‘Because I want you to help me like you helped Jake! Restore my reputation, save my career, persuade my publishers to still bring out my book, get me to the top of the bestseller list. What do you think?’

‘Even I could do that, why would I?’ I challenged. I took a sip of my drink. ‘I don’t know if your career should be saved!’

‘Have you read any of my books?’

‘No,’ I confessed. ‘I only read romance, sorry.’ I shrugged. I wasn’t really sorry at all.

‘And you say I’m prejudiced.’ Davis reached down to his briefcase and pulled out a book. ‘I brought along a proof copy for you. Why don’t you read it so you can make an informed judgement?’ he challenged me then, sliding it across the table towards me.

I stared at it. ‘But why?’ I asked again, still confused as to what he actually wanted from me.

‘I told you – we can help each other,’ Davis said. ‘I told my agent about you and what you did for Jake, and he agreed to let me talk to you. He is only a couple of years away from retirement and is looking for new blood to join his agency, to take over his clients when he leaves, and he said you’re exactly the kind of person he’s looking for. If you can help us get my career back on track, he will hire you and show you all the ropes and who knows? You could be running his agency one day, if that’s what you want.’

To say I was stunned was the understatement of the century. I stared back at him.

‘You do want to be an agent yourself, don’t you?’ Davis prodded me when I didn’t respond. I felt like I couldn’t speak just yet. ‘Freya?’

‘Um… yes. I want to be an agent,’ I said finally. ‘But I work for Hayley Harper. She’s my boss, and mentor. And she’s going to help me become an agent one day. After everything in New York went so well.’ I tried to ignore the voice in my head reminding me that she just took credit for everything I had done there. And Jake telling me not to trust Hayley so blindly.

‘Oh well, that’s good,’ Davis said, stuttering a bit. ‘But as I said, my agent, Simon really wants to groom someone to take over. And you’d be perfect. Are you not tempted even a little bit? I really could use your help. Has Hayley said when you’ll be able to take on your own clients?’

‘No, we’re going to speak tomorrow morning.’