Meanwhile...

Phil stood outside the office waiting for his clients. There weren’t supposed to be any viewings until Monday, but this was potentially quite a big new customer, so they really wanted first pick of the new units. Of course he would have rather spent this hot, sunny weekend day relaxing with a beer, but instead he was standing in the shade of the entrance door in a suit waiting to sell some office space. At least the plumber was here. Or her van was, at any rate. He had been grateful that she was able to come out at the weekend.

The car pulled up, late of course, and Phil greeted the clients with firm handshakes. Three directors from the firm who were looking to rent the unit. They might take the whole thing if it was suitable. The three men were from out of town and were dressed in sharp suits – all three of them in their early thirties, a little older than Phil, and very well groomed. They didn’t even appear to be sweating in this heat, whereas Phil felt like a cobbler’s elbow.

He apologised in advance – Jane, his plumber, was working on the air conditioning today, but it would definitely be working fine by Monday. He opened the door and showed the clients in.

No sign of the plumber in the first few offices, which was good. But then in the last one on the ground floor there were a pile of tools and some rags or something on the floor. Phil apologised for the mess. David, one of the directors, stopped him. ‘Phil, she’s obviously fixed this unit – can’t you feel the cold air? I’m happy for your plumber handle my pipework all day long if she can do something about this heat.’

All four men stood in the cool breeze under the unit, opening their jackets to allow the air to circulate around their bodies.

‘Your plumber could have just saved this sale,’ Chris, another director said to Phil. ‘You should give her a big tip when you see her.’

Phil laughed nervously. ‘Oh, yes, I certainly will! Would you like to see the offices upstairs?’