Giles thinks she’s crazy, and even Akila wasn’t quite as enthusiastic as she’d hoped, when Harri pitched her the idea that morning, over the office kitchen kettle. ‘You definitely have something, but I’m not sure you can make a publication so similar without running the risk that Hudson might sue you. And you’ve got to think about investors, advertisers, backing. People want to give The Know money because it’s part of a publishing company they’re very familiar with. I think you can raise the funds, but it’s going to be really, really hard.’

Harri was on a charm offensive. ‘And that’s exactly why I want you on board! You’re brilliant, and so well connected.’

Akila frowned. ‘Well, I’m still on duty here for the next few weeks, seeing out my notice. I’ve already got a bit of consultancy booked in, while I get myself set up. Right now, I’m looking for lucrative, boring work. What you’re suggesting is the complete opposite.’

‘I know, but…think about it? Please?’

Harri knew Akila’s concerns were entirely legitimate—but there was a tiny part of her that had expected Akila to say ‘Great idea boss! I’ll make some calls,’ and then Harri’s head cut to a montage of newspaper headlines that read PUBLISHING VISIONARY HARRIET KEMP DOES IT AGAIN! Even though she still wasn’t entirely sure what ‘it’ might be.

Sex was The Know’s most contentious content, and by far the best performing too. Given the fact that Mackenzie constantly—if unsuccessfully—objected to the sex on The Know, surely she couldn’t object to Harri setting up her own site and taking the sex elsewhere? She wants to make a space that feels smarter, but softer. Something with sensitivity, and a sense of humour at its core. A place where the erotic imagination is cultivated, a place to play, where storytelling is as revered as experience. A place for curiosity and questions. Really, something with great graphics, and a good editorial budget, that feels like Imogen’s blog.

Which means that at the centre of this project is Imogen. The blog has not been updated for months, since The Know went live. When Harri noticed the date of the last post, she felt a little guilty, a little defensive. She knows she has claimed most of Imogen’s waking hours. But Imogen is ambitious! That’s why she’s here. Surely she wouldn’t be working for a paltry wage, staying up late, going to events after hours, commuting into central London if she wasn’t ambitious. Will she be ambitious enough for this? Ambitious enough to help Harri work out just what ‘this’ could become?

If not, Harri was—as sleep tugged its heavy blanket up and over her consciousness, the more poetic word eluded her—fucked.