“Of course I remembered. What makes you think I wouldn’t remember?”

“Well, I just thought . . . Look, don’t let’s get started into another argument. I’m too tired.”

“We’re not having an argument! I was just asking!”

“All right! I’m sorry.” Jackie leaned her elbows on the table and covered her face with her hands. “I really do feel exhausted.”

Dan reached across and gave her arm a gentle pat. “It’s not surprising. You’re working bloody hard.” He got to his feet and walked over to the fridge. “Are you sure you don’t want to have a glass of wine? I’m going to have one.”

“All right then, but just half a glass.”

Dan poured out the wine and handed her the glass. He sat down again. “Listen, when is Prêt á Porter?”

“In three weeks’ time.”

“Do you have to go over beforehand?”

Jackie turned to look at him. She paused before replying. “Yes, actually. I do.”

“Good. In that case, I thought that I’d come with you.”

Jackie’s eyes opened wide. “What?”

“Well, I just thought that we needed a bit of time together. It would be the perfect opportunity.”

Jackie bit at her lip. “Dan, I’ve got to go over this weekend. I was going to tell you tonight.”

“Oh. Right. Well, I could try to get Battersea Gran to come over, but it’s a bit short notice.”

“Dan, I’m going with Stephen.”

Dan’s eyes shifted around the room as he tried to work out who the hell Stephen was. “Stephen?”

“Who might that be?”

“Our financial director.”

“Ah.”

“It’s business, Dan. I’ve got some serious negotiations to do with the organizers. Stephen said that he would come over and give me a hand.”

Dan pulled a long face. “Well, I hope you’re only speaking metaphorically.”

“Don’t be so bloody stupid. You know as well as I do what I mean.”

“Right. So when will you be back?”

“Probably Monday or Tuesday. Stephen thought it better to spill the visit over into a weekday, just in case we hit problems at the weekend.”

Dan scratched a finger across his forehead. “Why is it that I haven’t heard of this Stephen before?”

Jackie let out a long sigh. “Maybe because you’ve never been interested in what I do before.”

“Jackie, that’s nonsense and you know it.”

“Well, if you were so well up to speed, you would know that it was Stephen who is wholly responsible for setting up Rebecca Talworth Design Limited, and I think probably wholly responsible for getting me the job as managing director.”

Dan cocked his head to the side and winked. “Sounds like some guy, this Stephen.”

Jackie drained her wine glass in one gulp. “Right, I’m going upstairs.” She pushed back her chair and stood up.

“I was only joking, you know.”