My head jerks up in shock. No. That can’t be right, he can’t be—
Fuck.
Fresh applause breaks out as Sam strides onto the podium, wearing a dark suit and a slight frown. I’m so stunned I can’t even move. He was in Germany. He wasn’t coming tonight. What’s he doing here?
From the way his face jolts in surprise as he sees me, I guess he’s wondering the same thing.
I am so busted. Why did I think I could get away with gate-crashing a big posh party like this?
My face is flaming with embarrassment. I quickly try to back away, but the mass of people pressing behind me is too heavy, so I’m stuck, staring mutely up at him.
“When Sam’s in the room, you know things will reach resolution,” the blond woman is saying. “Whether it’s the resolution you want … eh, Charles?” There’s a roar of laughter around the room, and I hastily join in with fake gusto. Clearly this is a massive in-joke, which I would know about if I weren’t a gate-crasher.
The guy next to me turns and exclaims, “She’s a bit near the knuckle there!” and I find myself replying, “I know, I know!” and giving another huge phony laugh.
“Which brings me to another key player … ”
As I lift my eyes, Sam is looking nowhere near me, thank God. This is excruciating enough as it is.
“Let’s hear it for Jessica Garnett!”
As a girl in red steps onto the podium, Sam takes his phone out of his pocket and unobtrusively taps at it. A moment later a text bleeps in my phone.
Why were you laughing?
I feel a stab of mortification. He must know I was just trying to blend in. He’s deliberately winding me up. Well, I’m not going to rise.
It was a good joke.
I watch as Sam checks his phone again. His face twitches only the tiniest bit, but I know he got it. He types again briefly—then a moment later my phone bleeps again.
I didn’t know your name was on my invitation.
I glance up in trepidation, trying to gauge his expression, but again he’s looking in the other direction, his face impassive. I think for a moment, then type:
Just stopped by to collect your goody bag for you. All part of the service. No need to thank me.
And my cocktails, I see.
Now he’s looking right at my cosmo. He raises his eyebrows and I suppress an urge to giggle.
I was going to put them in a hip flask for you. Obviously.
Obviously. Although mine’s a Manhattan.
Ah, well, now I know. I’ll chuck all those tequila shots I had saved up.
As he clocks this last message, Sam looks up from his phone and flashes me that sudden smile. Without meaning to, I find myself beaming back and even catch my breath a little. It really does something to me, that smile of his. It’s disconcerting. It’s …
Anyway. Concentrate on the speech.
“ … and, finally, have a great night tonight! Thanks, everyone!”
As a final round of applause breaks out, I try to find an escape route, but there isn’t one. Within approximately ten seconds, Sam has stepped straight down off the podium and is standing in front of me.
“Oh.” I try to hide my discomfiture. “Er … hi. Fancy seeing you here!”
He doesn’t reply, only looks at me quizzically. There’s no point trying to brazen this out.
“OK, I’m sorry,” I say in a rush. “I know I shouldn’t be here, it’s just I’ve never been to the Savoy, and it sounded so amazing, and you didn’t want to go, and—” I break off as he lifts a hand, looking amused.
“It’s no problem. You should have told me you wanted to come. I would have put you on the list.”
“Oh!” The wind is taken out of my sails. “Well … thanks. I’m having a really nice time.”
“Good.” He smiles and takes a glass of red wine from a passing waiter’s tray. “You know what?” He pauses thoughtfully, cradling his glass in his hands. “I have something to say, Poppy Wyatt. I should have said it before. And that’s thank you. You’ve been a great help to me, these past few days.”
“It’s fine, really. No problem.” I hurriedly make a brushing-off motion, but he shakes his head.
“No, listen, I want to say this. I know originally I was doing you the favor—but in the end you’ve done me one. I haven’t had any proper PA support at work. You’ve done a great job, keeping me up-to-date with everything. I appreciate it.”
“Honestly, it’s nothing!” I say, feeling uncomfortable.
“Take the credit!” He laughs, then shrugs off his jacket and loosens his tie. “Jesus, it’s been a long day.” He slings his jacket over his shoulder and takes a gulp of wine. “So, nothing up today? The airwaves have gone very quiet.” He gives another of those devastating little smiles. “Or are all my emails coming through to Jane now?”
My phone contains two hundred and forty-three emails for him. And they’re still coming in.
“Well … ” I take a gulp of cosmo, desperately playing for time. “Funnily enough, you did get a few messages. I thought I wouldn’t disturb you while you were in Germany.”
“Oh yes?” He looks interested. “What?”
“Um … this and that. Or would you rather wait till tomorrow?” I clutch at a last hope.
“No, tell me now.”
I rub my nose. Where do I start?
“Sam! There you are!” A thin guy in glasses is approaching. He’s blinking quite fast and holding a large black portfolio under his arms. “they said you weren’t coming tonight.”