She turned to chat to a group of Jack’s work colleagues, the new ones, the stalwart few long-timers like Charlie Forster and a couple of others who’d been with them for several years. She greeted Charlie with a smile and a kiss on both cheeks. ‘It’s been a while,’ she said, looking around for his wife. ‘Zara not here?’

Charlie shook his head. ‘Didn’t Jack tell you? We split up. About six months ago.’

Colour flared in Molly’s cheeks. ‘I’m so sorry, I didn’t know, Jack never said.’ Suddenly claustrophobic, she pointed towards the garden. ‘It’s very warm in here, I’ll go and open the back door.’

Molly pushed the French doors open and stepped into the chilly night, feeling immediate relief. Why hadn’t Jack told her about Charlie and Zara? He should have warned her. How damn embarrassing. She’d return and apologise, but it was a couple of minutes before her body temperature returned to normal. Bloody hormones. She flicked her hair, pinned a smile in place and headed back into the party.

She looked around for Charlie and saw him in the far corner of the room deep in conversation with Jack, their heads together, both looking serious. Talking shop, Molly guessed. She’d give them a few minutes, then go and drag them apart before more of their colleagues joined in and it ended up being a work meeting. She wondered what happened between Charlie and Zara. Maybe Jack was giving him a pep talk. She hoped so. She liked Charlie, he was one of those people who brightened a room when he walked in and unlike some financial types, didn’t take himself too seriously.

Not like another of the long-timers, Stuart Mercer, who was making a beeline for her, a crooked smile on his lips that she guessed he thought made him look interesting. It didn’t; he was handsome in a bland, forgettable way, the twisted smile made him look as if he’d swallowed something unpleasant. She hoped her social smile didn’t look too false as she greeted him. ‘Hi Stuart, I thought you were still in Hong Kong.’

‘No, thank goodness,’ Mercer said. ‘I’ve been London-based now for a few months. Hong Kong lost its magic after the first year, to be honest. I’ve had a promotion; it’ll keep me here for the foreseeable.’