She’d gone to join him at the window, gazing up the avenue. ‘Because the Guggenheim is here and they won’t move it to Wisconsin. Simple. It’s a huge commission.’

‘I meant here – in the hotel.’

‘Ah,’ she’d replied. ‘Well, that’s trickier. He likes to live in the same place he works. A suite this big allows for that. And I guess it really shouldn’t, but an office at the Plaza gives him sway with serious people. Money people. They love coming here. And you can’t build a thing unless you’ve got them on your side. But I can promise you this much: if anybody wants to work with Mr Wright, that’s all they’ve got to think about – the work. Here, look at this –’ She went and rapped her knuckles on the lacquered backrest of a chair. ‘It’s plywood. Cheap as hell. It’s not about how much it costs. It’s all about the value, what it offers. Stick around for long enough, he might explain it to you.’

‘Yeah, I’m trying.’

‘Tell you what, I’m going to speak to Edgar – see if he knows how much longer the old man will be.’

‘All right. Thanks.’ He’d lingered by the window.

‘Are you sure that you don’t want a cup of coffee?’ she’d said, on her way. ‘I’m feeling like an awful hostess.’

‘I’m sure you’ve better things to do than wait on me.’

‘Actually, right now, I don’t. I’m kind of in between instructions.’ But she hadn’t even reached the throughway to the office. In a blur, the Wrights had stridden through the door with their bouquets; she’d had to step aside to let them past.

She loomed nearby until they finished talking. ‘Mr Wright, you didn’t have to go around the block again. Your florist said she’d send them over.’

‘Yes,’ the great man answered, ‘but I have to see them out in front of me to make the best selection.’

‘Aren’t they wonderful?’ said Mrs Wright.

‘They’re gorgeous,’ Alice said. ‘I’ll make a start on the arrangements right away.’ She collected all the bunches into one big armload.

‘I hoped you’d say that. We’ve got lunch with Haskell in a moment and they’ll spoil.’

‘Olgivanna has been telling everybody what you did with those hydrangeas,’ Mr Wright said. ‘They were splendid. Now you’ve got a reputation to uphold. Your secret’s out.’

‘I’ll see if I can go one better for you this time,’ Alice said. She laid all the bouquets upon the dining table. ‘Welcome back. How was Falaise?’

‘Productive, but a little tedious.’ Mr Wright took off his coat and draped it on the armchair with his hat. ‘Is no one answering the phones?’

‘I’ll see to those,’ his wife said.

‘Thank you, dear. Tell Edgar that I’d like to see him, please.’

She kissed him on the cheek and ambled off. ‘I didn’t find it tedious at all.’

And it was then, as Mrs Wright was heading for the office down the hall, that she caught sight of Charlie. ‘Oh, I didn’t see you there. Good afternoon,’ she said, and nodded in a friendly sort of way as she breezed past him.