‘Okay, okay,’ I said with a soft laugh. ‘Now, what exactly do you have in mind?’
‘Just the usual. The itinerary’s already been put together – allyouhave to do is be your fabulous self.’
‘Andsay lots of lovely things about the resort on camera.’
‘Precisely.’
‘So, go on then, who cancelled on you?’ I asked. There was no way Julian had left something this momentous to the last minute. He would have had someone lined up well in advance.
‘One of the Emmas,’ he replied.
‘Ooh, intriguing. Stone, Watson, or Roberts?’
‘I’m not supposed to say.’
I rolled my eyes, allowing the silence to unfurl.
Four seconds later, he said, ‘Watson. But there’s been a scheduling conflict. Reshoots for her next film so…’
‘So, you’ve come to your ex-wife, hat in hand, to begmeto do it. And with two days’ notice.’
‘You make it sound as if I’m desperate.’
‘Aren’t you?’ I teased.
‘The truth? Yes. The grand opening is less than two weeks away and all this was supposed to be sorted by now.AndI’ve got this business deal to—’ He cut himself off, then sighed. ‘Look, if you aren’t up for it, I’ll ask the Sexy Single.’
‘Well, if that’s the way you want to go… I mean, Daisy Harriganisa copycat pretender and she has nowherenearthe reach that Divorced Diva has, but it’s your choice, Jules.’That should call his bluff, I thought, gently swinging my chair.
He chuckled down the line again. ‘Sometimes I forget how well you’ve got me pegged.’
That hadn’t always been the case, but I didn’t say anything.
‘Look, desperation aside,’ he continued, ‘you’ll be wonderful –perfecteven. I should have asked you in the first place.’
‘All right, Jules, no need to butter me up. Now, just bear with…’ I pressed theholdbutton before he could respond. ‘Ruby, how much of a nightmare would it be to clear my calendar from Friday to… let’s say Tuesday?’
‘This Friday?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’ll check.’
Unfazed as always – Ruby never reacts to any situation with more than a slight furrow between her brows – she started typing rapidly on her keyboard. Moments later, Claude beelined for my desk from across the office.
‘Is that Julian?’ she asked, glancing at the phone’s blinking hold light as she perched on the edge of my desk.
‘You know it is, and I know exactly what you’re about to say.’
Her mouth bunched to one side. ‘Just promise me you’ll run it past me before you sayyes.’
Claude ran operations and partnerships, so technically, Iwassupposed to check with her before agreeing. But this wasn’t her being the boss – this was my big sister sliding into protective mode.
‘He wants me as brand ambassador for his new resort – well, the Divorced Diva.’
She sighed, tilting her head. ‘Ally, I get that you’ve made peace with him, but he can’t just cash in on your success. Especially considering how he?—’
‘I’ll be charging him an eye-watering amount,’ I assured her, cutting her off. ‘And think about it – an exclusive resort… very wealthy guests… I’m sure Julian would return the favour by introducing us to some new benefactors.’
