‘I was looking at your IMDb. Would you say your big break was playing Myfanwy in Still Waters?’

‘Most definitely. I was on it for five years and I’ll always be eternally grateful for the opportunity. People can be scathing about soap operas – they think they’re somehow second-rate. But that’s just snobbery. I learned my craft on that show. It was bloody hard work.’

Lana always said this when asked about Still Waters. But the real reason they’d kept her on for so long was because she was sleeping with the Executive Producer. And the reason they sacked her was because she stopped. Sleeping with him.

‘Now I heard a rumour …’ said Ryan with a sly grin.

Uh-oh, here we go, she thought.

‘… that you were having an affair with Paul Durrant, the top guy.’

She was always prepared for this one, and she smiled her effervescent, charming and well-practised smile. ‘Oh Ryan, y’know you really shouldn’t listen to gossip.’

‘But I’m a gossip columnist!’ he retorted, laughing. He wasn’t giving up.

‘Really? And there’s me thinking you were a highly professional, highly trained and intelligent journalist.’

Touché. He was letting this one go. For now.

‘So d’you ever go back to your homeland, Lana? Ogi ogi ogi an’ all that boyo?’

Dear God, she thought, and smiled.

‘Yes, as often as I can. I’m going back on Sunday, as it goes. For my god-daughter’s christening.’

Why did she tell him that? Never talk personal life, Lana!

‘Really? You don’t strike me as the religious type.’

‘She’s the daughter of my best friend. It’s an honour to be asked, don’t you think?’

That’s right, push it back on to him.

‘Of course. And how d’you handle those kinds of events back home? Is everyone clamouring for a photo? Must be so difficult being the famous friend!’

‘Nah, no one’s bothered about all that stuff. They just think of me as good old Lana. I’m pretty ordinary when it comes down to it.’

‘Ordinary like the people back home?’

She hesitated. God, this guy’s a prick, she thought. ‘What d’you mean?’ she asked, still smiling. But Ryan Pearman had moved on.

‘Do you ever regret not having children yourself?’

The fucking nerve of this man. ‘Well, I’m only thirty-seven, Ryan, still a spring chicken.’

‘Ah! And do you have someone in mind? To be Daddy, as it were? Seeing as you’re single again …?’

She sighed inwardly, and smiled at him again. ‘Shall we talk more about the show?’

‘Of course!’ he said smoothly. ‘So, this part you’re playing in Devil May Care …’

‘It’s share. Devil May Share.’

‘Sorry. So this part you’re playing, this sex-addicted bad ass – how much of the real Lana Lloyd is in the role?’

‘Well, nothing. Because she’s a fictitious character.’

‘So you don’t enjoy sex then?’ he laughed.

And she laughed too, to disguise how pissed off she was. ‘Ryan, you’re starting to get on my tits now, babe!’

‘Chance would be a fine thing,’ he smiled back.