Maybe Meagan was right about a lot of things. Simi crumpled at the mean words she’d said to her at the party. As liberating as it had been to get it off her chest, it had also been unfair – especially when Simi had questioned Meagan’s abilities as an agent. Meagan had twenty-three successful careers under her belt. Simi didn’t even have one. She suddenly felt painfully foolish. Meagan was successful. It was Simi that was failing and trying to blame everyone but herself for it. She didn’t have a clue what she needed. Furthermore, standing her ground only made things worse. Involving other people in her choices was a good thing. Besides, Meagan only did what she did out of love, but instead of gratitude Simi had thrown it all in her face. She planted her head in her hands. It was time to just do as she was told and accept other people’s wisdom. Throughout her life not doing that had messed up one thing after another and it had to stop. It had messed up everything with Meagan and derailed her relationship with Oscar. If she had let him take the lead and not expected so much from him, he wouldn’t have fallen into the arms of another. And in the deep recesses of her soul she couldn’t help feel that if she’d been a good girl and done as she was told, her father would not have left either. She was seven when it had happened but all her life the thought that it was her fault had gnawed at her. If she’d been a quieter, less flamboyant, more obedient little girl, perhaps he’d have stuck around. From now on, she concluded, she would toe the line and just do as she was told. Sometimes other people just knew best.

As her new reality sunk in, her phone pinged. Meagan’s name glared at her from the bright screen. It was their first communication since the party and could have been anything from a warning saying she’d taken out a contract on her to an invoice for services rendered. Simi reached for her phone, wondering if she should read the text after her date. If Meagan had put out a hit on her, it would put a real downer on the evening. She paused then swiped open the message.

‘Oh,’ she said as she read it.

you got the job.

A broad grin spread across her face.

‘Do as you’re told? Screw that!’ Simi laughed, as she flung on her jacket and strode out of the flat to meet Chance.

Simi peeked from behind her hand as the London Eye capsule continued its ascent. She gripped the railing and took a long inhalation.

‘I am so sorry, Simi. I should have asked,’ said Chance.

‘No, no, no,’ she said, trying to control her trembling. ‘You weren’t to know I’m scared of heights and anyway, we’ll be on our way down soon, won’t we?’

As the city lights twinkled in the distance the irony was not lost on Simi. Having vowed not to get horizontal with Chance, she was now battling to stay vertical – and conscious.