Henrietta:Laura tried to maintain everything was all right between her and Harry, but after that I didn’t think it was. I didn’t see how it could be. You see, Laura always had Harry’s ear and now suddenly he wasn’t listening to her. I think we all expected that as soon as Laura returned, she’d somehow manage to talk him round, and Mia would be gone. None of us wanted that, of course. Everyone likes Mia, but all the same I could see where Laura would be coming from, if she had started demanding her job back.
     It’s not that I don’t like her, you know. I hope that’s not how it’s coming across, it’s just Laura is – she’s not as easy-going as Mia to get along with. Mia’s so much easier to work for. She doesn’t mind stopping and chatting, for a start; not like Laura, who’s always checking her watch if she wants something from you.

Marlow:You were saying about Laura and Harry?

Henrietta:Sorry? Oh, right, yes. The point is, Laura never did get her way with Harry, did she? Because Mia is still working there.

Marlow:Did you notice any other changes around Laura in the last two months?

Henrietta:Apart from the fact she’s always working, even though she has that young baby at home? Mind you, that’s no different from the way she always was, but with a child – you know? You’d have thought she would have cut back. I feel sorry for her husband.

Marlow:Nathan Denning?

Henrietta:That’s right. I thought we might see him at Harry’s party last week, but that was another odd thing. He didn’t show.
     I did say to someone at the party that I was worried about Laura. I remember doing that. Before everything kicked off, I mean. I said I hope she’s okay, because she certainly wasn’t looking it by then.

Chapter Six

Two months before the fire

Mia knew this was not going to be an easy conversation, but it was one she had to get out of the way. Yet as Laura’s eyes bored through her, she began to wonder whether it would be easier to sidestep the woman and pretend she was heading for the lift. Any earlier confidence was rapidly evaporating.

‘Hi again, Laura, I’ve moved my things.’ Mia gestured a hand in the direction of the desk she had just vacated.

‘Okay. Great. Thanks,’ Laura said awkwardly and then, appearing to pull herself together, she added, ‘I hear you’re continuing to run with the TV campaign for the time being.’

‘Yes. That’s right.’ Mia smiled at her, as warmly as she could muster when the anger bubbling off Laura was almost palpable.