‘I’m sorry. I needed you to know, and I won’t be around for a while.’ A sob wracked Sophie’s body, and I wrapped her tighter in my arms. ‘Just try to leave it alone for this weekend, okay? Try to enjoy your hen, and just let them have their stupid mini break. If you talk to Mum on the phone, she’s going to try to deny it. You’re better off waiting until you see her.’

Tears were rolling down her cheeks, wreaking havoc with her make-up. I got a tissue from my bag and dabbed at her eyes. I went to put my coat around her naked shoulders, but I knew if I stayed any longer, everything would start to unravel.

‘Sophie, I have to go. I love you so much.’

She grabbed hold of me. ‘No, Rachel! Please don’t leave me with all of this shit.’ She looked up at me, eyes full. ‘You’re the only one I can trust.’ She paused. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.’

It took all the strength I had to untangle myself from her.

‘I’m sorry, too,’ I said. ‘For all of it.’ I put my hand on my heart. ‘You’re always here. You always will be.’

I broke away, half running up the dizzying loops of the metal stairs, icy tears freezing on my cheeks like stalactites. Then I cut through the crowds on Charlotte Street, pulling out my phone in the crush. Amber answered on the first ring.

‘It’s done,’ I said. ‘Now we just have to wait for Monday.’

LILY

I woke up on Monday morning and finally let myself exhale. It was a relief to be back in my own bed, even though I’d never have admitted it to Nick: I pretended that I adored the hushed luxury of our Parisian suite, that I’d loved sipping champagne out of elegant coupe glasses and sucking oysters from their shells. The truth was, it felt like we were performers in a dodgy am-dram production of a Noël Coward play, the set wobbling, our lines hard to recall. All I could do was silently seethe about Amber, about the way she’d stolen my most important role from me. I barely cared about my business now, and celebrating Nick’s financial triumph felt tasteless. I was Rachel’s mother. I had no idea it was a job I could be fired from, a job where a new recruit could slip into my seat.