Ben chipped in a few times during the discussion, explaining that he’d taken the opportunity to revamp the poster design and fix a few things he wasn’t happy with in the first place. A hundred posters had been scrapped and obviously it had created extra work but he and Zennor seemed cool with that, so Sam counted her blessings.

However, time had now run out and they needed Chloe’s input so Sam began writing a text to see if she was OK. She hadn’t even finished the message when the door was flung open and the woman herself breezed in on a cloud of citrussy perfume and enthusiasm.

‘Evening. So sorry I’m late! I got a call from a client and I couldn’t get rid of him, no matter how hard I tried. Doesn’t he know I have far more important things to deal with than his international conference? I had to fly down the steps from the Crow’s Nest so apologies if I look a bit dishevelled.’

‘Hi Chloe, it’s fine,’ said Sam, relieved that her right-hand woman had turned up safe and sound.

‘You look all right to me,’ said Troy. ‘Couldn’t you tell this bloke to bog off because you were late for us?’

Chloe laughed. ‘I should have done. Thought he’d never get off the phone.’ She blew out a breath. ‘Anyway, I’m here now. What have I missed?’

‘Nothing much,’ Troy said.

Sam cringed.

‘Ben and Zennor’s new posters,’ Drew said. ‘They’re brilliant.’

‘Great.’ Chloe beamed at them.

‘They’re not bad, not that I’m an expert,’ Troy said. ‘Cuppa?’

‘Yes, please. I’m gagging for one,’ Chloe replied.

Troy got up. ‘Builder’s brew all right for you?’

Chloe’s smile slipped momentarily before reappearing. ‘Um. Yes. Fine. Thank you, Troy.’

Sam exchanged a glance with her. Chloe liked her herbal teas, but Sam knew she didn’t want to offend Troy. While he went to make the drink, Chloe dumped a box file on the table and whipped out a pale lime MacBook.

Despite her comments about being dishevelled, Sam thought her friend looked as camera-ready as ever, in printed wide-leg trousers, a vest-top and buttery leather biker jacket all of which looked like it’d been tailored to fit her petite frame. It felt like an exuberant pedigree Shi-Tzu had entered the Scrufts section of a dog show.

Sam instinctively shoved her short and unvarnished nails under the table.

‘I hear you’ve saved the day with our star chef,’ said Drew.

‘Oh, no. I had a lucky break, that’s all. You know I still can’t believe the actual Gabriel Mathias is going to headline our festival.’

‘There you go,’ said Troy, placing a steaming mug in front of her. ‘That’ll put hairs on your chest.’