‘Yep.’ She dipped her head down and twisted it from side to side, massaging the back of her neck. ‘Sarah thought you would be a good replacement because you’re not in the industry. Less likely to try to shaft me. And she made a point of telling me you were engaged so I suppose she meant literally and figuratively.’

‘And I would never shaft you, professionally or personally,’ I promised, giving her a reassuring shoulder squeeze. ‘I know you’re rich and gorgeous and everything, but you are far too high maintenance. So not my type.’

Juliette choked out a laugh and made an agreeing noise in the back of her throat.

‘I genuinely am sorry,’ she said. ‘For treating you like a rent-a-friend then being so rude and leaving you behind. None of it was your fault.’

She placed her hand on top of mine and I let her. It didn’t feel like she was taking advantage of me, it felt like she was truly sorry.

‘Apology accepted,’ I said.

‘We make a good team,’ she declared, giving my hand a quick and decisive pat. ‘Any chance you’d reconsider the assistant job? I think we’d have fun. We’d get to hang out, go to cool places. I can get a private tour of Disneyland any day of the week, they even let me use the secret tunnels. What do you think?’

This was it. This was my chance to get out. Working for Juliette would take me all over the world, introduce me to all kinds of people. Events like the Crystal Ball would be ten a penny and every day would be glamorous and exciting and full of adventure. Maybe it wasn’t exactly what I wanted to do with my career and sure, I’d have to deal with more than my fair share of Aleisters and Andrews, but wouldn’t that be worth it? To escape?

All I had to do was say yes.

‘I’m sorry but no,’ I said, wincing as her face fell.

I couldn’t do it. Jumping into something that wasn’t right for me was the worst kind of running away, and I’d already said yes to someone when I wasn’t certain, and that had not gone well at all.

‘Your assistant isn’t someone to have fun with,’ I explained. ‘Your assistant is someone who works for you. What you’re talking about is a friend.’

‘Huh.’ Juliette sat up, cross-legged, and pulled a face. ‘You know, I’ve been meaning to get one of those. What do you reckon?’

‘It’s not as easy a job as people make it out to be,’ I warned. ‘You have to be brutally honest with each other.’

‘Down with that,’ she confirmed.

‘And always support the other person.’

‘Even when I think they’re being a dick?’

‘Especially when you think they’re being a dick.’