‘Your family, your little girl . . . they are okay?’

‘Yes, thank you,’ Gracie said, smiling to try to reassure her. ‘It’s just business, Sri, but thank you, they’re fine.’

Hands shaking, Grace sent a text to Johnny and then to Andy, saying she had been recalled urgently. She decided against alerting Steve and the crew that she might be off the job until matters were settled.

Half an hour later, Grace jumped in the villa van as her driver, Putu, put her bags in the boot. She was on the phone booking her airline ticket. There had been no reply from either Andy or Johnny.

At the airport she thanked a worried-looking Putu, checked in and went through immigration to the VIP departure area, showing her Kamasan credentials. With her boarding pass in her hand, Grace sat and tried to clear her head.

She debated about sending her mother a message. She didn’t want to alarm her, or have her jump in the car and drive the hour or more to the airport to collect her. Grace was so distracted that she didn’t notice two figures approaching her table until they were right beside her. Moving to lift her carry-on luggage out of their way, she looked up.

Andy was grinning at her. ‘Where do you think you’re going, missy?’

Johnny was standing next to him. She was stunned to see them. Of course only Johnny would wield enough influence to get into the departure lounge as a non-passenger, she thought. She couldn’t help smiling at his white suit, dark glasses and purple silk shirt.

Grace decided there was not a lot left to lose and that honesty was the best policy. ‘Trouble at the agency, unfortunately. The chairman, Spencer Campbell, wants to take me off the job. I have my suspicions as to why, but I don’t think it would be very professional of me to repeat them. Let’s just say that he’s offered me an ultimatum – work under his lead on the Kamasan project from Sydney or take on our agency’s least-popular project. Don’t worry, I’m flying there now to fight for this, even though Spencer has apparently already advised Farrouk Eljoffrey that I am off the job.’

‘So I heard,’ said Johnny dryly. ‘Farrouk called me. I had to ask, who the hell is this Spencer?’

Grace gave a crooked smile.

‘Anyway, after Farrouk told me, I said, fire this Spencer bastard and withdraw the account from The Carson Agency. How dare they try to take Grace away from us.’ Johnny was obviously used to dealing with bigger fish than the likes of Spencer, Grace thought. ‘I advise you to quit and then we’ll hire you directly,’ he added.

Grace’s heart skipped a beat, but reality quickly set in. ‘I’d like nothing more, but my contract would prevent it. Also, the agency will never allow their biggest account to walk away. Never.’