‘I used to work with a woman who ate nothing but boiled eggs,’ Graham tells me, perching himself on the corner of my desk. ‘There was a rather unfortunate smell that lingered in the office.’
When I laugh it hurts my head.
‘A shame you and your date didn’t hit it off,’ Graham says. ‘Even with the beer goggles on, he was still unattractive?’
‘It was a disaster.’
‘I didn’t expect you back so soon,’ Nadine says, as Ward strides past our office calling, ‘January, a minute.’
I panic. What’s happened?
‘I’ll grab us both a sarnie,’ Graham says, before wishing me good luck in the lion’s den.
I sit down opposite Ward. The night before hangs heavy between us. ‘How did the pitch go?’
‘It didn’t.’ He pours himself a glass of water.
‘It didn’t?’
‘I was late, January. I was meant to be there attenthirty, not twelve thirty.’
I feel sick. ‘What? No, I’m sure they said—’
‘They called me and asked where I was. I urged them to wait, that it was a misunderstanding.’
‘So, you saw the house?’ I ask, praying he managed to resolve the situation despite my colossal mistake.
‘Oh yes, I saw the house all right. It was pink and white, with a view to die for, an estate with two hundred acres and three large cottages. We get these kinds of houses about three times a yearif we’re lucky. The thing is, January, to say they were unimpressed is an understatement. When I left, Spencer had arrived and it’s pretty obvious the owners aren’t going to instruct us now, isn’t it?’
‘I’m so sorry.’
‘It’s no use saying sorry! You know how I feel about being late! It’s unacceptable.’
‘I know, I know.’
‘You’ve probably lost us thousands of pounds.’
My head drops.
‘We can’t afford to make mistakes like this!’
I stand up, pace the room. ‘What more can I say, Ward? I’ve messed up! I have lost the company a huge fee. My stupid mistake has cost the entire office. You should sack me.’ I stand in front of him, as if it all makes sense now.
He takes off his glasses, rubs his eyes. ‘I don’t want to sack you.’
‘If you don’t sack me I’ll leave.’
‘And go and work for Spencer?’
‘Sack me.’
There’s a long silence. There’s nothing I can say to put this right so I don’t say anything at all. ‘We need to talk about last night,’ Ward says finally, in a calmer voice.
I sit down. ‘Oh, Ward, if I’d known about Spencer sleeping with your wife, I wouldn’t have… ’ I stop, unsure what to say next. ‘I’m not dating him, we’re not together.’
‘It’s not about him, not really. It’s about me; the way I reacted. I had no right to interfere in your evening but when I saw you with that man… There’s more, January, more I need to tell you.’
I hear someone coming upstairs. ‘Tell me then,’ I urge. There’s a knock. ‘Tell me.’
