Jake sighed and held up a hand, slowly quietening the room back down again. ‘I love writing romance. I chose to write love stories. And I want to continue to do so. What I said was in the heat of the moment after a terrible few weeks. I know that shouldn’t excuse what I did but maybe it might help you to forgive me,’ he said pleadingly to everyone.

Again, there were murmurings. I was unsure, along with his readers. Jake had ended up telling half the truth. He had explained he was trying to distract Davis from his secret and I did believe that he had been going through a hard time and didn’t actually look down on romance readers, but I still longed to know what he was trying to hide from everyone.

And I felt disappointed that I hadn’t managed to persuade him to be completely honest today. I kind of wanted to have him respect my opinion like he had always respected Hayley’s when it came to his career. But maybe he did still just think of me as young and inexperienced, especially after making a fool of myself in his presence as many times as I had done. If Jake didn’t think he should be honest to save his career, it made me wonder if I was capable of advising authors, full stop. Hayley had given me hope if this conference went well, I could be an agent myself but it felt like I was failing on all fronts.

‘I get why you are sceptical,’ Jake called out above the noise in the room. ‘But that conversation with Davis Mulberry happened at my lowest point. I did almost want to give my career up. After the article came out, I realised that I really could lose it all, and that made me see that I didn’t want to. That there is still hope and love in the world, and I do want to write about it. Now though, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to. And that makes me feel really sad. It’s up to you all to decide.’

There were a few scoffs around the room.

‘I don’t know what to think,’ I heard a reader say loudly to the person beside them.

‘It feels like his books are tainted now,’ their neighbour agreed.

Jake sighed and walked down the room towards the door before he faced everyone again. ‘I’m sorry I can’t share the full story with you all. But I do mean what I say here today and I hope you will all give me that second chance. I don’t suppose anyone wants me to sign a book but if you change your mind over the rest of the conference, just come and find me.’ He walked out of the room then and I stopped filming.