I had no clue as to my own expression, but when I looked at Luke, I saw that his was that of a man attempting to smile through the pain of having caught his penis in his zip.

I didn’t have time to check out Roger and Cameron before Ruby was at my desk. She threw her coat across it and bent low to envelop me in a crushing hug, which I returned on a reflex.

‘God, your face, Edie!’ she laughed, straightening up and pointing at me. ‘You look like you’ve seen a ghost! Oh and Vincent is on his way,’ she said, throwing the comment over her shoulder at Luke. ‘He stopped off to get some pastries, after I told him how much Alison likes them. I think we’re running early, so I hope that won’t be a problem. To be honest, I wish I hadn’t mentioned the pastry thing now.’ She ended the explanation with an eye-roll.

Luke, still not having fully regained his composure, nodded rapidly. ‘OK. Yes, that’s fine. No worries.’

‘So, how are we all?’ asked Ruby, looking around the office before settling her eyes on Cameron. ‘Everyone behaving themselves?’

The enquiry was made with an intonation and body language so unexpected that I couldn’t immediately place it. However, a few seconds later it dawned on me that she was attempting to flirt with him.

He looked at her expressionlessly.

‘Why are you here?’ I heard myself say.

She turned to me and laughed again. ‘I know! I nearly texted you last night, but in the end I thought it’d be fun to surprise you. And it so is!’

I felt my face begin to burn as I blinked up at her.

‘Edie’s not the only one rather flummoxed to see you, Ruby,’ said Roger, suddenly at my side. ‘To what do we owe the pleasure?’ he asked, with uncharacteristic jollity.

She turned her head towards him, her eyes remaining fixed on me for the first few degrees of the rotation, before she looked at him and sighed. ‘Oh dear. Alison’s obviously not keeping you updated, Roger,’ she said despairingly.

Roger cracked a rare smile. ‘Alison is a quiet one and no mistake,’ he said. ‘But, er,’ he cleared his throat, ‘no. I knew that Vincent was coming here this morning, but there was no mention of you. And I reckon Alison is as surprised as we all are, judging by her rather nonplussed expression.’

I turned to see Alison looking out at us from her office, her brow furrowed and her mouth fixed in a thin, red, deeply unimpressed line. ‘Maybe,’ continued Roger quietly, returning to his desk, ‘Vincent forgot to tell her you were tagging along. Still, I’m sure she’ll enjoy the catch-up.’