‘No problem,’ I reply, knowing full well that those files do not exist but I’m picking my battles.
I return to my desk and smile at Kieran, who’s obviously intrigued by my meeting. A glance around the office shows that he’s not the only one.
‘Everything good?’ he asks. ‘Do you need help clearing out your desk?’
‘It’s fine,’ I reply. ‘Nothing to worry about. He was just approving my holiday request.’
Kieran looks confused. ‘I can’t remember the last time you went on holiday. Good for you! Where you off to?’ He smirks. ‘Let me guess. Hiking up Everest? Cat Island in Japan?’
‘There’s a cat island in Japan? Why didn’t I know about this?’
He shrugs. ‘Dunno. Probably because you have no interest in cats.’
‘Not true,’ I insist. ‘I like cats very much. I also like my furniture to remain un-shredded and my flat not to smell like piss and litter.’
He holds his hands up. ‘I’m not judging. I understand, pets aren’t for everyone. Some people just aren’t into animals.’
I frown. Why does everyone think I hate animals?
‘Want a coffee?’
‘Please.’
He rises from his chair before stopping dead in his tracks. ‘Ha! I know where you’re going! Moldova.’
‘Moldova?’
‘Yup. You’re obsessed with that Eurovision guy. The one who looks like Colin Farrell.’
‘His name is Pasha Parfeni and I only liked that one song, in 2012. Pfft, I’d hardly call that obsessed!’
I love him. Deeply.
‘Having that song as your ringtone and trying to learn Moldovan on Duolingo would suggest otherwise.’
‘I have a client from Tiraspol.’
‘Who?’
‘You wouldn’t know them.’
I can tell he’s unconvinced as he heads to the coffee machine, and I chastise myself for not considering a Moldova trip before booking what is essentially a fancy ferry.
I pull up my to-do list for the day before checking my emails. Only thirteen since last night. An improvement on the previous day’s twenty-three. Kieran returns and hands me my latte.
‘If you must know, I’m going on a cruise.’
He looks surprised. ‘A cruise? Funny you should say that! My girlfriend wants to go on a cruise!’
‘Really?’
‘Not even a little bit. She’s twenty-three, not ninety.’
‘Piss off.’
He continues laughing while I get back to work. I hope his girlfriend shaves his beard while he sleeps.
Chapter 20
