Mia felt drained when she pulled up to the bungalow that night. One day of Laura being back and Mia was not only managing the TV campaign workload, but now had to manage Laura’s resentment of her too. On top of that, she’d had to carve out time for Sarah Clifton, who was increasingly reaching the point where she wanted to make a formal complaint against Mike Lewis for harassment, and Mia needed to be there for her. As the only one who knew what was going on, she’d promised she’d be by Sarah’s side every step, but right now juggling all three things wasn’t easy.

Clutching her Gucci bag to her chest, she checked the road with the broken street lamps before stepping out of the car and up to the front door. It was the smartest door in the street. The only one that had been freshly painted and cared for, and the pale green stood out among the others, just like the small neatly mown patch of lawn beside the driveway did.

Sticking her key in the lock, Mia took a deep breath and held it for a moment before turning the key and pushing the door open. She never knew what was awaiting her on the other side of it and always entered with a sense of apprehension.

But tonight the TV was humming in the background and the smell of roast chicken drifted from the kitchen, and there was nothing that raised an alarm. Her pulse was already starting to slow as she stepped in and called out with feigned joviality, ‘Hi, Mum, I’m home.’

In the kitchen her mum turned and smiled at her, wiping a hand across the plastic Bisto apron she’d had since Mia was a child. ‘Long day, was it?’

Mia nodded and gave her mum a kiss on the cheek. Today had been long, though there were some days when she lingered in the office later than she needed to. She would never dare tell her mum that, however. Even though she would probably understand that being anywhere but inside these four walls was a breath of fresh air.

Mia wondered whether she’d continue to feel that way, now Laura was back. She’d enjoyed the last six months; Morris & Wood had felt like a comfort blanket in some ways. It was a shame things had to change, but change they must, and at least Mia had the Woods’ party in her sights.

‘I do so wish it wasn’t there you were working, though,’ her mum sighed.

‘I know you do, Mum.’