The effects of the vodka have worn off now, and it doesn’t appear that Brad has tried to drug me … yet. I’m in dire need of another lift. I’m running on fumes now. I don’t even know when I last ate.

I purposely turn my back to the mirror in the lift because I don’t really want to see myself right now, and I’m amused but not surprised that Brad uses the thirty seconds or so until we reach his floor to check himself out.

What exactly does he want from me?

Someone like him – good-looking, money, flash hotel – if he wants a bit of rough he could pay for one better than me. I could be anyone. He clearly has no qualms at all about inviting strange women into his room.

He grins at me, as if reading my mind. ‘You’re probably thinking I do this sort of thing all the time, but I don’t, honestly.’ The doors slide open and he gestures for me to step out, then he follows and the doors slide shut again. ‘In fact,’ he continues, taking his key card back out of his pocket again, ‘I’m happy to leave you in the room to have a bath or whatever. I can go down to the bar. Come and join me whenever you like.’

He turns left along the corridor, and I follow. The walls are papered with a shimmering gold. The burgundy carpet, adorned with a gold crested pattern, is soft and spongy beneath the thin soles of my boots. It’s been a while since I’ve worn anything other than hiking boots or thick, rubber-soled sandals. I’m not used to feeling the surfaces that I’m walking on.

When we reach his room, he swipes the card and the sensor glows green. The door opens with a little click, and I follow him inside. The far side of the room is floor-to-ceiling windows with an incredible view of the river, and the park beyond.

Half of me wonders if he was watching me from here, then hurried down when he saw I was in distress. Is this the kind of thing that Brad would do? Given that I don’t know him at all, I have no idea. All I do know – as is now confirmed – is that he is clearly very rich.

‘Make yourself at home,’ he says, grinning. ‘I’ll go downstairs…’

I decide to call his bluff. ‘Thanks so much. I really appreciate this.’ I glance around the room, taking it all in. He has a fancy, slim laptop on the desk. Expensive jackets hang in the wardrobe, the door left open for me to see. ‘I promise I won’t steal anything.’