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Richard snapped irritably. Then, lowering his voice to a whisper he said, ‘I thought I told you to put those new security measures in place?’
    â€˜We have. It doesn’t seem to have made much difference,’ the guard said.
    â€˜Alright,’ Richard muttered, ‘I’ll be along in a minute.’
    The guard nodded and backed out of the room.
    Richard walked over to Kate’s side. His manner instantly changed and he became all sweetness and light again. ‘I’m really, really sorry, but I’m going to have to pass on that invite of yours. I’m afraid something has come up.’
    â€˜Nothing serious, I hope?’
    â€˜Of course not,’ though the tone of his voice belied his reply.
    Sensing Kate’s disappointment, Sylvia said, ‘You could always join me instead.’
    Kate shrugged. ‘Why not.’
    So, after Richard left the room, the girls took their tablets, lay down and started to dream.
    Upon entering the dream Kate found herself standing outside a club in a cobbled street that seemed familiar. She looked around, but couldn’t see any sign of Sylvia, so headed into the club. Glancing up at the drinks menu she wondered if her sub-conscious was playing tricks on her because she didn’t recognise the language. Kate approached the counter. The barman smiled at her.
    â€˜Goedenavond. Hoe gaat het met je?’
    â€˜Excuse me?’ she said.
    â€˜I’m sorry,’ the barman replied in perfect English, but with a heavy Dutch accent. ‘I didn’t realise you were English.’
    â€˜That’s OK. Er, at the risk of sounding silly, where am I exactly?’
    The barman gave her a slightly puzzled look. ‘Heavy night was it?’
    â€˜Something like that.’
    â€˜Maybe a drink would help?’ he suggested.
    â€˜Maybe it would,’ she replied, tentatively.
    â€˜So, what would you like?’
    â€˜How about two pitchers of Pimms,’ a familiar voice said, before a pair of hands clamped over Kate’s eyes. ‘Guess who.’
    Kate shrugged the hands aside. ‘Sylvia.’
    â€˜What kept you? We’re all in the back room waiting.’
    â€˜Who for?’
    â€˜You, silly,’ Sylvia said.
    â€˜Where are we?’
    â€˜Don’t you remember this place?’
    Kate shook her head. ‘No.’
    â€˜Tasha’s hen party, two years ago, we came to Amsterdam for the weekend. And this is that club where...’
    Kate interrupted. ‘You mean the strip club?’
    â€˜The one with that dancer you couldn’t take your eyes off,’ Sylvia said.
    Kate laughed. ‘Really?’
    â€˜Yup. And you want to know the best part?’
    â€˜What’s that?’
    â€˜He’s in the back room waiting for us.’
    After asking the barman if he’d mind bringing their drinks through, Sylvia took hold of her friend’s hand and led her into the rear of the club.
    The back room was exactly how Kate remembered it. There were about a dozen large, round circular tables, all packed with women who were cheering the performer on stage. Sylvia and Kate made their way to the table where all of their friends were waiting. There was a slight lull in proceedings as the MC took the stage and announced the next act.
    â€˜Now, if you would all put your hands together please in order to welcome our star turn of the night, the fireman of Feynoord, Mister Robbie Van Der Kerk.’
    As Sylvia and Kate took their seats at the table nearest to the stage, the audience went wild as the aforementioned Robbie strutted out to the strains of The Pussycat Doll’s, ‘Buttons’. With his close cropped blonde hair, diamond blue eyes and gym instructor’s physique, Robbie was every bit as gorgeous as Kate remembered him to be. Robbie lost no time in flicking off his fireman’s boots, then skimmed his hat into the appreciative crowd. As he shed each item of clothing a loud cheer