‘The other big news is that we have a potential investor for our site. Well, one investor who is pretty much committed, a couple who are extremely interested and a few more possibilities.’

‘That’s fantastic. Get yourself a woman who can do it all, I say!’ Harri does not laugh. She has started on my napkin.

‘Look, I haven’t said yes to Panache. I don’t know what I’m going to do.’

It’s obvious, isn’t it? ‘Surely we can go to Panache and launch our new business as a side project?’

Harri shakes her head. ‘Imogen, Panache wants all of us. It wouldn’t be a 9–5 job. Look at your blog—you haven’t been writing it because I’ve taken up all of your free time, and Panache would be even worse. And even if there was time, for either of us—we’d be expected to live the brand. There are all kinds of contractual clauses about who else we’re allowed to work for, and how.’

I have a brainwave. ‘Maybe we could come to Panache as freelancers?’

Harri frowns. ‘The business plan I’ve produced is contingent on the two of us working full time. If we’re doing this as a hobby, our investors pull out. Imogen, I can’t keep you from Panache. I know exactly what that job would mean to you. I know what it used to mean to me. Although I’m not sure what it means any more.’

I think about the unpaid hours I have spent at Panache. The coffee runs, and every suspicious ‘is this definitely soy milk?’ instead of ‘thank you’. The time I was asked to assist on a shoot and spent most of the day on my hands and knees, cleaning up after the model’s dog, and sponging actual shit off her shoes. And the even more miserable minimum wage hours I’ve worked in order to be able to pay for the privilege of cleaning up dogshit for free. I did all of that, hoping and praying that I might be noticed. Longing to be taken on as the lowliest, most poorly paid assistant, just for permission to belong in that world. Until I started at The Know, I wished for a job at Panache on every loose eyelash and blown-out birthday candle. This isn’t just what I wanted—it’s what I was scared to dare to dream of, coming true. I should feel elated.

I prod my salad. I hope the chips come soon. ‘But what’s going to happen to The Know? What about Louise and Kim?’