Confused, Hannah put the call on speaker and pulled up Ward’s socials. Sure enough, a video clip had been published across all platforms and, in the footage, Ward was holding a plank on his elbows and toes. Hard to tell from the background, but it looked like he was doing a one-on-one session with a trainer.

She watched, impressed, as he expertly held the pose for over a minute, barely breaking a sweat. Workout aside though, the video was an out and out thirst-trap. She couldn’t help but notice the muscles visible on his back under the cloth of his t-shirt. Or the careful sculpting of his biceps. Glutes aren’t bad, either, she noted, gulping a little. It was clear he was in great shape – and of course had spent a lot of time in his life taking care of himself.

But she wasn’t supposed to notice things like that.

Then a voice sounded off-camera – the person shooting the footage and Hannah was startled a little at the realization that his trainer was female. For some reason, guilty of a type of reverse sexism, she had automatically assumed that he was working out with a guy. That someone like Ward would only work out with another ‘bro’.

The off-camera trainer offered words of encouragement, and Hannah strained her ears, trying to listen closer to the voice, which was smooth, sultry and very definitely in control. Automatically she painted a mental picture of the woman she couldn’t see. Sexy, assured and in great shape – probably with six-pack abs too – and she didn’t know why this unsettled her. But before she could ponder it further, Zoe brought her squarely back to the present.

‘Hannah? You still there?’

Clearing her throat, she refocused.

‘Yes, sorry. Was just watching …’

‘I know, right? Proper thirst-trap. I’m actually shocked you didn’t have something to do with it.’ Which made Hannah jump to the thought that Ward’s trainer may well have been the brains behind the video. Fitspo influencer-type. ‘You know,’ Zoe continued, ‘if that’s the kind of messaging you’re going for – and let me tell you that I and the nation’s female population wholeheartedly agree – there’s a whole world of opportunities for you to run with.’

Hannah felt her attention redirect as her mind also churned with new possibilities. ‘Well, technically he’s still in recovery so it’s not like he can offer training clinics if that’s what you’re thinking …’ she mused.

‘How about a couple of live Q and As? He could answer fans’ questions about his fitness in real time. Talk about his approach and the challenges and setbacks he’s faced as he recovers from injury, how not to overdo it and stuff. Would really get people behind his journey back to fitness. You know how much the public loves recovery stories.’