‘Honestly, I didn’t deserve all that. I’m the one who is grateful to you for reading and enjoying my books. But I’m so happy they mean as much to you as they mean to me. I really am sorry for questioning if what I was doing was worthwhile. For letting my personal life affect something I love. I’m not going to do that any more. Because we need love stories in the world, right?’

There was applause and there were cheers to that, and relief rolled through my body. Jake had won everyone over. I stopped filming and looked at Hayley.

She stepped forward to take back control. She called out to everyone that if they wanted Jake to sign anything or get a selfie with him to form a queue so they could meet him, and pretty much everyone joined it. As Jake met with readers, Hayley came over to me.

‘Send me that video and I’ll email it to Jake’s publishers, and get it posted online so we can make the most of the conference buzz while we’re still here,’ she instructed me briskly. I waited for her to add something like praise – I mean, it had been my idea for Jake to be honest with readers – but she just stared at me impatiently. I did as she asked then she sat down with her phone so I went over to Jake.

‘Well done, it’s going so well,’ I said after he had a selfie with two readers.

‘Yeah?’ He turned that sexy smile of his onto me.

‘You had the room in the palm of your hand. You won everyone over. I think you saved your career today.’

‘Only because I followed your advice.’

I smiled then; it did feel good that he had done that. ‘I just hope Hayley thinks we’ve done well too.’

‘If she doesn’t, I’ll find a new agent.’ Jake winked at me then turned back to speak to another reader.

When the queue had finally gone, the three of us were left alone in the room. I could hear the bustle of the conference in the main hall. It was nice to have a minute to breathe and take in what had happened.

Hayley came over before I could speak to Jake alone again.

‘Well, I just heard from your editor,’ she said to Jake. ‘Craig has agreed to a meeting when we’re back in London. So, I think we will get that new contract.’ Finally, she smiled. ‘Good job.’

‘We have Freya to thank,’ Jake said.

‘It was a team effort,’ I said, blushing at him saying that in front of Hayley. I really hoped she wouldn’t think he was being over the top with me.

Hayley turned to me and nodded. ‘It was but when we get home, we can talk about how to progress your career, Freya.’

‘Great, thanks, Hayley.’