Thinking of teenage rebellion seems to summon her sulkiest staffer. Tabitha’s scowl can be decidedly adolescent—but not only is she first in, she’s smiling. Harri has observed that the least likely people seem to control the temperature in the office. Even though Rosa’s mood swings were occasionally operatic, they never seemed to have much of an impact on the Panache ecosystem. Yet she has known sour, set-faced interns who have changed the psychogeography of a room before they’ve put their bags on their desks. Anna ‘Nuclear’ Wintour has much to answer for. Her dedicated followers laboured under the misapprehension that the first rule of fashion was to inflict chill.

So it is with Tabitha. She thought Tabitha’s perpetual bad mood was an immovable part of the furniture, the grubby rug they were all stepping around. It turns out that Tabitha is capable of radiating joy, light, and actual warmth, and she is bearing down upon her. Oh, no. Has she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal saviour? Because, in Harri’s experience, those who do like to lead communal, celebratory singing and Harri’s alto is so flat and scratchy that she has to mime whenever there is an office birthday cake.

‘I don’t know if I have to put it in writing? Probably, but, anyway, I quit! I’m going to Condé. To Vogue!’

‘Ah! Congratulations!’ And phew. Because when all the puzzle pieces were thrown up in the air, she wasn’t sure where Tabitha would land—she did not tessellate well with others. Harri knew she’d be happier at Panache than The Know—if Tabitha could be happy, anywhere. But she didn’t want to inflict her sulkiest, grumpiest employee on the shiny new team. ‘Is that with Elsa? Is Diana still there?’

Tabitha beams. ‘I’m not sure, I’ll be assistant deputy demi-fine timepieces editor.’ Harri isn’t quite sure what to say. ‘Gosh! Timepieces? Is that, um, pocket watches and things?’

‘It really is everything I’ve ever wanted. And, I’m sorry, I know I’ve not been the best fashion editor, for you. It’s been hard, especially with, you know,’ she waves her hand in the direction of Imogen and Louise’s desks. ‘I’ve always felt a bit left out, I suppose. Anyway, do I need a written letter, or will an email do?’

‘Email is probably fine.’ Harri thinks for a minute. ‘Although, listen—between us, I think an announcement is coming soon. There might be some big changes on the way, so I don’t know if you want to wait to see what happens before you make anything official.’

Tabitha rolls her eyes, just like old times. ‘I can’t believe it. Mackenzie and her dad are all over every news channel, and we’ve not had so much as an email about it.’