a lacquered pot.

‘My age?’

‘Yes,’ she says, brightening now. ‘The way I see it, inclusivity will be all-important from now on. We’ll have our young, vibrant teams, the ones pushing us forward with exciting ideas, fizzing with energy.’ I nod, aware of a tightening in my gut. ‘But, as a company, we also have to …’ It’s almost imperceptible, the wince that flickers across her face, but I definitely see it. ‘Well, we can’t be seen to be discriminatory,’ she adds.

‘No, of course not.’

‘So, we might as well face the fact that we’ll always have older people working for us too.’

‘Erm, yes, I suppose we will.’ Dear God. Is the lower basement going to be converted into a euthanasia clinic?

‘So, what I’m thinking,’ she goes on, ‘is that we should appoint someone to address the issues that these women are facing every day of their lives.’

I must look baffled, because Rose seems to realise that she’s being less than clear. ‘What I’m saying is that I’d like to appoint a Menopause Ambassador.’

At first, I assume I misheard. ‘A Menopause Ambassador?’

‘Yes, to have one-to-one chats with anyone who’s at that life stage, and then assess their needs, so we can fully support them.’

‘Erm, how would we do that?’

‘Well, we’d find out whether they’re comfortable at work, temperature wise … you do look quite hot, Viv, if you don’t mind me saying. Are you feeling okay?’

‘Yes, I’m fine,’ I say, trying to radiate how comfortable I am, how effective my body is at regulating its own temperature.

‘And they’d talk to everyone individually about what they might need, such as, um, a fan on their desk, or to sit near an open window.’ She beams at me. ‘They might want to talk about issues like, erm, aches, pains and, uh, any intimate problems they’re facing. Problems at home.’ Problems in their pants, does she mean? Is that the kind of ‘home’ she’s referring to? ‘Talking always helps, doesn’t it?’ she adds. ‘Knowing you’re not alone?’

‘Oh, yes …’ But not at work. Not with an ‘ambassador’.

‘We could have lunchtime talks, question and answer sessions, experts brought in,’ she continues, really getting into her stride now.