Meagan studied Simi’s photo. The girl looking back at her rarely stood her ground but the Simi from the other day had. All at once, Meagan could see what a fighter Simi truly was – the epitome of the old saying, fall down seven times, get up eight. Meagan blew a kiss at the photo imagining Simi pretending to clutch it to her heart as she always did. But if Simi was so strong, why did Meagan interfere? Rather than helping her friend’s career take off, she was keeping her grounded. And by default, weren’t Simi’s career failings stopping Meagan’s own life moving on? Her plan criteria had always been clear, all her clients needed to be working before she could move onto the next stage, a relationship. As Meagan rubbed her sweating palms together, she couldn’t help wonder, were Simi’s apparent failings getting in the way of her plan or was she using her plan to get in the way of Simi? Her mind swirled at the very thought. Now that the next phase of her plan was possible, in fact, according to her schedule, imminent, Meagan realised – she was terrified. The elevator at the end of the corridor shushed open, yanking Meagan from her ruminations. She shook the thoughts away and went back to clearing floor space for her new furniture.

‘Knock, knock,’ said a voice.

Meagan almost choked at the sight of Todd standing in her doorway.

‘Todd? What. The. Actual. Fuck?’ she growled.

‘Slow your roll. I’ve got you a surprise,’ said Todd, holding up his hands in placating defence.

‘And I’ve got a surprise for you,’ Meagan murmured as her hand balled into a fist.

‘Just hear me out,’ he said as he took a silver envelope from inside his suit jacket.

Meagan’s eyes narrowed, ‘And that is?’

‘Glad you asked,’ said Todd, a smile breaking. ‘So I thought, you’ve been working hard. How’s about a spa day at the Worthington followed by a gourmet dinner aaaaand a night in one of their luxury suites…’

Trying to ignore his newly grown-out hair which made him even more handsome, Meagan looked at him in utter bewilderment. Despite sending him a photo of her on a date then ignoring his calls, here he was. This had to stop.

‘Take a seat, Todd,’ she snarled.

He looked around the empty room before sitting on the corner of the filing cabinet.

‘You look nice. Have you changed your hair?’ he asked.

Meagan kissed her teeth. ‘We need to talk.’

‘You’ve put some tracks in or added some highlights?’

‘Todd!’ she barked.

‘Okay, alright. I just wanted to surprise you. I thought go big or go home but it backfired royally…’ Todd said as he ventured towards Meagan.

She held up a hand stopping him.

‘Yes, mate. Royally. If you had a kingdom it would be called Fuck-up-shire.’

Todd laughed.

‘It’s not funny.’

‘Sorry,’ he said, trying not to grin, edging towards her. ‘Look, someone put a stupid idea in my head and it tanked. Point is, we’ve been at this for four years but we’re still in the same place.’