Eventually the team began to murmur appreciative thoughts and ask questions, and for a moment Laura couldn’t keep up with whether or not they actually liked what they’d seen.

‘Well, that’s amazing, everyone,’ Mia was saying. ‘I’m so thrilled you all love it, and I’m really excited to get started on the filming.’

Laura glanced up as everyone appeared to be shuffling papers together, tidying phones away. That was it? No one had even asked for her opinion? Had she actually been passed over, like she wasn’t even sitting there?

Laura cleared her throat, because she was going to speak anyway. ‘You know, I can see what you’re suggesting here, Mia, and I like how brave you’re being.’

Mia smiled back at her. ‘Thanks, Laura,’ she said as she got up.

Laura’s pulse raced. She could point out the mistake in private; she didn’t have to embarrass Mia, but the fact was that she was embarrassed. All the hard work she’d put into growing this client, and no one gave a shit about what she thought of their biggest campaign yet.

‘But to be totally honest, I’m unsure how this will actually work on TV.’ She raised her voice a little. ‘It could be advertising anyone – the viewer might remember the products, but I don’t see how they’ll recall the brand.’

‘It’s a fair point,’ Tess chimed in. ‘But I think it’s fine, it can be worked in.’

Mia smiled her thanks at Tess.

‘And the actual filming of the ad,’ Laura went on, because she was not going to be passed off so easily. ‘Of course it will be a lot cheaper filming it outdoors and out of season, as you say.’

Mia nodded. ‘That’s why I went with this idea.’

‘Only I don’t see where you’ve accounted for the weather. I mean if it rains, which of course it could – I assume you’ve factored in weather insurance somewhere?’

Mia froze as she stared at Laura, her mouth parting as if she were about to speak but didn’t know what to say.

Of course she hadn’t factored in any insurance, because it would have been in the budgets. Now members of the team had begun murmuring, and while Laura was certain Mia had never run a TV campaign before, she began to wonder why exactly Harry thought Mia was more suitable to look after the campaign than she was? It really wouldn’t hurt one bit, she decided, to let Harry know when she next saw him.

Mia’s lips moved but no words came out, and Bryony was furiously flicking through her notes, but Laura knew she wouldn’t find the answer.

She decided to put Mia out of her misery as Tess asked, ‘So how much would this cost?’

‘Well,’ Laura said, ‘you’ll need to add another twenty per cent to your budget.’