‘Is this actually what you want? To be working all the time?’ he asked.

‘No.’ She shook her head emphatically, tears pricking her own eyes now. ‘No, it’s not what I want.’

‘So why are you? You’ve been there long enough that you can tell Harry if it’s too much.’

‘It’s not too much,’ she said, her throat tightening at the thought that soon there would be even more work. If they won Miles’s account, like she was doing everything to ensure, it was going to get worse. ‘You make it sound like I’m not coping,’ she went on, ignoring this thought.

‘I’m not saying that,’ Nate sighed. ‘But if you haven’t got Coopers any more, what’s keeping you so bloody busy?’

‘It’s just—’ She broke off. ‘My other accounts are demanding,’ she lied. ‘It’s not like Coopers was the only one.’

‘That’s not what you’ve said in the past,’ he retorted, holding her gaze.

She looked away. She’d put more effort into the accounts she had left than she’d ever done before Bobby, but even they had slipped by the wayside since Monday. Part of her already thought it would be a good thing if they didn’t win Miles’s account, but at the same time she knew she wouldn’t be able to let that happen. She would have to do as much as she could to ensure they secured it, because otherwise she’d feel she’d failed herself.

But the truth was that in the last four weeks Laura could have spent fewer hours at work if she hadn’t tied herself in knots about proving her worth, or outstaying Mia.

‘I can make it better,’ she said. ‘I think I know how. You have to trust me.’

‘What are you talking about?’ he asked, resigned.

‘I spoke with someone where Mia used to work this week,’ she started. Perhaps when Laura could prove Mia wasn’t who she said she was, then she’d get Coopers back. And if that happened, she wouldn’t worry about this new account. Someone else could have it. Patrick could do it. ‘And she said that—’

‘Stop, Laura.’ Nate’s words were so quiet she wasn’t sure she heard them. ‘Just stop,’ he said again.

She looked at him, her mouth agape.

‘You’re obsessing over Mia,’ he said, turning on the sofa until he was facing her. ‘This is Saskia all over again.’

Laura reeled back. ‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘I know Mia’s taken my job for a reason. I know she has, Nate. She wanted my job and she made sure she got it.’