He leans forward. ‘Elaine’s been doing a joint PA-slash-EA role for a while now, and it’s become clear that I need dedicated personnel for both of those roles. I won’t insult your intelligence by pretending that’s the only reason I signed up with Seraph. But while the role is complex and ever-changing, the ideology behind it is pretty simple—and you’ve just nailed it.’

He allows himself a leisurely peruse of my body, and I force myself to relax as he mentally undresses me.

‘I’m tired, you know? I work hard and play hard. Sometimes it feels like everyone’s an idiot. I’m looking for someone who can protect me from the idiots and make my life easier. Someone who can anticipate problems and make them go away, and help me work through the stress when they can’t.’

He licks his lips after the last part in a not unsexy way, and there’s no denying that he’s referencing both sides of the job. I nod with what I hope is an understanding smile, though I’m rolling my eyes internally. Oh, please. I’m sure this guy doesn’t lift a finger. He probably has chefs and drivers and minions galore. I bet he hasn’t put a wash on or stepped foot into a dry cleaner or opened his own mail for years and years.

Sure, he has a huge job, and I’m sure he works his arse off at it. But we all work hard, and some of us come home from our jobs and cook and clean and then find ourselves in A&E at all hours of the night.

For most of us, playing hard is unfathomable. But I’ll suck it up, because him needing a glorified nanny equates to the biggest opportunity I’ve ever had. This overprivileged playboy is Tabby’s lifeline, and I won’t forget it.

‘I can be all those things for you,’ I tell him. ‘I’ll make it all go away. If you hired me, your wellbeing would be my sole focus, I promise.’ During office hours only, pal. I have someone whose wellbeing is far more worthy of my attention in real life. There’s an eight-year-old girl with insufficient oxygen circulating in her body, and she’s known stress and pain the likes of which you can never, ever imagine.

Stress is your body shutting down because your lungs are being slowly suffocated.

It is not fending off unwanted attention from society gold-diggers.