His cool ice-blue gaze swept over the information he clutched in his hand. “This is all bollocks! All cooked up by a former employee of Lulu’s team.”

He gave Lulu a crocodile smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You remember that strange girl we employed eighteen months ago? Simone Wales? I bet it’s her that’s been bleating a pack of lies to the press.”

He let out a dramatic snort. “I knew from day one she couldn’t be trusted, but Lulu is a little naïve and trusting when it comes to people. She always has been.”

“Can I see it, Seth?” pressed Lulu, ignoring the gentle verbal dig from her agent and craning her neck from her chair.

But Seth swept the papers into his other hand. “No need for you to bother yourself with all this, Lulu. I’ll deal with it.”

He stalked past Kerry and me and yanked the press room door open. “Thank you for coming, ladies.”

“But they only just got here,” blustered Lulu.

“They can ask you anything else about your work/life balance over the phone,” declared Seth with a shark-like grin. “We can schedule another conversation over the phone or on Zoom.”

He leant in to Lulu. “And don’t forget, you have that Radio 4 interview for Women’s Hour to pre-record today.”

Kerry and I swapped knowing, irritated looks and before we knew what was happening, we’d been bundled out of the door and were standing on the other side of it.

It slammed shut behind us.

“Lulu Stark is being manipulated,” I hissed to Kerry as we made our way back to my car. “By that slimy creep. She doesn’t have a clue what’s going on.”

Kerry turned around and squinted up at the heavy stone-built theatre glittering in the November light. “So, what do you suggest we do now?”

“You go back to your contact and see what else you and they can come up with. And I can do a bit of digging on our friendly, neighbourhood Seth Gordon, if that would help.”

“Oh, that would be brilliant,” she breathed. “Thanks.”

“It might also be worth making contact with this Simone Wales to get her side of the story. I bet it’s the complete opposite to what Seth Gordon is putting out there.”

The Friday afternoon sun was shifting across the windscreen as we prepared to make our return journey back to the office. “I think this has all the hallmarks of being one hell of a news story. A famous comedian, known for her ethical business practices, being manipulated by her agent.”

Kerry jerked her head towards the backseat where my bag was sitting. “Oh! I think that’s your phone ringing.”

I killed the engine and reached into the back seat for my phone. A number I didn’t recognise, flashed up on the screen.

“Ms Baxter? It’s Flynn Talbot.” His rumbly voice was guarded.