‘That’s right. I have to cancel with you, Carlos. Joanna is concerned because you were a date on the show, you see?’

A bell above the shop door tinkles at the entrance of another customer. Finally, the attending assistant gives me an impatient glance.

‘Carlos, I have to go.’

‘No problem. Si. Date on show. I know.’

‘I’m so sorry. I’ll call you.’

‘No sorry. You call Carlos any time. Adios, bomboncita.’

Ringing off, I turn to the counter.

‘Will madam be requiring the jewellery?’

‘Yes, please. Where do I sign?’

‘Just here, madam.’

I sign.

‘And here.’

I’m signing my life away when my mobile rings again. Initialling clauses hurriedly, I let it go.

‘And here. And here.’

Eventually, I’m handed a black velvet box containing a diamond necklace worth more than the deposit on my flat.

‘Thank you kindly,’ I say, and exit the premises.

My phone wails on and on. ‘Hello?’ I answer. I hate unrecognised numbers.

‘Hello, Grace?’

As I step into the busy pedestrian traffic of New Bond Street, the wheels of a passing pushchair, driven by a meandering yummy mummy clad in designer activewear, clips the back of my feet.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she says, throwing her head of long, brown curls about as though she’s shooting a shampoo ad.

My heels smarting, I assure her, ‘Not at all, completely my fault.’ Ugh.

I duck into an alley. Further in, a gang of hooded-topped teenage boys mill about on bicycles. They stare eagle-eyed at my velvet box. I hope I signed something for insurance.

‘Hello?’ I repeat, ready to hang up and ignore my phone completely.

‘Grace, hello. It’s Jordan.’

‘Jordan? Oh. Right. You, er, have a new number?’

‘I do. Is now a good time to chat?’

‘Sure.’ I’m relieved to see the BMX bandits ride off. ‘Just picking up some expensive jewellery. On loan, I might add.’

‘I presume for the big event tomorrow?’ Jordan says. He sounds chipper. ‘You made the list in a who’s who for the TIARAs.’

I sit on a bench in the little alley in one of the nicest parts of London and narrowly avoid some pigeon poop. ‘I didn’t know there was a list.’

‘In today’s Daily. It’s amazing, Grace. You must be so excited.’

‘It is exciting,’ I say.

Jordan and I fall into our usual silence.

‘I’ve been thinking a lot about how I never supported your career,’ he says.

‘Oh, right…’

I did not expect this. I didn’t expect Jordan to call. Let alone this.

‘I was always so focused on mine,’ he carries on. ‘I figure, I owed it to you to say how genuinely proud I am of all you’ve achieved.’ He laughs awkwardly. ‘I hope we can be friends?’

‘Jordan, you really helped me with the ad. We are friendly, as far as I’m concerned,’ I reply, my head spinning.