‘Hello,’ he said, clearing his throat before adding, ‘Edie.’

Unable to smile, or even to continue looking at him, I instead reached down to pick up my satchel from the floor. ‘Hi,’ I said.

I didn’t know what his reaction was, but it was negative enough for Luke to say, ‘It’s not you, Cam. She’s grumpy ’cos she’s moving to Henleaze.’

I felt the blood rush to my face and, raising my head, glared at Luke, causing him to flinch slightly, like a dog being shown a rolled-up newspaper. ‘OK, OK, no more jokes about Henleaze,’ he said, turning away to face his screen. ‘But they are only jokes. You’re just so touchy this morning.’

I didn’t reply, silently returning my attention to my bag.

‘You’re moving?’ asked Cameron.

Having no choice but to engage, I looked up. ‘Yes.’

I was aware that the monosyllabic response had the air of a challenge about it, but I didn’t care. I met his gaze, daring him to take me up on it.

He looked at me blankly for a moment and then nodded. ‘Well, I hope that goes well,’ he said, taking off his coat and sitting down.

Roger stood up and walked over to Cameron’s desk. I couldn’t hear what he said, as he bent over and began talking quietly, but I did witness a rare smile from him as he patted Cameron’s shoulder and then walked back across the room. He didn’t make eye contact with me before he sat back down, and as I looked from him to Cameron to Luke – who was now head-down and typing rapidly – I realised that I had somehow gone from feeling an integral and protected part of a happy workplace family, to feeling completely marginalised in the space of less than five minutes.

I looked again at Cameron and felt my upper lip curl. It was all his fault.

‘Hi, all.’ Ruby bounced into the office, her eyes hidden behind by one of the many pairs of sunglasses she wore all year round, regardless of season or time of day.

‘Hey,’ said Luke, his mood now sufficiently dampened so as to restrict any further acknowledgement of her to a brief smile and a nod.

‘Morning,’ said Roger.

I didn’t hear Cameron say hello. Nor did I see him look up, turn in his chair or raise a hand. But no one, other than me, seemed to register his ignorance.

‘Hello, Ruby!’ I said brightly, determined to compensate for everyone else’s lack of enthusiasm. ‘How are you? How was the weekend?’