Had James walked past this very fountain this morning? His feet treading where hers did now? Maybe he wasn’t at the studio—he’d said their project was coming to an end. Perhaps he’d finished it and would be moving on to new things, preparing to expose more injustice in the world.

She slipped through the revolving door and her shoes tapped softly on the tiled floor.

The receptionist looked up as she approached. “Good morning.”

“Hi. I’m supposed to collect a staff badge and head to Studio Four.” Megan handed over her driving licence.

“Yes, of course.” The receptionist smiled, revealing brilliant white teeth. She plucked a small clip-on laminated badge from a drawer. “Here you go. It doesn’t have to be visible at all times but you should have it with you whenever you are in the building.”

“Okay, thanks.” Megan slipped the badge into her purse.

“Round to the left then follow the signs.”

“Thanks. Have a nice day.”

“You too.”

Megan headed in the direction she’d gone in the day before. She had bags in each hand and her jacket looped over her arm. As she walked past the canteen she peered through the window. Was James in there?

Her gaze naturally landed on the table they’d sat at when sharing lunch—the one with the nice views over the studio garden. It was empty. The chairs at angles, as though someone had not long since left and hadn’t bothered to push them in.

Suddenly the door was pushed open, and two men, talking loudly appeared before her.

One of them was James.

Her breath caught in her throat and her peripheral vision blurred slightly.

She’d been looking for him, yes, but she hadn’t expected him to appear before her in such a burst of activity.

He glanced at her then back again, his eyes widening and his jaw slackening for a brief moment. Then his eyes narrowed and his mouth became a tight line.

The man with him held the canteen door open and looked at Megan. “Are you going in?” he asked with a smile.

“I…er…no.” Megan considered him. He was tall and slim with blond hair slightly curled around his ears. He wore a checked red shirt over a white T-shirt and his jeans were ripped on the right knee.

“What are you doing here?” James asked, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets.

The hard tone of his voice served only to increase the weight in Megan’s belly. She really had blown it with him.

He hated her.

She couldn’t blame him.

“I’ve got more appearances on Ralph and Jayne. Fashion stuff, this season’s must-haves, bridal, that kind of thing…” Her tongue felt tangled around the words. The skin on her brow prickled.

“You know each other?” the man with James said, letting the canteen door shut with a quiet whoosh.