‘Need a lift?’ someone called out and she jumped, before realizing the voice was familiar. It was Greg. She leaned down, looked into the car.

‘I thought it was you,’ he said, smiling. ‘I can take you to the office? You’re not walking all the way, are you?’ He glanced at the clock on his dashboard. ‘You’re early! We’re not meeting until eleven.’

He meant the PR event. She thought quickly. ‘I was actually going to see a friend first. In Westminster.’

‘Let me give you a lift.’

‘I’m OK. Fancy the walk.’

‘Sure? It’s no trouble.’

She looked at him, trying to see behind the smile. Who was he? Could she trust him? The cars behind Greg were beeping their horns and, agitated, Kate didn’t know what to do.

Greg looked in his rear-view mirror. ‘I’m in the way. Just jump in a sec, will you, and I’ll pull over up there.’ He nodded to further up the road. ‘I can give you a copy of the press release to look at. I think it’s good, but we won’t send it out until you’re happy.’

The driver in the car behind was doing one long continuous beep and, under pressure, she got into Greg’s car. ‘Thanks,’ she said as she did up her seat belt, putting her bag at her feet. As they drove off, it suddenly occurred to her it was a coincidence, seeing Greg there, and she said as much.

‘It’s my usual route in,’ he said. ‘I live in Dulwich. Always cross the river here, then I’m practically at the office.’

It was true; it was the easiest route for him to take.

He smiled at her. ‘You look well. Tanned. Been away?’

‘Er . . . yes. I took your holiday.’

He laughed delightedly. ‘You did? And how was it?’

Caught, she wondered whether to tell him she’d changed the destination. Something made her not do so. ‘Lovely. Sunny!’

‘The hotel?’

‘Wonderful.’

‘I’ve stayed there myself. It’s amazing. Simone still working on the desk?’

She faltered. ‘Yes . . .’

‘Lovely lady. Can’t do enough for you.’

Kate did a small laugh, which she hoped served to acknowledge Simone’s top-notch hospitality.

Was he looking at her sceptically or was she imagining it? She tried to smile it off. An awkward moment that was blessedly interrupted by her phone ringing. It was Iris.

‘Hi, everything OK?’ asked Kate.

‘Everything’s fine. I had to ring, I got something in the post this morning.’ Iris sounded excited, tense. ‘The hotel wrote to me – you know, where we stayed in Anguilla . . .’ Kate’s heart skipped a beat and she avoided looking at Greg. Iris continued. ‘A very polite, very apologetic letter, saying they were extremely sorry, it was most unusual for this to happen, and assuring me of their utmost commitment to high-quality service, and so on and so on.’

‘Go on,’ prompted Kate.

‘They’d been handed an envelope to pass to me before we left – and they hadn’t done it. Got put in the wrong pigeonhole or something. So, they posted it.’