‘Good point,’ said Meagan as she pretended to think though alternative solutions. ‘What if we ask guys out for you?’

Jemima poked up from behind the boxes, looking horrified, ‘Nice. Nightmare upgrade.’

Meagan stifled a smirk.

‘You’re right. My bad. I’m just trying to help,’ she said putting an arm around Simi’s shoulder, ‘Wait, here’s a thought – why don’t you try getting stuck into work?’

‘My reception job?’ Simi asked, puzzled.

‘No, not your survival job. Your real job. Acting,’ said Meagan.

Simi’s face crinkled. ‘I don’t think I can…’

‘Sweetheart, I don’t think you can’t. What is it you actors say? Let Doctor Theatre work his magic. What better tonic is there than the smell of a crowd, the roar of the grease paint. Jemima was just saying that work might take your mind off things…’

‘I… I… did I?’ stammered Jemima.

‘Well, you said that dating was a bad idea,’ Meagan corrected.

‘But that doesn’t mean…’

‘Do you think it would work, Jem?’ asked Simi.

Meagan sat back and let the rest of the conversation take its course. This was an inelegant hustle but it had worked. Jemima was always a soft touch for Simi’s doe eyes. She wouldn’t tell her no.

Jemima pulled open a box of books. ‘Do you want me to alphabetise these?’

‘It’s just there was an interesting development…’ Meagan said, drawing Simi back in to soft-sell her the idea of going to this audition.

For the most part, Meagan was enjoying this relatively new challenge of being Simi’s agent. Because they were friends there was a shorthand that made things easier. Sometimes, however, like today, where the lines were blurred, it made things take ten times as long. Given Simi’s current state, Meagan had to keep it light but that was going to be tough given that the casting director who had offered Simi the audition was none other than the esteemed Antonia De Silva. Even Meagan knew what a big deal she was. It was the first audition to come from her office and not a contact to be squandered. And if Simi made a good impression, it could mean big things for Meagan’s comedian clients who had thespian ambitions too. However, if Simi no-showed, who knew when or even if Antonia would offer any of Meagan’s clients an audition again. The most frustrating thing was, Simi was perfect for the role and this IPC show had BAFTAs written all over it. Meagan just wished opportunity had knocked when Simi was not a walking power ballad. She took a breath.

‘So, it’s called Clash of the Crown. It shoots in Ireland and it’s a new fantasy period drama.’

‘Yeah. I heard you fibbing to Oscar about it but it’s too soon,’ said Simi, towelling her hair.

‘It’s a really great role,’ Meagan said with a clenched jaw, ‘and they’ve already confirmed it’s going to series.’

‘Can I see them next month?’

‘Next month?’ Meagan growled about as breezily as a force nine gale. ‘Darling, they’re shooting in five weeks. You’d be playing Bradley Tyson’s lover and you’d have at least one scene with Cameron Christiansen.’