Courtney wrinkled her nose sympathetically, which managed to make her look even more adorable. ‘That sucks. Tell you what – why don’t you crash at my new place while I’m in Europe? I’ll be gone for a few months and it’s pretty much ready to go, save for some last-minute construction tweaks, furniture deliveries and stuff. And I hate the idea that no one’s lived there for so long. Coming back to a space that’s been vacant for a while … the vibes are usually so wonky, you know?’

Hannah paused, unsure how to answer. On the one hand, a temporary place to stay while she got settled would be a lifesaver, but finances were an issue and there was no way she could afford the rent in that part of town.

‘Naturally,’ Courtney continued, ‘I’ll be paying you to house-sit – or apartment-sit, I guess,’ she grinned.

Which was how Hannah currently found herself (temporarily) living the dream in one of two top-floor apartments in a salubrious building on the Upper East Side. She let out a low whistle, impressed afresh at her surroundings. To be fair, the apartment’s original state must surely have been magnificent in itself – but soon after Courtney bought into the 72nd Street property, her manager had pronounced it ‘criminally unsuitable for his client’s aesthetic’.

From what little Hannah knew of the period, it seemed the interior designer had stayed true to the original pre-war architecture while giving it a glamorous mid-century modern flair. The original beams and columns were kept along with the solid floors, creating a nice sense of continuity between the old and the new. The walls were also painted white to provide a neutral backdrop for the newly installed fixtures.

Custom-built storage units meant there was ample space for the influencer’s quirky travel artefacts, art sculptures and photographs, but they also provided a warm, inviting touch. The wood grain blended seamlessly with the classic mouldings, columns and zig-zag walnut parquet flooring, creating a sense of subtle harmony between contemporary and traditional.

The bedroom Hannah would be using was also updated with modern features while still honouring the original period’s charm. A tufted headboard complete with LED lighting was installed to give the bed that luxurious boutique hotel feel, while the walls were painted in a muted shade of blue to create a tranquil atmosphere. A plush neutral carpet provided a soft, cosy touch.

This room alone was about the same size as her very first box-room apartment in Greenwich fifteen years ago when she’d first emigrated from then-recessionary Ireland as an unemployed young woman hoping to find a career path in the US. And now, after almost a decade in LA, she was once again starting over in New York. Not quite back at square one (at least she’d managed to hold onto her career, if not her reputation), though right now it sort of felt like it.