‘Not everything,’ I said lightly. ‘Can I have a bit?’ I lifted my wine glass. Technically, I was too young to drink in this mad country, but he filled my glass, emptying the bottle.

He went on. ‘I mean, look at you, you’re young, you’re beautiful, you have your life in front of you. Why be a nanny? Stay away from it as long as possible, is my advice. Don’t have kids till you’re forty.’

All I had heard in that was beautiful, he thinks I’m beautiful.

‘You want me to quit?’ I swirled my wine, feeling sophisticated.

‘God no. We need you. Just – think of yourself as well. Don’t stay here too long.’

This was my chance. ‘I’ll be honest,’ I said. ‘I was really excited to come to LA. I’ve always dreamed of being an actress. My mum pushed me into it, too. She was in a soap in the eighties and she wanted more for me. Maybe you know it – it was called Brackley Street?’ He shook his head. ‘No. I guess it wouldn’t have shown over here.’

Poor Jenna with her out-of-date publicity headshots and failed auditions, although she got occasional requests to appear on a panel show or be a talking head in a reunion show or to attend a TV convention. She took it all. Living in poverty, waiting for scraps, instead of giving it up and finding a proper job.

David barked a laugh. ‘I should have known. So you came out here to make it big? Nannying just a step to something better?’

‘No, I . . .’

‘It’s fine, Casey. I don’t blame you at all. Makes sense of why you’re here. You knew I was a film producer?’

I knew to play this down. ‘Not really. I was a bit clueless, to be honest, how it all works, but it’s so fascinating to me, what you do.’ I rested my chin on my hands. The wine was stealing through my veins, loosening my limbs.

‘It’s not so much.’ He was drunk, about to tip over into melancholy.

‘You said you’d take me to your work one day.’

‘Oh. Did you want to go?’

‘Definitely! I’d love it.’

‘Tomorrow? Oh, what about the kids?’

‘Madison has school and Carson naps around eleven. We could . . . let him sleep somewhere.’ I was suggesting leaving his baby alone, but David just nodded. He ran a hand over his face.

‘I should go to bed. Early start. Christ, it’s hard work.’

I knew he didn’t mean his job. I leaned in a bit closer.