With a theatrical sigh, Juliette walked across the room and pulled my gown down from its hanger. I was hoping hanging it up would magically return it to its unworn state but it turned out positive thoughts didn’t get champagne stains out of silk. ‘This is beautiful, I never would have chosen it. I’m so glad you did.’

‘Still not an apology.’ I took the hanger from her and draped the gown over the back of the settee.

‘I couldn’t face it,’ she announced as she sat herself in one of my armchairs and looked out of the window. ‘Things have been rough lately and playing private parties for rich people is the absolute worst. You’d think it would be fun, no pressure, smaller crowds, but it’s so much worse than anything else. They don’t care about the actual show, it doesn’t mean anything to them. Most people just stand in the back talking, or else they stand at the front demanding their favourite songs, like a jukebox. I woke up, I felt like shit, and I didn’t want to go. And now I feel worse than ever.’

‘Because it was for charity?’ I guessed.

‘No, because I was a dickhead to you,’ she muttered, resting her chin in her hand and her elbow on the arm of the chair. ‘The Crystal Ball committee doesn’t care, no one’s asking for a refund because I didn’t show up. Christ, it was probably a bonus, fresh gossip to go with their $50,000 tickets. I bet they were talking all kinds of shit about me.’

She didn’t need to know how right she was. I sat down in the chair opposite, making sure my robe was securely closed. Accidentally flashing her wasn’t going to make either of us feel any better.

‘I got dumped.’ She pulled her feet up onto the chair and wrapped her arms around her shins. ‘I was seeing someone, I thought it was the real thing, then she dumped me. No word of warning, nothing. She just left.’

‘When did this happen?’ I asked.

‘Eleven days ago,’ she replied, checking the time on the clock by my bed. ‘Eleven days, fourteen hours and about fifteen minutes, give or take.’

‘That’s why you cancelled? Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘Because I thought I could power through and be a professional,’ she said with a sad shrug. ‘Then I woke up yesterday morning and she’d texted me to say one of her friends had got hold of some of our “private photos” and there was nothing she could do about it. I took it out on you, and I took it out on the Crystal Ball.’

I had no idea what to say and so, I listened.