Page 90 of Shout Out To My Ex

This ishuge– I’ve never read an external person into a case before.

‘Mmm,’ Paloma replies after a moment. She must still be mulling it over.

The rest of my colleagues remain silent, listening intently as glances ping between them, which is completely understandable.

Our morning staff meetings are usually a quick whip around of case updates, then back to work. We’re not even the type of workplace that indulges debriefs aboutLove Island,Strictly, orBake Offduring staff meetings – those interactions, as well assharing pet photos and weekend plans, occur at our desks or in the kitchen.

And we rarely end up this far into the weeds of a specific case with everyone present.

‘Poppy. I think perhaps we should wrap up here, then meet with you and Nasrin,’ Saskia says, meaning her and Paloma.

There’s a soft groan of disappointment as our colleagues are subtly dismissed and I have no doubt that Nas and I will be bombarded with questions later. This is an especially juicy case.

It’s also not lost on me that Nasrin has been extremely quiet during this briefing – she’s always happy to leap in and share the glory, but where’s my second when I really need her?Andshe’s the one who brought this case in.

For a moment, I thrum with annoyance, but then I remind myself that the person I’m most annoyed with is me.I’velet this case get away from me – or at least parts of it.

The others clear out of the conference room and Nasrin and I stay put.

‘Actually,’ says Paloma, ‘let’s move this to my office.’

Saskia and Paloma are the only two at the agency with offices, and while they have comfortable seating areas, each with a sofa and armchairs, there is nothing comfortable about being called into Paloma’s office and put in the hotseat.

‘Make yourself comfortable,’ she says as she leads us inside, and I almost laugh at the irony.

The four of us sit and Paloma gets straight to the point, her dark eyes boring into mine.

‘Have you met this person?’

‘Ser?’ She nods. ‘Not really. She was at the H&M party, where the engagement was announced, but we weren’t introduced.’

She props her chin on her forefinger and stares at the bookshelves behind me. I surreptitiously glance at Nas and she lifts her shoulders slightly in a tiny shrug.

After at least a minute, Paloma finally speaks – this time to Saskia. ‘I think we vet her, then consider reading her in. We don’t want her at cross purposes with us.’

‘Or…’ says Saskia, and just the tone of that one drawn-out syllable makes my stomach churn. ‘We drop the case.’

I press my lips together, holding my breath.

These are the exact words I’ve been dreading since this new development. As with most of my cases – therehavebeen a handful of duds over the years – I am completely invested. I’veseenElle and Leo together and there’s love there, I’m sure of it. And with the additional information that Cassie’s feeding us, I believe there’s a strong possibility we can get Elle and Leo their HEA.

It was difficult talking Cassie around when she came in earlier, but maybe convincing her to continue was moot. Nas nudges me with her knee, but I dare not look at her, as I suspect she may agree with Saskia.

Paloma and Saskia have one of their silent eye conversations as Paloma mulls over Saskia’s suggestion.

‘No,’ says Paloma eventually, turning back to me, ‘I don’t think we need to drop it – at least not yet.’

I exhale loudly and she gives me an amused look.

‘Are you all right?’

‘Yes, I just…’

‘You’re invested in your client’s happiness,’ says Saskia, rescuing me –andechoing my exact thoughts.

‘Yes, that’s it.’

‘Well, we appreciate that,’ she says, magnanimous as always.

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