Page 17 of The Gin Lover's Guide to Dating

‘I got you a cake. Thought it might cheer you up.’ Aaron puts a plate beside me with a maple pecan brioche on it; my favourite, but he couldn’t possibly know that.

‘Err… thanks, Aaron. There was no need.’

‘I know there wasn’t.’ He offers me another crooked grin. ‘But it works with my daughter, so I thought I’d give it a try.’

‘How old is your daughter?’

‘She’s three.’

Great, so in his eyes, I’ve now regressed beyond even my uni years, and reached toddler status.

‘That’s lovely,’ I say automatically. ‘Where are you working now yourself?’

‘The Mayfield Hotel. I’m the General Manager there. Now, back to you.’

‘Wow, that’s an incredible hotel.’ I’m genuinely impressed. ‘Five star, isn’t it? Won UK luxury hotel of the year last year?’

‘Correct. On both counts. Liv, do you want to do this the easy way or the hard way?’

‘I don’t know what you—’

‘You know exactly what I mean.’ Aaron takes his black thick-rimmed glasses off and wipes the condensation from them. ‘You’ve not changed a bit.’

‘Funny. Dylan says the opposite.’

‘So, he does exist, this Dylan?’

‘Of course, he exists.’ I look at Aaron like he’s mad.

‘That’s good. At least you’re not at the stage of creating an imaginary friend.’

It’s meant as a joke, but Aaron’s stiffness causes it to sound a little cutting. I flinch, feeling a little wounded.

‘So, come on, what’s happened?’ Aaron prompts me again.

I realise there’s no getting out of this, and if he can help me get my career back on track, I’m hardly in a position to refuse that.

‘OK, here goes…’

I fill Aaron in on the events of the last three and a bit months, feeling nothing but a crushing sense of humiliation. He listens intently, his face giving nothing away. To add to my discomfort, he doesn’t even put in the natural ‘poor yous’ and ‘I’m so sorry to hear thats’ which, although demeaning, at least show a sense of empathy and concern. He stays silent, prompting me only with a nod and facial cue each time I wilt in unbearable shame and misery.

Once I’m finished, he sits thoughtfully for a few minutes without saying anything. I play with the foam on my cappuccino awkwardly.

‘Right, first things first,’ Aaron announces eventually. ‘From what you’ve told me, you haven’t done anything wrong. Unfortunately, you do appear to have fallen victim to a ruthless corporate culture, political outmanoeuvring and a difficult job market…’

‘OK… if you put it that way, it doesn’t sound so bad.’ I laugh weakly.

He regards me quizzically, one eyebrow slightly raised. This has the effect of instantly wiping the sheepish smile off my face.

‘It is bad, Liv,’ Aaron continues. ‘And though I used the word victim, you can’t afford to act like one.’

‘Ouch.’ I screw up my face, then set it straight back to neutral when I see the look that earns me from Aaron.

‘I’m serious, Liv.’

‘I know, I know. I’m sorry. I’m just finding this all so difficult.’ I sit up straight and give Aaron my undivided attention.

‘So, what’s most important,’ says Aaron, ‘more so at this stage than rescuing your career, is keeping you afloat financially…’

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