Mia held her breath as she scribbled some notes, willing the conversation to be over soon, as she waited to see if her mum would call straight back or leave a message. Mia had only been in the office an hour – what was so important that she was calling so early?

By the time she put the phone down she noticed Patrick striding across the floor towards the boardroom and knew she didn’t have time to call back. Harry’s meeting was due to start and she couldn’t be late. She was up first, updating the rest of the directors on how the campaign was going; and today, more than ever, she needed to be on the ball, now that Laura was back. Now there was someone, Mia felt, who was going to be watching her carefully.

That night in the pub, a few rounds down, Henrietta had grabbed Mia’s arm and leaned in, slurring into her ear, presumably to be heard over the loud chatter, ‘I’m pleased you’re staying, but I know someone who won’t be.’

Mia had raised her eyes questioningly, even though she knew who Henrietta was alluding to.

‘Laura Denning. I have to say, I’m bloody surprised he’s done it.’

‘Who’s done what?’ Mia had asked.

‘Harry. Given you that account. Everyone knows it’s Laura’s baby. And Harry and Laura, you know – their past.’

Mia nodded. She’d heard the whispers, and Henrietta’s delight in telling her that something had once gone on between Harry and Laura. How did she know this, Mia had asked her? Someone once said, apparently. The usual. No one could really say for sure, and she wouldn’t make any judgements until she saw anything for herself, though if they were as close as everyone was saying, it did make Mia wonder how it was going to pan out, now that Laura was back.

Mia quickly gathered her notes and picked up her mobile, following Patrick to the boardroom. ‘Laura’s back,’ she called out when she had almost caught up with him. Patrick had barely spoken about Laura in her absence; everything Mia had gleaned about her had come from the women she had befriended.

‘Yes, I saw,’ Patrick said, his face shadowing briefly, making Mia wonder if he too couldn’t imagine how this was going to work out.

‘It’ll be nice to get to know her,’ she said breezily. ‘I’ve heard so much about her.’

‘I’m sure,’ Patrick replied. He wasn’t taking the bait.

‘About how good she is, I mean,’ Mia went on, annoyed that he could put her in the same camp as the others. She might listen to the gossip, but she didn’t spread it.

Patrick nodded. ‘So how’s it going anyway?’ he asked as he held the door open for her. ‘Everything under control?’