Page 10 of Someone Like You

‘Let me finish, Frey.’

‘Fine,’ she replies gloomily.

‘Even though I’m positive about that, there’s somethingyousaid earlier, Poppy – about him wanting this subconsciously – and I see how that could be true.’

‘Wait – so, you’re saying yes?’ Freya asks me, perking up. ‘You’ll help?’

‘Ifthis is happening, I’ll help,’ I say. I’m still reluctant, but it would be worse if this plan went ahead and I wasn’t involved.

Freya misses the hesitancy in my voice and grins at me.

‘So, anything you need right now – from us, I mean?’ I ask Poppy.

Freya springs out of her chair, bellowing, ‘Be right back,’ as she shoots out the door.

Poppy chuckles. ‘I can’t say I’ve ever seen her this excited about a case,’ she says.

‘Me neither – or anything else for that matter. Freya’s usually the subdued, introverted one in our group.’

‘I’ll do my best to keep her in check. This could all be moot, though. She still needs Saskia and Paloma to sign off. And if they do, there will be strict parameters around Freya’s involvement.’

‘Okay.’ I don’t tell Poppy that I’m half-rooting for their bosses to say no, putting an end to this thing entirely.

‘Got it,’ says Freya, bursting back into the meeting room. She holds up a fat stack of paper.

‘What in god’s name is that?’ I ask.

‘That,’ says Poppy, ‘is your homework.’

‘Huh?’

‘The client questionnaire,’ replies Freya. ‘Because Raff wants us to go ahead without his input’ – I don’t correct her that this ‘fact’ is still in dispute – ‘we’ll need to complete it for him.’

‘Wonderful,’ I say sarcastically.

‘Um, Frey? Maybe wait till you’ve got the go-ahead?’ Poppy suggests, and I could kiss her. Any reprieve from this insanity is welcomed.

Predictably, Freya pouts again. ‘All right. But as soon as they say yes, we’re getting to work,’ she tells me. ‘Between the two of us, we should be able to answer most questions. And if we get stuck, we can call CiCi.’

Poppy looks at me quizzically.

‘His aunt,’ I tell her.

‘Ahh, right. Okay, I’m off like a bucket of prawns in the hot sun – I’ve got a hubby, friends, and a kitty waiting at home for me. Freya, keep me posted and, Gaby, I’ll see you soon.’

‘Thanks, Poppy. See you.’

‘Bye,’ says Freya, throwing her arms around Poppy’s neck. ‘You’re the best!’ Poppy returns the hug, then leaves.

‘How many pages is that thing?’ I ask Freya.

‘Only fifty-eight,’ she replies matter-of-factly.

‘Terrific,’ I mutter.

3

POPPY

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