Page 19 of Shout Out To My Ex

In the context of cases, the term ‘fibbing’ is preferable to ‘lying’, as it’s far more palatable (even though we all know they’re the same thing).

‘Yeah, she’s spun something about a side project she’s been working on,’ says Nas, picking up the thread, ‘which is perfect ’cause we’re going to usethatas the foundation for the meeting.’

‘Exactly. We’re planning to get Elle and Leo-slash-Lorenzo together to discuss a possible partnership, some sort of codesigned collection… That sort of thing.’

‘Sounds plausible,’ says Saskia.

‘Yes, but as for Cassie achieving a look of genuine surprise at that meeting… Well, she’s got Buckley’s,’ I say, my face scrunched.

‘And that’s Australian for…?’ Ursula inquires.

‘No chance,’ I reply. I sometimes forget that my colleagues don’t speak fluent Aussie. That’s probably why they veto half my case names.

‘Can she be coached?’ asks Saskia.

‘Not even if we sent her to RADA for a year,’ quips Nas, and I snigger. Now that she and I are in the flow, we’re pinging off each other quite well.

‘So,’ I say to the team, ‘any thoughts on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.’

‘What if she just doesn’t attend?’ asks George. ‘The sister, I mean.’

‘I’m not sure that would make sense,’ I say. ‘Cassie is essentially Bliss Design’s one-woman management team. She would be in a meeting about the two fashion labels working together.’

‘What if you went, Poppy?’ suggests Freya. ‘Perhaps do a bit of side-coaching?’

‘But as what – or who?’ asks Nasrin, leaping in before I have the chance.

Around the table, we collectively mull this question over, but even I’m stumped about what role I could play.

‘I know!’ says Freya, sitting up taller. ‘What if the initial meeting is a simple meet-and-greet between the two creative visionaries – no other people, not even her sister, no business talk, no finances or logistics – just to see if there is, you know…’ As she often does, Freya leaves the rest of the thought unsaid, her words hanging in the air.

‘Creative alignment?’ offers George.

‘I was thinking “a spark” but yes,’ she replies. ‘Call it a meeting but make it more like adate.’

‘I love that idea. And excellent use of buzz words, George,’ I add.

‘Well, you know, half an arts degree has to pay off sometimes,’ he says with a slice of self-effacement. Ursula pats him on the hand.

‘Nas? What do you think? Can we sell that to Cassie?’

‘I should think so. She knows how rubbish she was in that role play. “Oh my god! Leo?! Is that you?”’

Nasrin’s impersonation is enough to kick us all off. Even Saskia joins in, smiling faintly while her slim shoulders shake almost imperceptibly. This is the Saskia equivalent of me throwing back my head and belly-laughing.

‘Right,’ says Paloma, ‘if that’s all, I’ve got a call with Berlin in five.’

‘Thank you, everyone,’ says Saskia.

As we’re leaving the conference room, I hook my arm through Freya’s. ‘You ol’ romantic, you.’

She casts me a sidelong glance, the corner of her mouth lifted. ‘We’re a matchmaking agency, Poppy.’

‘Yeah, but not all cases are about romance.’

She nudges me. ‘This one is. Start with the romance and everything else will fall into place,’ she advises.

‘See? Spoken like a true romantic.’

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