He threw the phone down on his desk, and I finally wrenched myself from the man’s gaze, feeling clumsy and idiotic. Skirt-tucked-in-my-knickers stupid. It was as much as I could do to stop myself from checking it, there and then. Trust me to have rushed this morning. I wanted to be perfect, to go over every last detail of myself and make it right. Give him no reason to mock me. Max was still watching me too. My cheeks stung, the heat of their focus rendering me practically incoherent.

I threw the man another glare. Leave me alone.

Whether he felt my pain, I don’t know, but he turned back to Max and held out his hand, cool and imperious.

‘Consider it done,’ he said. His accent matched his looks. I was right. Breeding and money, through and through. ‘Tell him I’ll be in touch.’

‘Much appreciated.’ Max flashed the man a terse smile. He didn’t look happy, but he stood up and extended his hand. The man shook it briefly and turned to go. He didn’t look any more comfortable than Max. I wondered what they’d been discussing.

As he passed me, his eyes met mine. He paused briefly and did a double-take. It was almost as if, after his initial assessment, he’d realised he knew me. But he didn’t. Not unless he’d seen me on TV, glued to Leo’s arm.

I didn’t move as he brushed past me. I even leaned towards him somewhat. I couldn’t help myself. He smiled again, and I frowned, angry at my body for betraying me. He must have had women dripping from him like diamonds. What was I even thinking? He gave me a curious backwards stare as he went, but that was hardly surprising. I’d made a complete fool of myself. Either that, or he was wondering what the hell I’d done.

If that were the case, I knew how he felt.

I turned to Max, still flushed with shame and annoyance. He’d sat down again and was leaning back in his chair, regarding me coolly.

‘Enjoying the view, Grace?’ he said. He leaned toward me, almost conspiratorially. ‘Don’t worry. I get it. I do. I understand. But what are you even doing here?’ He leaned further forward, steepling his fingers and frowning. ‘Go home, Grace.’

‘I…I’m sorry?’ I could feel the heat, radiating off me in pulses, as his words sank in. This wasn’t about me being late. It was something far worse. I’d really pissed him off somehow, and now I’d made a fool of myself in front of…well…whoever Mr Arrogant might be. Even so, I wasn’t expecting this.

‘I said, go home. Go to a friend’s, your mum’s, wherever.’ He stood up. ‘You’re not needed here today. D’you understand?’

I didn’t understand at all. I was always needed. Even when I had a holiday booked – and it was always done months in advance, in case it interfered with some pressing need of his – he always made me feel guilty as hell for taking it.

He looked half fierce, half…something else. His jaw – which was always strong and square – stuck out so determinedly it looked almost lantern-like. A caricature of Mr Arrogant. His voice, when he spoke again, was softer, but no less definite. ‘Find somewhere else to be,’ he said, with a sigh. ‘It was always on the cards, I suppose you know that. But quite frankly, we could do without the intrusion, and I’m sure you could do without having to run around after me.’

I still didn’t speak, just looked at him standing there, calm and unruffled in his crisp, grey suit, and wondered if he’d gone stark raving mad. In fact, I was sure, at the time, he had. What the hell did he think I’d done, for Christ’s sake? I’d done nothing. Nothing to deserve this summary treatment.

I lifted my chin and turned away, dizzy with disbelief. I was about to walk out of the office when he spoke again. ‘I’m sorry, Grace,’ he said. ‘Really, I am. It can’t be easy. We’ll see you next week, okay?’

‘Okay,’ I said, trying hard to keep the wobble from my voice. What the hell was he on about? Why would whatever I’d done be okay next week? Had I made some catastrophic error? Was he covering my back, trying to rectify things, while I was at home, twiddling my thumbs, presumably suspended from duty?

‘And you do understand?’ He looked almost beseeching, and reached out to me. For one mad moment, I thought he was actually going to put his arms round me… hug me…. but he didn’t. We both stood there, staring at each other for what seemed an eternity of awkwardness, and it was only when he spoke again that I realised I hadn’t answered.

‘You do understand, Grace,’ he repeated. ‘Don’t you?’

‘I suppose.’ My reply was almost inaudible. I looked down at the floor. I couldn’t bear him to see the humiliation in my eyes.

He said nothing else, so presumably the interview was over. I left his office, trying hard to keep my composure, to act as if everything was normal, when it so totally wasn’t.

Everyone knew, anyway. I could tell the minute I glanced around the office. They were all looking over at me from their booths, several with phones hanging uselessly in their hands.

Why hadn’t I asked him what I'd done? What had I just stood there and taken it, as if I knew exactly what he was talking about? Why couldn’t I stand up for myself? I looked around for a friendly face amongst all the embarrassed stares.

Liv! Liv Perry was there, thank God, sitting at her desk. The one person I could depend on. She looked unabashed, but her eyes were just as wide and anxious as Pascale’s had been just a few minutes before. Christ, it felt like a lifetime ago, but it really had been just a few minutes.

I stumbled over to her desk, and collapsed in the chair next to hers. It wouldn’t be needed for an hour at least. Jeremy was always late. Came in when he wanted, and no one ever asked questions. If only I were already an accounts manager. They got away with anything, if they were good at their job. If I were on their level, I wouldn’t be in this god-awful mess.

‘He’s…’ I gulped hard, and racked my brain for an appropriate description. ‘A total dick.’

Liv put her hand over mine, and gave me a sad smile. ‘He is, hon. A total, total dick. And an idiot.’

‘Yes he is.’ I was starting to feel angry now. ‘I do everything for him. He doesn’t know when he’s well off.’

‘I know, hon, I know. They never do. That’s the trouble with men.’ She patted my hand. ‘They always think the grass is greener. I should know.’

I managed a smile, knowing Liv’s dating history. It was a disaster of biblical proportions, but hardly relevant at the moment. I decided to bring the conversation back on track.

I took a deep breath, knowing my next statement was likely to get me into more trouble, if that were even possible. I hardly cared. It seemed unlikely anyone would overhear, anyway. The phones were practically ringing off the hook. I’d never known a morning like it. A fine day to chuck me out of the office…

‘Fucking, fucking Max Flint,’ I declared, in fury.

‘Max?’ If Liv had been standing up, I swear she’d have taken a step backwards. As it was, she merely jolted a little, and stared at me as if I were crazy. ‘What’s Max done?’

‘Sent me home,’ I said, the frustration spilling over into my voice, and tingeing it with sarcasm. ‘I thought you knew.’

‘Aw.’ Liv looked over towards Max’s office. ‘Just when I thought I knew the ruthless bastard, he pulls the rug out on me. What a sweetie.’

‘You’re joking.’ I stared at her. ‘Right?’

‘No, I…’ She paused and her expression softened. She looked troubled again. ‘You don’t know, do you?’

‘Know?’ This morning wasn’t getting any better. Every time I thought I was getting a handle on it, I was blindsided again. ‘No, I don’t. What the hell’ve I done?’

Liv bent down and pulled her bag from under her desk. It was enormous, more like a rucksack, and contained the most improbable things. Everyone called it her Mary Poppins bag. She stood up. ‘Let’s go up to the restaurant, if you can face it. Get a bottle of wine. You’re gonna need it.’