Grace nodded. ‘I know you’re right. He won’t do the right thing unless it suits him, or if it makes him look good, or so he can be the big important guy. I just don’t know how I didn’t see it. I’m so mad at myself.’

‘You didn’t see it because he didn’t want you to see it. He paints this glowing, exciting, positive picture of himself, and he projected that at you for a long time. That’s how he gets money out of people to invest in his businesses, too. It’s an art form.’

Grace sighed. ‘I felt so sad this morning, sending Daisy to school with a little backpack with her clothes, her favourite teddy bear, her toothbrush . . . it’s not how I imagined things turning out.’

Mel reached over and patted Grace’s arm. ‘It’s hard. But you know that Lawrence will take care of Daisy over the weekend, in his own way.’

Grace nodded. ‘He’d better,’ she said tensely.

When the waitress brought their coffees they sat quietly for a moment, sipping their drinks, and Grace started to relax, and decided to change the subject.

‘Hey, did I tell you I’m meeting with the guy I really want to direct the filming for the Bali job?’ she said. ‘He’s a cinematographer, and he’s technically smart and very creative. He’s won some major awards.’

‘Wow, he sounds great – but also expensive and in demand. Is he available? And no offence, but if he’s on the up and up, why would he want to do a hotel ad campaign?’ Mel raised an eyebrow questioningly.

‘Well, I hope he’ll be available, and that I’ll be able to persuade him!’ Grace said with a grin. ‘I can only try. He was in Bali a while back doing a documentary and loves the place, apparently. The Aussie guy who runs the bars and entertainment at the Kamasan, Andy Franklin, knows him and told me he thought Steve would jump at the chance to go back there. So I’ve outlined the brief, the creative approach, emailed him some mood boards to show him how I see the emotion, the energy, the lighting, the vibrancy, and the colours. This isn’t your average hotel campaign; this will be something special. A challenge. I’m hoping that’ll be enough to tempt him – and that he’ll have space in his schedule to fit it in.’

‘Do you know what he’d be like to work with?’ Mel asked.

‘No, but I know his cinematic style and that’s important. He’s an influencer, sets the trends, plus he’s worked with big-name stars and with big budgets. It’s lucky he just happens to be in town between jobs.’

Melanie thanked the waitress when she came to clear their empty coffee cups, then asked Grace, ‘What exactly is your job title these days?’

‘I’m Chief Creative Officer at large of The Carson Agency, responsible for the overall look and feel of the marketing, media and all branding connected to the client,’ said Grace.