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have said that if I’d known it was you standing there.”
    â€œObviously.”
    â€œAnd you know, nobody really thinks you’re a bastard, Well, Derek does, but he doesn’t count.”
    â€œDerek … Leeming?”
    â€œYeah. He’s got a stick up his arse at the moment because he thinks you’re competition.”
    â€œIn what way?”
    â€œDerek’s a ladies’ man. Or at least, that how he thinks of himself. He spends half his days panting after all of the female staff. God, why am I telling you this? You’re my boss, I shouldn’t, should
not
be telling you this.”
    â€œAm I going to be hit with a load of sexual harassment complaints?” he asked seriously.
    â€œNo, of course not. Derek’s annoying, but he’s harmless. Bloody hell, look, don’t listen to me. I’m rambling like a fool, probably concussed from the fall or something.”
    â€œYou landed on your face,” he pointed out.
    â€œShock, then,” she amended. “Anyway, I’d better go. I need to get back and feed my cat.”
    Eleanor didn’t give Charming a chance to reply, and started jogging in the opposite direction.
    Feed the cat? Eleanor, you’re a complete idiot. Not only do you have clothing problems, you seem to be lacking in brain function too. If Charming didn’t think you were crazy before today, he certainly does now.
    â€¢ • •
    The weekend didn’t get any better, for Eleanor received an unexpected visit from her ex-stepmother the following morning. Eleanor had just finished reading the Sunday papers and was about to make a start on lunch when her doorbell rang.
    â€œYou’re early,” she remarked as she opened the door, expecting it to be her father. Instead, she was greeted by the unsmiling face of Christie.
    â€œI’m off to France in the morning, and I didn’t want to miss our weekly date,” said Christie, looking down her nose as usual. “You needn’t think that just because I’m having a holiday, I was going to forget our usual chat.”
    â€œThat would be awful, wouldn’t it?” drawled Eleanor sarcastically. “Come in; far be it from me to come between you and your spite.”
    â€œYou’ll never change, will you, Eleanor? You were a snotty-nosed teen when I met you, and you’re still just as obnoxious.”
    â€œI do try to be consistent.”
    Christie sniffed disdainfully and headed for the living room. On seeing their visitor, Muse yelped and dove up the stairs.
If only I could do that too
, thought Eleanor wistfully. Instead, she dutifully prepared a tea tray and joined Christie in the living room. These visits were always trying, but it kept the annoying woman away from Eleanor’s father, so she gritted her teeth and put up with them.
    â€œHave you spoken to Edward about my request?” asked Christie, getting to the point at once. Eleanor inwardly winced. Her father liked to be called “Teddy,” but Christie had hated the name and had called him “Edward” since the first day she’d met him.
    â€œDad really can’t afford to raise the monthly payments, Christie, I’ve told you that countless times.”
    â€œWell I can’t afford to live off the measly few hundred that he’s paying me at the moment, and that’s the end of it.”
    Eleanor counted to ten in her head.
    â€œChristie, you agreed to that sum when you signed the divorce papers. And honestly, you dress in designer gear and go on holiday every couple of months. It doesn’t look like you’re struggling to make ends meet.”
    â€œMy clothes are paid for by my employers, you know that. One has to look good when one is appearing on television.”
    Christie presented the weather on the local news channel, and she made sure everyone knew about it.
    â€œAs to my holidays, you know I have friends over in France. I spend very