‘Who have you managed to upset?’ Jordan whispers to me, not as quietly as he should have.

‘Jordan, shhh,’ I say, smiling at our new companions. The fat lady beside me and the balding man beside her overhear. They scowl furiously at the pair of us. ‘Jordan, there was a mix-up with some extra guests, as you probably saw. It isn’t a problem.’

It hasn’t gone unnoticed by me that where Jordan was all kisses and compliments earlier in the foyer among the who’s who of showbiz, he’s grown surly.

The lighting dims. An orchestra begins to play. To see proceedings at the front, Jordan turns his back to me. Mel and Sue appear on stage to a round of applause. For a good ten minutes, the room is entertained with excerpts of comedic television moments and banter that, to my absolute delight, centres around cooking.

Laughing heartily, Jordan turns briefly to me to say, ‘They’re really very good. They’d be perfect for a new canned fruit campaign I have in mind. Can you introduce us later?’

I tell Jordan I don’t know them personally, so this might prove challenging. I see the fat lady and her bald companion exchange swift glances.

‘Harry seems well connected,’ he continues, unabashed. ‘I wonder if he could help?’

I nod and sip my water. I miss my friends.

Jordan downs his champagne and waves a waiter to top him up. He’s been knocking them back since he arrived.

Four tables away, my mother is chuckling intimately with Harry. Both Lucy and Carlos appear to be flirting with Sonya Sokolov. Poppy seems suitably amused. Faith is looking adoringly at Toby and Joanna is whispering in Timothy’s ear. Zelda has her eyes closed and could even be chanting. On stage, the presentations commence.

We are several award categories in when Sonya is called up on stage. I’m clapping when Jordan turns to me. ‘Is she the girl from the cartoons?’

‘Yes. But this award is for a dramatic role she took on last summer.’

Jordan nods, deep in thought. ‘We’ve been pitching to Mattel. She’d seal the deal.’

I suggest I can introduce them later.

His smile is electric.

I watch the entire SC6 table rise from their seats in applause at Sonya’s speech. Too shy to stand on my own, I stay seated.

‘Thank you for inviting me,’ Jordan says.

‘You’re welcome.’

‘You do look incredible.’

‘Thank you.’