She poured herself a green tea which always calmed her then went back to her desk, praying that she’d see a return message from James.

Nothing.

There was only one thing for it. She’d call him.

She did just that, strutting the width of the room and back as it rang.

Voicemail.

“For crying out loud.” She dropped her phone onto her desk, rougher than she’d intended but luckily it survived. “What is the matter with men?”

“Megan, Megan, are you in there?”

A sharp knock at the door made Megan’s heart trip. But it was a woman’s voice. Enid.

“Yes, hang on.” Quickly she opened the door.

Enid shuffled in, loaded down with what appeared to be a large shopping bag. “I thought I’d come in early, sort through that design filing cabinet. I’ve brought some dividers and spacers, get it all alphabetical and neat.”

Megan stuck her head out of the door, glanced left and right—no one in sight—then shut it again, flicking the lock too.

She was sure she’d never forget to secure a door again. She’d likely always be bracing herself to step outside too, in case Dylan was there.

“You okay, dear?” Enid asked, placing the bags near the second desk.

“Yes, fine.” Far from it. “But I might be going away for a while.” Am I? Yes. She was. She needed to.

Dylan had pushed her too far. She felt hunted, hounded, how the hell would she concentrate on the new designs she had stacking up in her imagination?

Plus James’ lack of communication had worn down her already fragile confidence and trust in men.

It was time to take a break.

Far away.

Didn’t matter where.

She just had to get out of there.

Her legs twitched at the thought. Excitement pounded through her.

“Oh, where are you going?” Enid looked surprised.

“Abroad, to the sun.” She hoped. But in all honesty, it didn’t matter. She’d take an igloo at the moment as long as it was away from London. “Do you think you’ll be able to manage without me? I know you haven’t been here long but…”

“Well yes, I’m sure it will all be fine. And you’ll be at the end of the phone if I need you, won’t you, dear?”

“Absolutely, of course.” She nodded and grabbed her phone. She held it up and smiled, hoping to instil confidence in the one person Winter Shoes needed most at the moment. Because the way her brain was, she was fried.

“That’s okay then.” Enid smiled in a motherly way. “You take your time, I’ve got plenty to be getting on with and those suppliers need chasing up, as do those high street orders.”

Damn she’d forgotten about them. “Yes, yes of course.”