Grace ended the call and started to shake. What else could possibly go wrong in her life? How could she lose this job, right at a time when she needed money more desperately than ever before? Damn Lawrence. Damn Spencer. She felt tears spring to her eyes. What were the odds of her mother putting those pictures up online for her friends, and someone spotting them? She wouldn’t mention it to Tina; she’d only feel bad about it. Quickly, Grace opened her laptop again and checked her bank account: with the money she had left from selling the jewellery, she had a small safety net.

She stood up and was going to have a shower when her phone rang. It was Allison again.

‘That was quick. Good news or bad?’

‘Sorry, Grace. Bad, I’m afraid. It seems Spencer has already notified the CEO of Masari Group International that you have been taken off the account.’

‘What? How dare he! Spencer, that nasty little jerk, doesn’t even have the decency to speak to me first.’

‘I know. He expects you to work back here under his lead and with his ideas or else he’s assigning you to production on the Clementine account. I’m really sorry, Grace,’ said Alli miserably.

Grace chewed her lip, thinking hard. She knew everyone hated working for the Clementine people. It was the account equivalent of the poisoned chalice.

‘You still there, Grace? Is there anything I can do?’

Grace felt the well of anger that had been growing in her since she’d seen Chef Emile attacking the young chef the previous day harden into steely determination. She would fight this all the way. It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right. She would no longer let things like this happen without pushing back – not for any reason. She said, ‘Not for the moment. But there’s no way I’m working under Spencer on anything. Especially this Kamasan project. Thanks for the alert, Alli.’

After a shower and taking her time to get dressed and gather her thoughts, Grace sat with a cup of coffee, her breakfast untouched.

Her phone beeped again. She saw it was a text from Spencer.

I am advised that you are less than happy at the prospect of working under my leadership on the MGI/Kamasan project. That is a shame, but get used to the idea as it begins now. MGI have been advised accordingly. Be back in my office in 24 hours with my Kamasan brief . . . Spencer.

The speed of this response shocked Grace, but this was the final nail in the coffin. She found the situation, and the way Spencer had handled it, unacceptable. There has to be a showdown, she decided. She would fly home and deal with this immediately.

Grace called Sri, who hurried in, looking concerned.

‘I have to pack and fly back to Sydney. Can you help me, please, Sri. I have to book a flight.’