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BACK in the summer

I was drinking heavily and had sex with a colleague during a three-day training programme.

He works in a different branch to me but I’m going to see him again at the company’s annual dinner next week.

I’m terrified because I know he expects to sleep with me again. He’s pinged over a couple of messages telling me how keen he is to catch up.

The thing is, I’m not that girl any more. I stopped drinking back in September after a bad experience with an internet date.

I’m done with meaningless, drunken fumbles with people

I don’t even like.

This guy is quite influential in our business.

There’s a rumour that he may even move down and become our boss in the new year, so blowing him out is not in my best interests. Help.

JANE SAYS: I beg you to hold firm and not back down.

You owe this colleague absolutely nothing.

So you and he had drunken sex last summer?

So what? That was then and this is now.

He can’t simply assume that you’ll slip straight back under the sheets with him just because it’s Christmas.

If he contacts you again, then politely tell him that you’ve moved on.

If he really is going to be your new boss, then the last thing he should be doing is muddying the waters ahead of his arrival.

Clearly, you now realise that alcohol is not good for you. Keep away from it on the big night and don’t let anyone persuade you to have a tipple. If anyone dares to suggest that you’re being boring or have turned into a killjoy, then tell them where to get off.

It’s vital that you protect yourself from now on.