Deciding to ignore her remarkably poor attempt to make me feel better, I flopped down onto my chair. ‘In my defence, his manner was really abrupt,’ I said quietly, gazing unseeingly at my screen. ‘He really needs to work on his body language and communication skills.’

‘Well, I hate to say I told you so. Now, when do I get my five quid?’

‘Hey, not so fast!’ I exclaimed ‘He may still come to your leaving drinks. I hope he does, actually, because it’ll give us a chance to start over. Or perhaps I should say something as soon as he gets back with his coffee. What do you think?’

‘He won’t come to my leaving drinks,’ she said flatly, ignoring the question. ‘So you may as well just hand over the money right now.’

‘What makes you so sure? I know he was a bit gruff, but he had just got absolutely soaked.’ I looked at the rain still beating against the windows, whilst reflecting on the fact that I perhaps hadn’t chosen the best moment in the world to pounce, or to make a joke about him steaming next to a radiator. ‘And they’d given him the wrong coffee.’

‘My heart bleeds.’ Ruby threw her empty sushi tray with unnecessary force into the stainless-steel bin next to her desk and refocused on her drawings.

‘I don’t get why you seem to have totally written him off.’

She didn’t look up or reply and, still sitting in my chair, I scooted the short distance to her desk.

‘Is there something you’re not telling me?’ I asked on arrival. ‘And, if so, do you ever plan to tell me?’

At that, she leaned back in her chair and sighed. ‘I’ll tell you later.’

‘Tell me what later?’

‘Edith.’

I snatched up a pen from Ruby’s desk and spun round in my chair to see Alison standing in the doorway of her office once more. ‘Yes?’

‘My apologies, I know it’s your lunch break, but can I borrow you – just for a minute or two?’

‘Sure, just give me thirty seconds.’

‘Perfect.’ She nodded and returned to her desk, leaving her office door ajar.

I turned back to Ruby. ‘Tell me what later?’ I repeated quietly.

‘Everything,’ she said, reaching for her mouse. ‘But right now, you’d better go and see what the Iron Lady wants.’

Chapter 2

‘Thanks.’ Ruby reached up from the large, leather, wingback armchair, to take one of the two glasses of wine I had just bought. ‘God, that felt like a long day.’

‘It’s almost eight,’ I said, checking my phone and then placing it on my lap as I sank down into my own armchair opposite hers. The chairs were just one of the pluses which made The Hayes a favourite post-work stop-off for us; its low lighting, quirky nooks and cosy niches also adding to its appeal for one-to-one catch-ups.