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obsessive.
    She lifted her hand to inspect the huge wedding ring from Graff. The pink and yellow diamonds twinkled back at her prettily. She recalled the first time they’d met: Conrad had been at the height of his success and intrigued by the self-possessed beauty sitting alone at The Collection bar in Chelsea. He’d come over and complimented Vanessa on her Swarovski earrings, offering his commiserations over the Catherine Connor scandal. Ten years her senior, he was funny, charming and romantic. Vanessa had been swept off her feet. The deal had been sealed with a fairy-tale wedding in the Maldives six months later.
    Her father had never got to meet Conrad, but he’d had Dominique on his side from day one with a dazzling array of flowers and perfume. The dashing leading man had arrived in both women’s lives justwhen they had needed him. Of course, Vanessa had seen the financial benefit in marrying Conrad Powell. But she’d also been madly in love with him.
    Paul was still hard at work as Vanessa came back down the lawn. ‘Paul, there’s a branch hanging down from one of the birch trees.’ She’d just spotted it. ‘Would you mind doing something about it?’
    The gardener nodded. ‘I’ll make it my next job, Mrs Powell.’
    She bestowed a gracious smile on him. ‘Thank you.’
    A familiar cockney drawl floated down the corridor as she went back in. Vanessa frowned. It sounded like their manager, Marty. Did they have a meeting scheduled? It was unlike her to forget. She hoped at least that Renata would be organizing drinks for their guest but there was no sign of her. Annoyed and confused, Vanessa went upstairs to change out of her kimono.
    When Vanessa walked into the drawing room twenty minutes later in a flowing Cavalli maxi dress, there was a new energy in the air. Conrad was sprawled in one of the Louis XIV chairs looking a lot happier than when she’d last seen him. ‘Darling!’ he exclaimed exuberantly. ‘There you are!’
    Marty jumped up out of his own seat. ‘How are you, kid? You look as gorgeous as ever.’
    She kissed her manager on both cheeks and glanced between the two men. ‘What’s going on?’
    Conrad had a smile on him like a Cheshire cat. ‘Guess what Marty’s landed us.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘Go on, guess.’
    She wasn’t in the mood for guessing games. ‘What is it?’
    ‘Only presenting this year’s Silver Box Awards!’
    ‘The Silver Box?’ she repeated. ‘Are you being serious?’
    Now this was exciting. Held at the end of August at the Royal Albert Hall, the Silver Box Awards combined the credibility of the BAFTAs with the commercialism of the National Television Awards. Last year seven million people had tuned in to watch it on ITV1. A Silver Box award could send an actor’s career into the stratosphere.
    Conrad was striding about excitedly. ‘Every producer and casting agent in the industry will be there. This is exactly the kind of exposure I need.’
    ‘What about Brand Powell’s exposure?’ Vanessa asked, but she couldn’t stop grinning. ‘Conrad, this is amazing news!’
    ‘We need to set up a meeting with the producer and whatnot, but it’s pretty much in the bag,’ Marty said. ‘ They approached me, Vanessa.’
    ‘You hear that?’ Conrad shouted. ‘I’m back, baby!’
    ‘You haven’t landed the Oscar just yet.’ Vanessa started thinking rationally. ‘I assume you’ve discussed money?’ she asked Marty.
    ‘Yeah, we’re talking high-end six figures.’
    Now she was getting excited. This was just the thing to take Brand Powell to the next level! She had a vision of floating on to the stage in Oscar de la Renta and air-kissing Dame Helen Mirren as she gave her the Lifetime Achievement Award.
    Conrad picked Vanessa up in a twirl. ‘We’ll be the toast of the film industry! Brad and Ange will be begging us for a dinner date!’
    It was lovely to see genuine happiness on his face. ‘I wouldn’t go that far!’ she laughed.
    ‘Why not? Reach for