‘No. I didn’t. And I made bloody sure that nobody else did either.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Gerry is a horrible man, but like most men, he’ll listen to reason if you really spell it out to him. So I told Gerry that if he showed that photograph to a single person, if I even suspected that he’d showed it to anyone, then the world would find out about him and the granddaughter of a certain senior partner at Pennington and Blythe.’

‘My God.’

‘You see? Being a disgusting old gossip has its uses.’

‘What did he do?’

‘He deleted it, Chris. Right in front of my very eyes.’

‘You did that for me?’

‘Of course, darling. That’s what friends are for.’

‘I never know where you’re going to turn up next, Isabelle. Every time I look around, you seem to be there.’

‘Hello Maya.’

‘Welcome to LA, darling. I suppose it’s your first time.’

‘Yes, it is, actually. But I don’t suppose it’s yours. Daddy would have brought you.’

‘Of course. When I was in my teens, I lived out here with him for a while. Went to high school in Bel Air.’

‘How lovely for you. Which wife was he on then? Oh, look, here’s Mike. I’m sure you know Mike Christian. You know everyone. Mike, look, it’s Maya Rodean.’

‘Yeah.’ Mike barely looked at her. ‘Listen, sweets, we’re going over to the Chateau. You coming?’

‘Sure. Be with you in just a second. Old friend from London, you know. Catching up on all the gossip.’

‘Okay. Car’s waiting.’ Mike kissed the top of her head and walked away to join his famous friends.

‘You’re quite the rock star wife, aren’t you?’ said Maya.

‘I don’t know. You’re more familiar with the breed.’

‘Didn’t take you long, did it? First sniff of success and you’re out of London like a . . .’

‘What? Rat up a drainpipe?’

‘I was going to say a dog out of a trap, actually.’

‘You’re too sweet, Maya. So, how’s the new collection coming along? Any interest?’

‘Oh, didn’t you know? I’m doing an exclusive line for H&M.’

‘Congratulations, darling, that’s wonderful. All the great designers have done lines for H&M. Madonna. Kate Moss.’

‘And what about you, Isabelle? What have you got up your sleeve this time to amaze and delight us?’

‘I don’t know, really. I seem to have run out of ideas . . .’

‘That’s what I heard . . .’

‘Since I sold the entire spring/summer collection to Neiman – Marcus. Now I’ve got to come up with something new.’

Maya’s mouth was hanging open.