Liv pressed a hand to the wall to steady herself. The urgency in his voice made her think her pretenses had been discovered. “Um, yes?”

He lowered his voice even further. “I’ve read Essie’s first chapters and I’m confused,” he said. “Her writing is...different.”

Liv felt her earlier confidence ebbing away and found it tricky to meet his eyes. “Essie wrote them very quickly,” she said, thinking how feeble it sounded.

“It’s fresher.”

“What?” Liv lifted her chin. “It is?”

Marlon nodded. “It reminds me of Essie’s first couple of books. She was good but still finding her way as a writer. Her work had raw edges but shone. These chapters read like she’s falling in love with Georgia again.”

Liv could see how Georgia’s decline had been mirrored by Essie’s own. She was helping both women back onto their feet, and could feel Georgia’s personality shining through, in the manuscript and within herself. “I actually think she’s doing that,” she said.

“Will you tell her what I said? Spur her on?” Marlon said. “Come on, let’s eat.”

When Liv followed him to the dining table, she wore a Cheshire cat grin, feeling her work had his stamp of approval.

Laughter tinkled around the huge table and Liv heard several accents she couldn’t place. Marlon waved a hand to announce their presence, and fifteen pairs of eyes pivoted toward them.

“I’m afraid Essie can’t join us tonight,” Marlon boomed. “However, we’re blessed with the company of her delightful assistant, Liv.”

Several smiles around the table stiffened.

She stood helplessly until Meg circled a finger in the air. “Livvy, do join me.”

Liv gratefully sank into a chair next to her.

“Poor Essie. Don’t let it spoil your fun,” Meg said. “You did tremendously well today. We won’t need you or Essie on the stand tomorrow, so you can have a little rest.”

Waiters began to glide into the room, carrying plates at shoulder level. The maître d’ announced each course as if he was an esteemed Lord Mayor making a decree.

An entrée looked like a small egg set on a spoon, but passionfruit exploded on Liv’s tongue when she bit into it. Wow, she thought. She chased a tiny pink ball around her plate with a fork. A culinary meal with Jake and the boys was a Five Guys hot dog and fries. She stared at her rows of knives and forks and had no idea which ones to use.

“I’m so excited for Book Twenty,” Meg said, as she poured Liv a glass of champagne. “I’m intrigued to know your thoughts about it, darling, as a beta reader.”