‘How about this?’ she cut him off amiably. ‘I’ll come down to the loading bay or wherever your truck is parked, and take a quick look. I’m sure it’s the right stuff; I’m not questioning the quality or workmanship. I simply want to do my due diligence, just as I’m sure you always want to do a good job for your clients, yes?’

‘Yeah, yeah, whatever. OK. Follow me,’ he said as he started to stomp off, his footfalls landing hard on the hallway floor, all the while steadfastly refusing to use his indoor voice. Assuming he had one. ‘Just so you know though, the cargo area of this place ain’t as fancy as the parts you people use.’

You people. ‘Like I said, I’m just the house-sitter.’ Since he believed that she was one of the building’s well-heeled residents, Hannah hoped that this explanation might help level the playing field a little.

She dutifully followed behind, getting into the service elevator at the other end of the hallway and riding it down and out back to the building’s loading area, whereupon he led her to a large truck with the same company logo emblazoned on its side. Upon instruction, another member of the work crew duly removed a covering to reveal the marble underneath. Hannah turned her phone’s flashlight on, looked at the work order on the clipboard and then glanced at the picture she’d screenshot earlier, comparing it to what she was seeing now.

All checked out and the stone looked even better in real life, richer in texture and tone, and so unbelievably soft and luxurious to the touch.

Confirming as much to the foreman, she thanked him again for allowing her to confirm and that all was good to go. She signed the delivery docket, then got out of the truck, took the elevator back up to the penthouse floor, and propped the door of P-2 fully open to allow the team access in and out.

And as she did, Hannah spied another note on the ground. Her heart fled to her throat, hoping that it wasn’t another complaint from Ed prompted by the loud-mouthed foreman at the door just now.

Good to hear that the building work is finally over. I personally don’t believe in upgrades if everything works just fine as it is. But that’s me.

Hannah smiled, exhaling in relief that the message was cordial. Even if he couldn’t resist adding in one of his typically ornery remarks.

While the marble guys did their thing, she took her laptop into the bedroom, taking the opportunity to catch up on email and other work stuff while she waited and, more pertinently, attempt to make a start on a more coherent strategy for Ward McKenzie’s grand transformation.