‘I’m so nervous,’ I admitted to Liv as we sat in the café’s comfy chairs with our food and drink. Soft music played in the background and the midday sun streamed in through the long, glass windows that displayed my office building opposite. ‘I feel like I’m even more nervous than Davis!’

Liv laughed. ‘That’s why you’re such a good agent. Hayley probably doesn’t even know what the word “nervous” means.’ She sighed. ‘I feel like she hasn’t had much time for me lately.’

‘Oh no, why?’

‘She’s been bringing in lots of new authors. I think she felt she had to sign new people after Jake left her…’ Liv bit her lip.

‘She did take the news badly,’ I agreed.

When Jake told her that he and I were an official couple, Hayley was not happy. She seemed to think we had been conspiring against her the whole time, and after she said some really nasty things about me, Jake decided to leave the agency. He’d found a new agent since and was much happier with her, along with his new publisher. So much change but it had all been positive. He said he had realised how different his view of his career had been to Hayley’s so everything had worked out. I did feel a bit guilty though at seeing their professional relationship end.

‘Could you talk to her about how you feel?’ I asked Liv.

‘Maybe. There is something I wanted to talk to you about first, though…’ She squirmed uncomfortably in her chair.

‘What’s wrong?’ I asked, worried.

‘I don’t know if it would be like a conflict of interest or anything, and I know Hayley would be pissed off, but I need to think about myself and what’s best for my career, and I’ve seen what you’ve done for Davis,’ Liv said, pausing to clear her throat. ‘Is there any way you would consider becoming my agent?’

I stared at my cousin in shock. Then my phone started ringing on the table. ‘It’s Simon,’ I said, unsure what to say or do.

‘Take it; he’ll have the chart!’ Liv cried excitedly.

Stunned, I picked up the phone. ‘Simon…’ I listened and broke into a huge grin. ‘I’ll be back at one! No, you tell him… Okay, we’ll call him together when I come back into the office. Great. Bye!’ I hung up and looked at Liv. ‘Number one.’

‘What?’

‘Davis is number one on the bestseller list!’ I let out a little scream, and so did she. Liv jumped up and held out her arms so I got out of my chair and collapsed into them, returning her tight hug. ‘I can’t believe it.’

‘I can!’ she said, letting out a little sob into my hair. ‘I’m so proud of you, Freya!’