‘Because it all happened when you weren’t here,’ she began, looking suddenly tearful, ‘and it was dealt with. I didn’t want to drag you into it, but I do want you to be wary of him.’ She looked up at me. ‘I’d hoped him being aggressive towards you when you suggested a drink, and then me telling you about the sextension thing, would have been enough to do that. But you’re always so bloody determined to see the best in people. You’re too nice, Edie.’

I stared at her, momentarily lost for words, before managing, ‘What do you mean, it was dealt with?’

She lowered her eyes. ‘I spoke to Alison and she spoke to him. He insisted it was accidental contact. But he said he regretted that I’d been made to feel uncomfortable and would be more spatially aware in future, and I decided to let it go.’

‘Why? And why on earth did you let me invite him out for drinks?’ I put a hand to my forehead, remembering the way Cameron had looked at her that afternoon, and the tension that had seemed so inexplicable to me at the time.

‘I did try really hard to tell you that he was someone to avoid,’ she said, still addressing the floor. ‘I told you not to worry about the fact that you hadn’t got to know him and not to ask him for a drink. But then you pressed it,’ she continued, finally looking up at me. ‘I’m leaving in a week and I don’t want this made into a big deal. I just want to go now.’

‘He’s not a reason for you being so determined to go, is he?’ I asked, angry at the thought.

She hesitated and then shook her head. ‘No, no. Of course not.’

Unconvinced, I dug my nails hard into the arm of the chair. ‘But he’s hardly a reason for you to stay.’

‘Edie,’ she leaned forward and placed her hand gently on my knee, ‘this is exactly what I didn’t want to—’

She was interrupted at that moment by the buzzing of my phone on my lap.

‘Sorry.’ I looked down at the screen. ‘It’s Giles – my cousin,’ I murmured, declining the call. ‘He rang earlier and I forgot to call him back.’

‘Call him now,’ she said.

I shook my head. ‘It can wait. This conversation is more important.’

She stood up. ‘This conversation is over. I don’t want my last week at work to be all about some bastard who’s used to getting his own way. He’s not worth it. I just want you to keep him at arm’s length. Literally. No matter how many coffees he buys you.’