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‘If you’re going to do all the work anyway, why not get the credit for it?’ Emma said with a shrug.

‘And wouldn’t it mean you could work for years longer? If you’re not doing all the stunts yourself?’ asked Hannah thoughtfully. ‘I know it might be daunting being in charge, but you’re already doing the job, sort of – you’re making all the suggestions and Jackson is following them. At least if you were officially in charge you wouldn’t have to seek his approval for every little change. Right?’

Emma and Lucas were quick to agree. ‘Right.’

He swallowed the mouthful, their words finally hitting home. The food slid like a boulder down his throat with the same speed as the slow realisation that he’d been underselling himself for years.

He glanced at Hannah, feeling the same as he had when he was sixteen, and had failed every mock exam question they’d put in front of him. She was so full of kindness and understanding, and zero judgement. He repeated the same words he’d said all those years ago. ‘Can you help me?’

Her eyes widened, as if she remembered the same moment. The way he’d run after her down the school corridor and stopped her by the water fountain. The blazer of his uniform stiff and uncomfortable as he’d tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention. What must he have looked like? With his brand-new blazer, already scuffed and torn within days of starting school, the horrible tie that he could never put on properly, and had felt like a noose around his neck.

He’d been so arrogant then, so certain that she would fix his problems for him, because she cared enough to try. Back then, he’d been a foolish joker pretending to be a king.

‘Please,’ he added, with the humility he should have shown back then.

Hannah smiled gently, with a patient expression. ‘Sure, hand me your phone.’

He handed it to her, conscious of the little smile of amusement twitching at the corner of her lips as she tapped away on the phone. ‘I need to download the app.’ She held the phone up to his face and as he blinked the screen pinged and downloaded the application.

‘Remind me to check my bank transactions later, you could have done this in my sleep.’

She shrugged nonchalantly. ‘Damn, I’ll have to send the diamond necklace back.’

‘Let me see it on you and I might change my mind.’

Hannah blushed and busied herself with clicking on the phone; he ignored the raised eyebrow Lucas sent his way.

‘There!’ Hannah shuffled closer to him so that he could see the screen. ‘So, firstly pick a username.’

‘Caleb Townsend.’

She chuckled. ‘That’s probably already taken. You can add a number on, but I think it’s better to add something that fits your work. Like, Caleb Stunts, or Stuntman Caleb.’

Caleb shrugged. ‘Whatever you think works best.’

She leaned down and grabbed her big bag, and after a little riffling pulled out his business card from her wallet. He was more than a little flattered that she’d kept hold of it. ‘I’ll put this all in your bio,’ she said, tapping away with her fingers at a speed he would have found impossible. ‘I think Caleb Stunts is best, the handle will also work if you do go into stunt co-ordination.’

Caleb gave an uncertain nod, a part of him rebelling against the idea of her planning out his life for him.

‘You could always employ an assistant. Someone to help with the contracts and…’ She paused, obviously not wanting to reveal his struggles. ‘All the stuff you don’t enjoy.’

‘Like paperwork,’ said Caleb with a smile.

She nodded shyly.

‘I could employ you,’ he said, and he saw her expression wobble.

‘Or someone like Emma?’ she offered.

It seemed helping him would only go so far. Which was understandable considering he’d be leaving in a couple of months. What the hell was he even suggesting – that she sleep with him, leave with him and become his assistant?

‘But not Emma,’ Emma said firmly. ‘I’ve enough to do, thanks. But I can get you some good PA names; some even work from home and can manage your paperwork remotely.’

‘Do you have any profile pics you’d like to use?’ asked Hannah.

‘Of me?’

Emma cackled in the background and he shrugged. ‘Take one now.’