‘Should I do a press release or something?’ Skyla asked. ‘To say – I don’t know – that we do all we can with validation?’

I looked out at James Caine and I truly could not think about any of this stuff right now.

‘Maybe the Accidental Dater is just unlucky in love,’ I said, more flippant than I felt.

‘We have to take it more seriously,’ Mary said, and I felt her investment in this company, and how it was in some ways much greater than mine, as if she really believed deep down in her sweet-natured heart that we were selling happy endings. But the world did not work that way. I knew we provided a good service for our clients, but I do not believe that anyone finds their happy ending by going online and providing a credit card number. Mary was a tech genius and I loved her to bits but, let’s face it – she did not have much real-world experience with men.

‘I am going to have to ask for the room,’ I said.

Usually my office was open house but Mary stood up and indicated the door to Skyla. I rapped on the glass to Michael and he sent James Caine into my office.

Immediately, he tried to take me in his arms.

I stepped back and clattered into my desk.

‘Are you fucking insane?’ I said, looking out at the office. Mary, Skyla and Michael were crowded around the intern’s laptop, reading about the adventures of the Accidental Dater.

‘I want to sign up,’ he said, smiling. ‘I want to meet a beautiful, incredible woman—’

I felt like slapping his face.

‘How dare you?’ I said. ‘How dare you take those photographs of me? How dare you send them to me? How dare you come to my place of work?’

‘But you looked beautiful in them.’ He seemed genuinely confused. ‘God knows I didn’t mean to upset you, Tara.’

‘Are they still on your phone? Christ almighty, what are you? Fourteen years old?’

‘I would never show them to anyone,’ Caine said, his face clouding. ‘Look, I can see you’re angry. You blocked me on your phone, didn’t you? If you want me to, I’ll delete them, of course.’

Mary looked up and waved at me, giving me a tight grin, letting me know that we would get to the other side of this mess. There were blinds on the walls of my office that I could pull down. But of course that would have made it all seem even worse.

‘Do it now,’ I told him. ‘I want to see you do it. Delete them. Go on.’

I watched him delete the three images, the big heavy Rolex Submariner sliding up his wrist. When he was done, he held out his phone for me to inspect and I ignored it.

‘What do you want?’ I said.

‘Isn’t it obvious? I want you.’

He took a step towards me and stopped when he saw the warning light in my eyes. But he was still smiling, as if it was all a good joke. I wondered what it would take to wipe that smug I’ve-fucked-you-good smile off his face.